By Kate Knight

The Stevens Point YMCA will host its 42nd annual Ski and Sports Swap on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 11 AM- 2 PM. 

The swap will be held inside the All Purpose Room of the YMCA, located at 1000 Division St. in Stevens Point. An entrance donation of $1 per person or $3 per family is requested.

The swap provides an affordable way for families and individuals to buy or sell new or pre-owned equipment including skis, snowboards, boots, skates and sporting goods alike.  

“One of our causes at the YMCA is to be socially responsible,” said Pete Matthai, senior director of youth development at the Stevens Point YMCA. “This event provides a way for the community to ‘swap out’ ski and sports equipment that they no longer use or children have grown out of. Many people come back every year to sell last year’s equipment and buy the equipment that will fit better.”

Matthai said the swap will help support several teen programs at the YMCA including Teen Night, Teen Leaders Club, Youth in Government, Girls Night Out and Adventure Club. Teens that attend these programs will also be volunteering at the swap.

“We typically have 35 to 45 volunteers that put in over 150 hours of volunteer time,” Matthai said. “It is quite an undertaking, but because we have been doing it since 1973, it runs pretty smoothly.” 

Matthai said he expects people will be lining up to get in hours before the swat actually opens. He predicts about 400 people to come through the doors.

An equipment check-in for those interested in selling items will be held Friday, Nov. 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM, and Saturday, Nov. 14 from 8:30-10:30 AM. Sellers may name their price and will receive 85 percent of the sale. Obsolete ski bindings are not allowed at the swap.

For more information on the Stevens Point YMCA and Ski and Sports Swap, visit www.spymca.org/ski-sports-swap or call (715) 342-2980.