What could drive Joe Young to sleep on a ragged couch on a downtown Denver sidewalk for five nights?

The 36-year-old Scotsman knows the early bird gets the worm and - the snow gods willing - a free season ski pass.

"This is a kick-start to winter when everyone has to be ready to grab a season pass or the goodies that they need," Young said in a thick brogue early Wednesday morning as he downed a breakfast Coke.

Young, who said he showed up Monday for Saturday's opening of the Sports Authority's annual Sniagrab winter sports megasale, was officially third in line amid nine tents stretching up the sidewalk at 10th and Broadway.

This is his fourth year in the Labor Day weekend waiting game.

"Last year, out of the top 100 in line, 10 got pegged for a free season pass. I was lucky; I was one of the 10," he said at his campsite, which was equipped with a chessboard, TV, video games and movie DVDs.

A globe-trotting tile-setter by trade, Young said that at a party with Americans in France years ago, they were forever bragging that Colorado has the best snow in the world.

"I was like, 'Yeah, yeah.' I had to come find out for myself," he said. "I actually agree it's one of the best places to ski in the world."

Young was a latecomer compared with Travis Viles and his cousins, all from Lakewood. They showed up Friday night - eight days early - to score the first two spots in line.

"It's such a great experience on top of something that I have a big passion for," said the credit union clerk, referring to his snowboarding obsession.

Last year was his first Sniagrab - "Bargains" spelled backward - and he scored a board, bindings and other gear for just over $200.

The bargain hunters play chess and video games, swap stories - "and you definitely do some beer drinking," Viles added.

A favorite pastime is to toy with drunks meandering home from bars who ask the sidewalk campers what they're doing.

"We've told them we've been evicted or we're testing tents," Viles said.

"We told them our parents forgot about us a month ago and we're waiting for them to come back," he added, "and that the campsites are full so we decided to spend the weekend here."

It's expected to be in the comfy mid- 80s in Denver today, but Viles would rather talk about the dusting of snow in the mountains last week.

"I heard they got about 3 inches. So, we're hoping that means it's going to be a good season," he said.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486