Update re: “procuring” 😉 XC skis for those interested. Went to Sport Éxchange in Gatineau today (by appointment only for rentals!). You can rent a complete used XC kit (skis, bindings on, boots, poles) for $150 for the season or brand new for $200 (I got new; can’t mix & match new + used; didn’t have used boots in my size). You keep the gear til mid-May, when I’ll have the option to pay $130 on top of my (already paid) rental fee to buy the gear for keeps. Had I bought all the gear today I’d have paid $440; if I choose to keep it in May it’ll have cost me $330.00 total. Their “used” stuff looks brand new (my friend got used; looks indistinguishable from mine save for the tags): clerk said last year’s rentals were barely used cause of unfavourable weather. Pretty great deal for folks wanting to try out beginner XC skis* without committing to buying a specific kit outright!

*We got classic skis; no idea if they have skate skis but since they also have alpine, I imagine they would.