Annual ski swap next month with changes due to pandemic

The annual Big Mountain Ski Club ski swap and sale will take place this year with precautions in place related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ski swap is set for Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 at the Wave. Traditionally held in November, organizers have moved the event earlier this year to allow those attending to line up outside while social distancing.

“We want to be COVID safe,” organizer Sue Moll says. “We worked with the Wave and the health department to come up with a plan that would still let us have the swap.”

Equipment drop off will be on Friday, Oct. 9 from 1-7 p.m. Appointments will be required and there will only be 30 appointments per hour.

Those wanting to sell equipment, must register through the club’s website online where they will list all of the items and prices. Price tags must be printed at home and attached to each item, which will be approved by the club for sale.

“Everything has to be registered online for the drop off on Friday,” Moll said. “People can’t linger when they are dropping off things.”

The sale will be on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Those attending the swap will be required to wear a mask and no one will be allowed to enter without one. Hand sanitizer tables will be available for use.

There will only be 30 people allowed in the gym for the sale at one time. When one person leaves, another will be allowed to enter.

The sale has been a club tradition since 1979.

Moll said it was important for the club to work to hold the sale this year even with modifications in place because it’s the club’s fundraiser, but also because it’s a community service.

“It’s an opportunity to trade out old equipment, but it also helps to make skiing affordable for families by providing an opportunity to sell and purchase gear,” she said.

The Big Mountain Ski Club is a nonprofit service organization, which offers free ski lessons for kids with a club membership. Proceeds from the sale go to fund the ski program and support other organizations.

For more information, visit http://www.bigmountainskiclub.org/.