Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The granddaddy of ski swaps in Steamboat Springs this weekend provides a little something for everyone.

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club's 2002 Ski & Swap kicks off Friday.

As always, the event features a lot of new and used equipment at modest prices.

"This is a good opportunity for families to look for items for their children," Katy Tirone said.

Tirone is the director of development and special events for the Winter Sports Club. She said the ski swap is an essential fund-raising event for the club, but it also has grown to be an important event for in the community as well.

People needing to get outfitted for the winter often wait for the ski swap.

"If the Winter Sports Club was in the position that we didn't need the fund-raiser we probably would still hold it for the community," Tirone said.

The swap serves two purposes.

People with old gear, such as skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, winter clothes, backpacks, boats or anything else that might be worth something, can drop it off from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Middle School for consignment sales.

The goods are then displayed on the Steamboat Springs Middle School's cafeteria and stage, providing a large selection for the shopper.

Twenty percent of the sales go to the Winter Sports Club and the rest goes to the person who owned the gear.

On top of that, 17 venders will be set up in the middle school's gym selling new stuff, such as clothes, gear and a variety of other outdoor items.

"That gym is going to be full this year," Tirone said.

Last year, the Winter Sports Club raised $18,000 from the event and Tirone said she is planning on making at least as much this year.

The money is important to the Winter Sports Club, she said.

It's the oldest ski club west of the Mississippi, started in 1914 to plan the first Winter Carnival. It still assumes those duties but also focuses on training local athletes to be competitive in winter sports.

About 650 athletes have already signed up for the club this year.

"This is potentially looking to be a record breaking year," Tirone said of the enrollment.

Athletes pay to be in the club but they don't pay enough to cover the costs of the program.

Fund-raising events, such as the ski swap, make up the difference.

The swap starts at 8 p.m. Friday and lasts through the night at the Steamboat Springs Middle School. It costs $5 to get in on Friday. On Saturday, the event is free from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.