The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s (SVSEF) annual ski swap has been the unofficial beginning of ski fever in the Valley for over three decades. Running last weekend, the swap offered every piece of winter sports gear from socks and goggles to snowboards and snowshoes, along with some enthusiasm about the soon-to-come winter season.
Tables covered in mounds of mittens and gloves kept attendees digging, searching for their sizes, while the constant sound of zippers and elated people, each squealing as though they had just won some sort of snow-gear lottery, could be heard between the racks of coats, jackets and pants.
“There were some screaming deals,” said Don Wiseman, the executive director of the SVSEF. “Some of the local merchants had some great buys on skis and boots. There were plenty of happy people.”
And, aside from happy customers, Wiseman said the event raised a little over $20,000 for the SVSEF, which made him quite happy as well. The ski swap is the SVSEF’s first fundraiser of the season and the amount raised will help go toward their yearly $2 million budget.
Wiseman said the amount raised at this year’s swap matched, almost to the dollar, to the money raised last year.
clockwise: Julie Molema of Sun Valley Magazine models a pair of goggles she is about to buy; John Mauldin tries on a pair of ski boots; Mountains of mittens and gloves covered tables; Kelly Weld debates between buying a pair of cross country skis at the swap or waiting until later. Skis for sale; Ryan McPherson purchases some cross country skis from volunteer cashiers Mike Penrose and Sandra Caulkins; Callie Weber (left) tells her mom, Annie Weber (right) that she likes the pink down coat Annie just tried on; People browse through the maze of ski boots.
The next fundraiser for the SVSEF is the Fall Game Dinner in the Sun Valley Limelight Room Saturday Nov. 13, 2010.
Wiseman said the swap couldn’t have been successful without all the volunteers, local businesses and support involved. He then added, with a hint of excitement, a comment about how perfect it was for the ski swap to end with snow on Baldy.
With 11 inches covering the mountain after Sunday and residents ready to get decked out in their newly acquired gear, the ski swap has once again got the Valley itching for winter to come.
Things to buzz about:
Sun Valley Crosstoberfest 2010, Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31
This weekend-long festival centered on the Idaho State Championships for cyclo-cross bike racing, seasonal food and beer will take place at the River Run Plaza. The festival boasts free kids activities, sales on ski and snowboard gear, beer gardens and entertainment. Registration for cyclo-cross racers begins at 11 a.m. both days, and the races are set to run until 4 p.m. For more information visit: http://blog.sunvalley.com/2010/10/2010-crosstoberfest-cyclo-cross-state-championships/
Hailey Halloween Hoopla, Friday, Oct. 29, 2010
Bring your families to Hailey between 3-7 p.m. for the Hailey Halloween Hoopla. Trick-or-treat at businesses with orange and black balloons, compete in the costume contest at the Wicked Spud or visit Cari’s Hari Salon to check out the Spooky Alley. Webb Garden will offer kids activities including a pumpkin toss, and the Meriwether Building will host the Haunted Kitchen. For more information contact the Hailey Chamber at 788-3484 or visit: http://members.haileyidaho.com/events/details/hailey-halloween-hoopla.
Bellevue Haunted Forest, Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010
For a scare, visit the Bellevue Haunted Forest between 5:30-9:15 p.m. Tickets are a $5 per person donation to the Howard Preserve and can be purchased at the Splash and Dash, The Brickhouse and The Bead Shop in Hailey and Twin Falls. The “after dark” Bellevue Haunted Forest becomes scarier, so it is recommended young children go before the sun sets. Children under 5 years of age will not be admitted. For more information visit: http://bellevuehauntedforest.com/.
photography by Hailey Tucker
