A new and used ski and snowboard sale is scheduled to be held by Titcomb Mountain's Farmington Ski Club.

The fundraiser sale is scheduled to be held Saturday, November 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mount Blue High School in Farmington.

You'll find skis, snowboards, boots, poles, clothing and much more at the sale. Cross-country equipment will also be available.

If you have used equipment to drop off for consignment, do so at Mount Blue High School on Friday, November 7, between 5 and 8 p.m.

Ski sale special
For one day only on Saturday, November 8, there will be a Farmington Ski Club membership and season pass sale. You can receive $10 per person off Alpine or combined pass or $5 per person off Nordic season pass.

Is it time for new skis?
OK, so you're thinking this may be the year to get rid of the old skis, you know the ones with gouges taken out of the edges, unsightly scratches and chunks from the bottoms. Here are a few tips:

First timers
First timers or novice skiers should check out new equipment in ski magazines before heading to your local ski shop. This will give you an idea of what you're looking for.

Next step is to go to the mountain and take a learn-to-ski lesson to be sure skiing is what you want to do this winter, especially before spending some cold-hard cash on new equipment.

Demo or rent before you buy
Go to a ski shop and speak with the shop salespersons to get a handle on what type of ski would be good for you. Don't buy … not yet. Demo a pair or two. You may find that the ones you thought were right, just might not be.

Ski shops carry a number of skis and equipment that will fit your budget. For novice skiers, consider a complete package, skis, bindings, poles and boots. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask for a deal on ski maintenance, such as tune-ups, waxing, stone grinding and sharpening. Skis should be tuned up about every 15-20 days of skiing. So get out of those long skinny boards and get into the new shorter shaped skis.

Accident waiting to happen
Skiing is a fun sport but it can turn into a tragedy, especially if you decide to take the 'cheap' way out and borrow someone else's equipment. Today's ski bindings have DIN settings that are set to calculate your boot size, weight and skiing ability. Don't be an accident waiting to happen. It could be serious, such as a breaking your leg or injuring someone else on the slopes.

Womens skis and boots
If you're a woman picking out skis, you know that your body build is different than a man's. Your center of body mass is lower than a man. You should get skis that are made especially for women that are lighter in weight, have more flex and the bindings are mounted slightly forward than men's skis. Women's boots are also made differently, according to skiing experts. Women's hips are different, making them stand slightly different than a man. When trying them on, make sure the boots are made for the woman in mind.

Ski and ride safely. Use your head and don't forget to wear a helmet!