The forecast of snow in the news brings with it the first signs of the 1989-90 ski season . . . the first of the annual ski swaps. Opening Friday will be the Snowbird and Rowmark swaps, and the following weekend Park City will hold its swap.
Ski swaps have become an economical and popular way of upgrading equipment and getting started in the sport. Parents have also found swaps an economical means of outfitting children.Under the swap format, individuals and ski retailers place both new and used ski equipment in the swap, ranging from skis to parkas to ski gloves. Some equipment is well used, some only slightly used and some not used at all.
In most cases, the equipment is priced far below what it sold for new or even if it were on a retailer's shelf.
The Snowbird swap will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in the Cottonwood Room in the main tram building at the resort. Hours will be noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 per person. Sellers can begin checking in equipment at 9 a.m. on Friday, and anytime thereafter through the swap. All proceeds go to the Snowbird Ski Foundation.
Snowbird will also offer "Swap Talks" during the event. These are informal sessions on ski tuning, waxing and boot-fitting with experts from the Sport Stalker at Snowbird.
Also, ski movies will run continuously between Swap Talk sessions. The movies and seminars are included in the price of admission. There will also be daily drawings for new skis and season passes at Snowbird.
The Rowmark swap will also run Friday through Sunday, at Rowland Hall, 843 Lincoln Street (800 S. 850 East). Hours will be Friday 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Equipment check-in will begin Thursday after 6 p.m. Admission is $2. Proceeds will go to the Rowmark Ski Academy and Rowland Hall Ski Program.
The Park City swap will be the following week, Nov. 4-5, at Treasure Mountain Middle School, off Route 248 in Park City. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Equipment check-in will be 4 to 9 p.m. All proceeds go to the Park City Ski Foundation.
Equipment not sold is to be picked up on Sunday.
Under swap rules, anyone wishing to sell equipment can place it in the swap and mark down a selling price. If the item is sold, a percentage, ranging from 15 to 25 percent, goes to the ski group and the remainder is paid to the seller. If the item does not sell, there is no fee charged.