Let the snow sports begin

Registration for Saturday’s Winter Swap is 3-8 p.m. today

COEUR d'ALENE — The wet snow flurried as more than 120 volunteers scurried on Thursday, preparing for the 17th annual Winter Swap Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

The Winter Swap, organized by the Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain ski patrols, is an opportunity for snow enthusiasts to sell gear, find deals on new and used equipment and clothing and celebrate the beginning of the winter sport season.

Swap volunteer, Lookout Pass Ski Patrol volunteer and lifelong skier Kirk Crum of Coeur d'Alene said the Winter Swap is also a family-oriented event.

"We get the joy of helping people find gear for their kids and see their kids get excited about the upcoming skiing and snowboarding,” Crum said.

More than 10,000 boots, boards, skis, coats, snow pants, accessories and more from 15 different vendors will be on display throughout buildings 1, 2, 3 and 19, as well as a multitude of items community members will bring in during registration.

"People come in with the mentality of, 'I'm going to get a good deal,' and they are," said Lookout Pass Ski Patrol volunteer and Winter Swap coordinator Denny Burt of Coeur d'Alene. "They get all jazzed up about it, and it doesn't hurt that we already have snow on our mountains."

Vendors will be on site to sell passes and take photos for season passes as well as provide information about improvements for the coming season. Other booths will have displays of snow gear from local shops and other winter sports items.

First-time volunteer and Lookout Ski Patrol candidate Andrea Finney of Liberty Lake said she feels the Winter Swap is a wonderful community event where the good deals are difficult to ignore.

"It makes it hard not to want to upgrade everything," she said. "It is pretty neat that (vendors) bring in last year's stuff and discount it and make it more affordable. Instead of having to try to find a sale, you get a good deal right away, so it's pretty cool."

The Winter Swap is the major annual fundraiser for Lookout and Silver Mountain's ski patrols and also benefits the Lookout Pass Race Team and Free Ski School. Funds will also be used for patroller training to improve rescue and first aid capabilities on the mountains.

Merchandise registration for the public is from 3-8 p.m. today. All items must be clean and in good condition. Merchandise is accepted on consignment only, with 25 percent of the selling price withheld at the time of the sale. The Swap will only take "shaped" alpine/downhill skis on consignment.

The Winter Swap opens Saturday at 9 a.m. Admission is $5 per person; youths 12 and younger are free with a paying adult. Each paid admission comes with a raffle entry to win a season ski or snowboard pass from Lookout Ski Area and Silver Mountain.

Consignees must pick up checks and unsold merchandise at the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Info: www.winterswap.org or email admin@winterswap.org