It’s Ski Swap time in Boise…
Just in time for this weekend’s 67th annual Ski Swap at Expo Idaho in Boise, Tamarack Resort is reporting 17 new inches of snow since 3 p.m. yesterday – that’s right, 17 inches. And it’s still snowing there. And snow magnet Grand Targhee is reporting a 41-inch base and a Nov. 17 opening date.
The slopes aren’t open yet, but it’s a sign that it’s time to start thinking winter, as is this weekend’s Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation fundraising swap. Sellers can bring their ski and snowboard equipment in to Expo Idaho from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow; doors open to buyers at 3 this afternoon, with hours running 3-10 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admission for buyers is $5 today and $3 Saturday and Sunday; another option is free admission Sunday with a canned food donation to benefit the Boise Rescue Mission. It’s a time-honored tradition for ski families in search of economical gear to get the family out on the slopes.
BBSEF, formerly the Bogus Basin Ski Racing Alliance, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year of providing training and competition programs for aspiring young ski racers. Both my kids went through the program, which is advertised as focusing on “inspiring young skiers and boarders to become great all-mountain skiers and boarders while having fun and making friends!” Mine didn’t end up as big-time ski racers, but they sure had fun, and still do, on the slopes, and they are excellent skiers. The program serves kids ages 6-18, and its alumni include five Olympians, an X-Games athlete and a U.S. Freeskiing champion. There’s more info at www.bbsef.org.
At the swap, you’ll find new and used ski equipment, including both Alpine and Nordic; snowboard equipment; clothing; accessories; and more. There are also booths and displays from ski resorts and skiing-related organizations.
And that’s not the only local sign of impending winter: The annual Warren Miller ski film, entitled “Line of Descent,” plays Nov. 16-18 at the Egyptian Theater in downtown Boise. That showing is a benefit for BBSEF, Recreation Unlimited and the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol.
