As the 2008-09 ski season is nearing, Christy Sports, one of the largest ski and snowboard retailer specialists in the Rocky Mountain region, has announced that it will offer season ski and snowboard rentals to customers who wish to rent all winter long.

Not so long ago, the word patio meant a concrete slab on which you stationed generic plastic chairs, a table and an umbrella. Today, more homeowners have embraced the concept of outdoor living. Patio design has become synonymous with the creation of outdoor rooms, which are filled with fire pits, lighting fixtures, outdoor rugs and furniture that looks like it belongs in the living room.

Christy Sports and Intrawest Resorts have teamed up to sell discount ski passes at Copper Mountain, Winter Park and Steamboat Springs for the coming season. The passes are available at Christy Sports' Front Range stores.