BANGOR, Maine — Outfitters throughout the state will offer discounted gear at the 43rd Annual Penobscot Valley Ski Club Sale scheduled to run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Bangor Parks and Recreation building at 647 Main Street in Bangor.
In addition to downhill and cross-country skis, the sale will feature snowboards, ski poles, ski boots, helmets and a variety of outdoor winter apparel such as coats, hats, gloves and snow pants.
“This year, we’re expecting between 3,500 and 4,300 pieces of equipment,” said Penobscot Valley Ski Club Vice President Dan Perkins. “Most of the equipment being sold is last year’s products.”
While about a dozen Maine outfitters, such as Bangor’s Ski Rack Sports, provide the majority of the sale’s inventory, the event is also an opportunity for Maine recreationists to sell and purchase used ski and snowboard equipment.
“It’s hit or miss. We probably will have 100-300 pieces of used equipment, and that all comes in on Friday night,” Perkins said. “You never know. But it’s pretty cheap … the earlier you come to the sale, the more selection there will be.”
Used equipment needs to be registered the evening before the sale, 5 -7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the Bangor Parks and Recreation building. Registration is $1 per item. Sellers name the price for each item, and the club will receive 15 percent commission. Unsold items must be reclaimed between 4:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. Items not claimed by 6 p.m. will be donated to charity.
In support of the event, Saddleback donated 25 lift tickets to be given to customers during the sale; and Hermon Mountain will offer reduced rates on mounting and adjustment services for equipment purchased at the sale.
Employees from participating outfitters and Penobscot Valley Ski Club members will be on hand at the sale to provide information about the equipment and help customers find gear that suits their needs.
“If people come with a sense of what they will want to use the equipment for, that helps the process along,” said Perkins. “For example, with cross-country skis, will they want to only go on groomed trails or will they want to break trail in their backyard? For alpine, are they aggressive skiers on hard terrain or making gentle turns on beginner slopes?”
The Penobscot Valley Ski Club, formally incorporated in 1941, is one of Maine’s oldest ski clubs. Beginning in the late 1930s, the club has played a significant role in the development of local ski areas. Today, the club promotes alpine and Nordic skiing in the region through providing a variety of ski lessons and organizing ski trips, races and other events.
The club’s annual ski sale began in 1970 as an informal gear swap between club members and grew over the years to an event open to the public, according to longtime club members. Today, the sale raises the bulk of the club’s operating funds.
Penobscot Valley Ski Club members who work at the ski sale will be able to purchase ski equipment at 9 p.m. on Oct. 18, or as soon as the sales staff is ready. Members interested in volunteering should e-mail David Gauvin at dmg378@gmail.com.
For information about the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, visit www.pvskiclub.org.
Following is an incomplete list of ski swaps and sales being hosted throughout Maine for the 2013-14 season:
BETHEL — The 23rd Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 25 and 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 26, at Gould Academy Field House. For information, visit www.bethelouting.org.
CAMDEN — Camden Hills Regional High School Ski Swap, Nov. 23-24, at Camden Snow Bowl. For information, visit www.camdensnowbowl.com.
FARMINGTON — Titcombe Mountain-Farmington Ski Club ski swap and sale, 8 a.m.-noon at Mt. Blue High School. For information, visit www.titcombmountain.com.
FREEPORT — Freeport Ski Boosters 2013 Annual Ski Swap, 1-3 p.m. Oct. 19, at Freeport Ski & Bike at 308 Route 1. For information, call 319-2362 or visit www.maineskifamily.com/2013/10/freeport-ski-boosters-ski-swap.html.
PORTLAND — Down East Ski Sale and Winter Expo, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 30, at Portland Expo on Park Avenue. For information, visit www.downeastskiclub.com.
SCARBOROUGH — Ski sale fundraiser for Scarborough’s high school and middle school ski teams, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 26, at Scarborough Middle School.
YORK — The Second Annual Agamenticus XC Ski Club Used Equipment and Ski Sale, Nov. 2, at York Middle School. For information, visit agamenticusski.org.