Christy Sports, the Colorado retailer that has done the most in recent years to maintain the tradition of Labor Day ski and snowboard sales, will take a different approach this year and conduct sales primarily online.

Over the past 13 years, Powder Daze lured Front Range skiers and snowboarders to his Littleton store during the summer heat, which was packed with last year’s skis, boards and boots at clearance prices. Powder Daze continued a Colorado skier ritual that began in the 1950s when Gart Bros. invented the Labor Day ski sale. Just last year, Randy England, Christy’s director of brand marketing, promoted an expanded Powder Daze At the Littleton store, it was a combination of a winter sports kick-off sale and a winter sports exhibition.

Not this year, though. The Littleton store and other Front Range Christy locations will have summer merchandise on their shelves — mostly patio furniture — when Powder Daze kicks off Friday as an online ski and snowboard sale. Summer items will be up to 50% off in Christy stores, while ski and snowboard gear will be up to 60% off online.

In England it is called the “end of summer event” and it is suggested that sales of skis and snowboards will begin in stores in October.

Read more from John Meyer at DenverPost.com