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Bargain hunters flock to ski swap
Madison Knox, 9, of Ashland says, "Hey, mom, they fit perfectly," while trying on a pair of ski boots at the Mount Ashland Racing Association ski swap at North Medford High School on Saturday. She balked at the orange pair at her left foot. The Mount Ashland Racing Association's swap meet continues today with low-priced ski gear By BILL VARBLE Madison Knox isn't exactly warming up to the orange ski boot, that's clear. "It's too stiff," the 9-year-old Ashland girl tells John Ball. Ball, of the Mount Ashland Racing Association, is helping Madison and her mother, Nora Knox, shop for ski stuff for Madison and her 5-year-old sister, Olivia. The MARA ski swap meet Friday night and Saturday at North Medford High School drew several hundred skiers and winter sports mavens on the hunt for bargains. The event features downhill and cross-country skis, boards, telemark gear, clothes and other winter stuff. It continues from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Admission is $1. Madison Knox has a Dalbello boot on one foot and a Tecnica on the other. Ball is explaining that the boot - and her ankle - should flex like a hinge. "Hop like a bunny," he says. He thinks the orange boot is a good fit. "It's OK for this year," he says. But Madison, who started skiing at age 6, isn't convinced. Nora Knox's plan today is to find good skis, boots and poles that fit Madison and maybe a ski jacket for Olivia. Olivia, who started skiing last year, will also get ski hand-me-downs from Madison. Chris Hald, another MARA volunteer, says guys like Ball, who is a ski coach, make a difference in connecting people with gear that works for them. "We pride ourselves on helping people get the right stuff," he says. The Medford-based ski swap is in its third year. While still smaller than a popular ski swap at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, it helped raise almost $5,000 for MARA programs last year, Hald says. The money raised helps offset the cost of programs for kids. "It's grown by leaps and bounds," he says. MARA offers ski and snowboard programs for kids from 6 to 18 at Mount Ashland. Programs run for the duration of the season, starting at $235 (for information, call MARA at 245-5353). People who want to sell gear agree to give MARA 20 percent of their sale price. Most left things to sell Friday night. Sunday afternoon they'll pick up either checks or their unsold things. The event also features ski shops and vendors from as far as Mount Shasta in Northern California. Randy Warren of Ashland has come three years running. He scored big this time, picking up a $375 pair of racing ski boots for $49 for his daughter, Lindsay, who is on the Ashland High School racing team. He got his son Stuart a $390 Gore-Tex racing parka for $30, and himself a pair of $175 hiking boots for $40. "Awesome equipment," he says. "Incredible prices." Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail bvarble@mailtribune.com |
