Ski Swaps can help make ski racing more affordable
Skiing and ski racing can be cost prohibitive. Especially once your young ski racer gets to a level where they need more than one pair of skis. Or if you’ve got more than one ski racer in the family. Ski Swaps can be a very viable way to make ski racing more affordable.
Educate yourself and shop ski swaps with a plan
There is so much stuff at a ski swap, it’s easy to get over whelmed. Know your exact needs and the current USSA rules before you buy anything at a ski swap. Need help determining what gear your young ski racer needs? We’ve summarized much of this information on our blog post Jr Ski Racing Gear Guide (U16 and Younger).
Know the bindings that your child can use that are still indemnified – here’s a 2015-16 list of indemnified ski bindings (we couldn’t find a 16-17 list out yet, this list should work fine). If you are buying used skis, try to buy them with the binding on that you need to use. You never know how many holes could be drilled in that ski already – the last thing you want to do is remove that binding to install another and find that you cannot because there are too many holes in the ski already. Know the USSA/FIS rules for ski lengths for your child’s age group. For information on the latest race ski rules read 2017 Ski Rules – Important Update from our friends the ski racing experts at Peak Ski Shop . If your child is racing USSA and you hope to get more than 1 year out of the ski race suit, make sure the race suit you are looking at meets the FIS CS 2015 equipment rule and has the proper label on the leg of the suit or a plomb.
Used gear fits differently than new gear
When buying used ski racing gear, make sure you buy the proper size for the current season of wear. If possible take your kids with to try this stuff on. Even though that’s probably the last thing you want to do, it’s the best way to shop for used gear. Used gear fits differently than new gear. Helmets pack out. Race suits stretch out. A used size medium (of any softgood item), will definitely fit differently than that same size medium brand new. Know how the gear is supposed to fit. Buy based on fit, not based on what the tag says. Read Ski Racing Gear Sizing Help for Junior Ski Racers and buy the proper fit/size.
Don’t just buy because it is cheap. Make informed decisions and get the right gear so you don’t need to be bothered with storing it for a season and re-selling it at next years ski swaps!
Looking for a ski swap near you? Here’s a comprehensive list of some of the better ski swaps in North America.
MIDWEST
Sept 15 – 18: Joe’s Ski and Snowboard Sale and Swap, St. Paul, MN
September 23 – 25: Buck Hill Tent Sale, Burnsville, MN
Sept 30 – Oct. 1: Welch Village Old School Sale & Ski Swap, Welch, MN
Sept 30 – Oct 1: Granite Peak Ski Team Ski Swap, Wassau, WI
Oct 1: Skitoberfest, Boyne Mountain Resort, MI
Oct 1: Harbor Springs Ski Team Ski Swap, Nub’s Nob, MI
Oct 1 – 2: Wild Mountain Open House and Equipment Swap, Wild Mountain, MN
Oct 2 – 11: Afton Alps Fall Fair & Ski Swap, Hastings, MN
Oct 10 – 16: Boston Mills/Brandywine/Alpine Valley Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Peninsula, OH
Oct 14 – 15: Mt Kato Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Lake Crystal, MN
Oct 15: Marquette Mountain Racing Team Ski Swap, Marquette Mountain Marquette, MI
Oct 21 – 22: Giants Ridge Ski Swap, Biwabik, MN
Oct 28 – 30: Team Duluth Ski Swap, Duluth, MN
Oct 29: Ski Swap at Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, MI
Oct 29: Chestnut Mountain Resort Open House and Ski Swap, Galena, IL
Nov 12: Central Wisconsin YMCA Ski & Sports Swap, Stevens Point, WI
Dec 3 -4: Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Resale, Madison, WI
MID ATLANTIC
Sept 25 & Nov 20: Pro-Fit Ski Snowboard & Bike Swap and Sale, Leesburg, VA
Oct 1 -2 & 8 – 9: Mt Pleasant Ski Swap, Cambridge Springs, PA
Oct 1 – 2 & Nov 5 – 6: Alpine Ski Shop Ski Swap, Sterling, VA
Oct 8 – 9: Mountainside Ski & Sports Used Ski and Board Swap Sale, Mechanicsburg, PA
Oct 10 – 15: Buckman’s Tent Sale & Ski Swap, All Stores, PA
Nov 5 – 6: Ski Roundtop Fall Mega Sale, Lewisberry, PA
Nov 23 – 24: Annual Ski Swap at the Lodge at Ski Big Bear, Lackawaxen, PA
Nov 25: Wintergreen Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Wintergreen, WV
NORTHEAST
Sept 30: Potter Brothers Ski Swap, Kingston, NY
Sept 30 – Oct 2: Pico Ski Club Ski Swap, Pico Mountain, VT
Sept 30 – Oct 2: The Annual 3 Million Dollar Ski Swap and New Ski Sale, Rochester, NY
Oct 6 – 10: Wachusett Mountain Ski & Snowboard Sale & Swap, Wachusett, MA
Oct 8 – 10: Ski Butternut Ski Swap, Great Barrington, MA
Oct 8 – 10: Waterville Valley BBTS Ski Swap, Waterville Valley, NH
Oct 8 – 10, 15 – 16: Ski Haus Ski Swap, Wappingers Falls, NY
Oct 9 – 11: Killington Ski Club Ski Swap, Killington, VT
Oct 18 – 19: Bousquet Mountain Ski Sale, Pittsfield, MA
Oct 28 – 30: Greek Peak Ski Club Ski Swap, Cortland, NY
Nov 4 – 6: Ski Sundown Ski Patrol Ski Swap, New Hartford, CT
Nov 5: Gunstock Ski Club Ski Swap, Gilford, NH
Nov 6: Pat’s Peak Ski Team Ski & Snowboard Sale, Henniker, NH
Nov 6: Brunswick Ski & Skate Sale, Brunswick, ME
Nov 12 – 13: Waitsfield Ski and Skate Sale, Waitsfield, VT
Nov 18 – 19: OMS Ski Swap & Sale, Okemo Mountain, Ludlow, VT
Nov 21 – 22: Cambridge Rotary Ski & Ride Swap, Jeffersonville, VT
Nov 25 – 27: Ski Haus Ski Swap, Brewster & New Milford, NY
WEST
Sept 30 – Oct 2: SSEF Ski & Snowboard Swap, Snowbird, UT
Oct 14 – 15: Winter Park Ski & Board Swap, Winter Park, CO
Oct 16: Sac State Ski Swap, Sacramento, CA
Oct 21 – 23: Vail Ski Swap, Vail, CO
Oct 21 – 23: Sandia Peak Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Albuquerque, NM
Oct 22: North Tahoe Ski/Sport Swap, North Tahoe, CA
Oct 22 – 23: Marin Ski & Snowboard Swap, San Rafael, CA
Oct 24: Jackson Hole Ski Club Swap, Jackson, WY
Oct 27 – 29: Snowbasin Ski Sale & Swap, Farmington, UT
Nov 4 -5: Red Lodge Ski Swap, Red Lodge, MT
Nov 5: San Ramon Valley High School Ski & Snowboard Swap, Danville, CA
Nov 5: Truckee Ski and Snowboard Swap, Truckee, CA
Nov 5 – 6: Bridger Ski Foundation Ski Swap, Bozeman, MT
Nov 7: Hesperus Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Durango, CO
Nov 10 -12: Beaver Mountain Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Garden City, UT
Nov 11 – 12: University of Nevada Reno Ski Swap, Grand Sierra Resort Reno, NV
Nov 12 – 13 & 19 – 20: Helm of Sun Valley’s Ski Swap, San Mateo, CA
Dec 2 – 4: Ski Dazzle, Los Angeles, CA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Oct 15: MBSEF Skyliners Ski Swap, Bend, OR
Oct 21 – 22: Corvallis Ski Swap, Corvallis, OR
Oct 22: 49° North Ski Swap, Chewelah, WA
Oct 23: Leavenworth Winter Sports Club Ski Swap, Leavenworth, WA
Oct 27 – 30: Eugene Ski Swap, Eugene, OR
Oct 29 – 30: Mt Spokane Ski Swap, Spokane Valley, WA
Nov 1 -2 : Tacoma Ski Swap, Tacoma, WA
Nov 2 – 6: Ski Fever & Snowboard Show, Portland, OR
Nov 4 – 6: Bogus Basin Ski Swap, Boise, ID
Nov 11 – 12: Newport Ski Swap, Bellevue, WA
Nov 12: Schweitzer Alpine Racing School Ski Swap, Sandpoint, ID
Nov 21 -22: Olympia Ski Club Ski Swap, Olympia, WA
CANADA
Oct 13 – 16: Toronto Ski Swap, Mississauga, ON
Oct 21 – 23: Calgary New & Used Ski Sale, Calgary, AB
Have we missed one of your favorite ski swaps? Or included one the that is not so good anymore? Please let us know!
