Ski Fest and Swap
For some, skiing is a cold, tiresome winter sport requiring deep-pockets and early mornings, but for others like Curtis Mellor, it’s a budding lifestyle for himself and his eight children.
Recently moved from Austin, Texas, Mellor wanted to give his family new experiences in Idaho Falls. The Ski Sale and Swap hosted by the Idaho Falls Ski Club gave Mellor that opportunity at the right budget.
Mellor raced back and forth through the expansive building, piling equipment for each of his eight children ages two to 17. At prices of $20 for boots and $30 for skis, his pile became increasingly larger.
Beginning last Friday and lasting throughout Saturday, the Ski Fest and Swap provided South Eastern Idaho residents the chance to purchase used and new equipment at prices only seen at events like those.
“I did find a pair [skis] that might work for me for $20 and my son for $15,” said Mellor. “The most expensive pair I found was $70. You can buy a pair for the same price it would cost you to rent just a couple of times.”
Locals and vendors arrived last Friday before the opening event to commission their ski and boarding gear at 20% cost given to the Idaho Falls Ski Club. If gear sells, individuals who provided items return Saturday evening to retrieve their portion of the sale and any equipment which didn’t sell.
Representatives from Idaho Mountain Trading conducted ski, board and binding checks on used gear to inform potential buyers of defects or quality related issues. For families new to the ski scene such as Mellor’s, the reassurance is an added bonus.
“I think it provides affordable equipment to families,” said Deborah Wagoner, board member on the Idaho Falls Ski Club. “Proceeds from the sale, in addition to providing affordable ski equipment and clothing, go to Idaho Falls and Skyline High School for helping setup and tear down the event. There’s a joint ski team between them, and they’ll benefit from the proceeds, too.”
Opportunities offered to high school students by the Idaho Falls Ski Club extend into funding towards the interconnected high school ski club. Trips to Grand Targhee, Big Sky and Jackson Hole become more affordable for students taking part in the high school program thanks to proceeds from the swap.
Funds generated by the event are also distributed to the local Ski Racing Association, which focuses on providing professional lessons and critiques to upcoming skiers. In recent years, locations for training changed due to operation hours at local mountain Kelly Canyon.
For reasons undisclosed, Sunday has become inoperable on the small mountain, leaving local ski racing members in need of new territory. Consequentially, Grand Targhee is the new location for the racing association, giving racers a larger mountain with varying terrain.
“It’s like a bar being closed on Friday,” said Lennia Machen, staffer and previous board member of the ski club. “So the ski club actually goes up on their own money and grooms trails above Kelly Canyon and has warming huts up there. Why would we do that anymore!?”
Tensions have risen between Kelly Canyon and the Idaho Falls Ski Club, especially after the proposition of a $5 fee enforced by Kelly Canyon for cross country skiers traveling up the State owned road. Regardless of the maintenance from the ski club on their own dime and effort, Kelly Canyon insists on implementing fees for road and parking lot usage.
Differences haven’t dissuaded the ski club from supporting individuals still interested in pursuing local racing. Deals with Grand Targhee made this season, thanks to proceeds from events like the swap, ensure affordable race lessons and coaching for members of the Ski Racing Association.
For those not interested in racing professionally, private lessons from Grand Targhee can still be obtained for select weekends for only $11 a person for ski club members.
“I have had a private Telemark lesson four or five times in a row for $11,” said Machen. “I give them [instructor] a better tip than I pay for the lesson. They cost $100 or more for a private session, so you can’t lose with this.”