The life of a snowflake starts with delicate, atmospheric crystal formation and ends with sudden mangling beneath the snowboards of teenagers. Frolic in nature's snowy beauty with today's Groupon: for $30, you get $60 worth of snowboard and ski apparel and accessories at Viking Ski Shop. This Groupon is valid at both locations in Chicago and Barrington.

Building on winter sport know-how for four decades, Viking Ski Shop boasts an educated staff that custom-fit boots and outfits winter sports enthusiasts of all ages with quality gear. Prevent a case of frigid digits with Kombi waterguard gloves ($38) or keep warm with Hot Chillys Underware for men or women ($38). Children can keep cozy on the slopes or all winter long in T-neck pull over fleeces from Spyder Speed ($49), named for arachnids whose eight legs power them down slopes faster than conventional skis. Killtec Namara men's fleeces swaddle torsos in downy and fashionable comforts ($49) while collisions with obstinate snowmen are softened when wearing a Giro G9 helmet ($99). Both shops are closed on Wednesdays.