I just received a reminder that the new Ski Chalet will be holding the annual BIG ONE...the Dilly in Chantilly this weekend, from noon on Friday until Mon evening at their Chantilly wharehouse store, near routs 50 and 28 in Virginia.
Might be a good time to check out what the new stores will be like and pick up a few bargains.
The Colonel

I hope to see you there Colonel! If I can locate it, I'll try to wear the DC Ski pin, so if you see a tall guy with Ski Chalet garb and the pin, that's me. Anyhow, I'm really curious to see how this thing is going to turn out mostly because I have no idea what kind of stock Sun and Ski is dropping on us for the sale.

Ooo, you did get that job!

I'll be there (working)...I know of a handfull of old part-time Ski Chalet staff that will be coming back (the guys with "other" day-jobs), so with any luck it will be like the old days....

Will bootfitting at the Dilly be by company reps (as was the case at some previous Dillies) or by TNSC shop bootfitters?

If the latter, whom do we ask for (Sunday especially)?

If nothing else I want to bring the board and my wifes skis in for a tune. I think a base grind is definitely on the cards for both and my edges need a little rework after one of the kids in another store whose name I will not mention did a kind of half arsed hand tune on them.

I'll check on that bootfitting question for you Comprex. I'm like Irish44j, a part-timer who'll be working a couple nights a week and a weekend day. I know many of the old crew from Arlington will be back which is the primary reason I'll be back. By the way, does TNSC = The New Ski Chalet?

Okay, looks like boot guys from Technica, Lange, Salomon and Nordica will be at the Dilly along with experienced bootfitters from the SC stores. As for skis, the major brands will be carried, including Atomic. Some brands that won't be carried are Fisher, Elan, Head and Blizzard. Ski clothing? Yes, but I don't know much about what it being carried at this point. Look forward to meeting y'all. Peace!

Thanks, and yes.

Start calling the team 'Vols' now, save effort later?

I went to the Dilly today and was pleasantly surprised...it was very much like those put on by Wilbur and Freed in the past. Many good buys, especially on Marmot weather proof shells (%59) and pants ($39).
Freed was there helping with the sale, a surprise and real joy to see him back, if only for a while.
He, like Wilbur, was the heart and soul of the old Ski Chalet. I also met the new owner, a most pleasant fellow. It appears he has gotten off on the right foot.
The Colonel

Colonel,

How many people were there? Looks like you went on Sunday which would probably be the least crowded of the three days. How did the ski/boot selection compare to years past?

I'll probably swing by the Arlington store once they re-open that location.

Any word on when Willi's will open?

I went Friday night looking for a good second jacket and maybe some goggles, I was also looking for a jacket for my wife. Unfortunately apart from a scarf my wife picked up nothing else struck my fancy. Most of the stuff was 10% off which I don't see as huge savings. There were a few deals depending on what you are looking for but I didn't see anything that knocked my socks off. I cleaned up at the end of last season during the major blowout sale. Nice pair of Volcom snowboard pants at something like 60% off. Now that was a sale.

That said I went to another store in Fairfax on Saturday and saw a jacket I really wanted from last season there on sale for 15% off. I was tempted but I have a new shell and even at 15% off it was stil over $200. Now I play the waiting game, let's see if that sucker drops.

I'm with kennedy. I went Friday at noon and was underwhelmed. The only "new" thing I saw was they had ski porn for sale ($14.99-$19.99). While this isn't cheaper than normal, I did pick up Yearbook and Focused. (Has anybody seen the opening of Yearbook when the guy skis the sheet of ice?!)

It also appeared there was less clothing this year as the goggles and helmets moved into the clothing section.

I didn't find any decent quality good looking jackets for me or my wife that were reasonably priced. The best I found was a Bonfire jacket for her that was $150 on sale and since she is not that big into gear yet she wouldn't let me spend the money on it.

Goggles, I was looking for a pair of Oakley A frames (didn't have any Oakley gogs) but would have settles for some Spy Orbits (had those) but again 10% is pretty weak. At the end of the day I've got to spend wisely and it was not cutting it.

Admittedly, clothing was definitely weak but considering the supply was coming from leftovers which made it through last season's "fire sale" and '04/'05 remainders from other Sun and Ski stores, I wasn't too surprised. If you're into flea markets, the clothing side was it.

From the ski and boot perspective, I'd have to say things were looking good. People really expect a lot when they see the word "sale" but if your paying attention these days you'll see that retail prices are quite shocking and the deals to be had on some really nice boots and skis were out there. In fact, if your still thinking about checking out skis or boots, the sale will still be in effect at the local stores this upcoming weekend.

I met the Colonel at the sale even though I wasn't wearing the DCSki pin but he was able to track me down and hopefully was able to talk with Freed for a while. Thanks for everyone who came out. It will be an interesting season ahead for the SC'ers. Things may turn out to be somewhat "corporate" but I know from all the people I work with in Arlington that we will try to keep and provide that specialty feel. Peace!

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In fact, if your still thinking about checking out skis or boots, the sale will still be in effect at the local stores this upcoming weekend.

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That's always (generally?) been the best kept secret of the Dilly in Chantilly. You get much better service (at the same prices) the following weekend. The times I've been at the Dilly, the poor salespeople have been overwhelmed by the crowds; several have recommended I drop by the stores the following weekend so they could spend more time on my selection (upper-end gear.)