Sometime in the next few months we (Ski Patrol at Mad River Mountain) will be having our annual Ski/Snowboard Swap. Anyone, including the public, is allowed to come down and put stuff up for sale. Every shop in Columbus and quite a few from surrounding areas come and put stuff up too. It's a great time to find some good deals. I don't know the date yet, but when I do it will be posted up here.
Other than that, go to any (real) local shop and you will be fine. You don't have to spend that much money on 'entry' level gear to get some really nice, new gear.
Oh, and if you haven't already completely ignore Paul and Dan's post in here. Well, always ignore Paul. I can't tell if Dan was trying to be serious or not, but there are very good reason that the equipment he is talking about is baned on every ski hill in the US.