Remember that pair of gloves you wore out last year and never replaced, or perhaps the pole you broke or the jib board you really want to add to your quiver? Well, a ski swap is the perfect occasion to fulfill these and pretty much any other gear needs you may have before heading into winter. Because ski swaps offer much more than just ski or boards, I wanted to pass along the info about the local Park City swaps as well as how to make the best use of your time.

• The crown jewel of swaps here in Park City is the Park City Ski Swap (major fundraising event for the Park City Ski Team). In it's 40th year, it's the largest swap in the area and runs for 3 days, starting tonight from 8pm - 1am, Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday from 10am-2pm. This swap is so big that it's held at the Basin Rec Field House.
• If the big swap seems a bit much, you can head over to the St. Lawrence Ski & Snowboard sale at Zermatt Resort in Midway. This swap starts today from 9am-6pm and runs through tomorrow from 9am-4pm.

Know you know when and where, here are some tips:

• The swaps can sometimes be a bit intimidating with a wide variety of equipment, so it's always a good idea to do a bit of research about the gear that you are looking for.
• If you want the widest selection of items, by all means queue up and try to be one of the first through the doors. If you're not as concerned about selection and just want to browse, wait until near the end when things are more picked through, but bargains always remain and often you can find the best deals in the closing hours.
• Bring a pair of ski socks if you're planning to buy boots.
• Swaps usually have knowledgable staff who can help you out if you have questions, often they are ski shop employees, or parents of ski team members who know ski gear.
• Check what forms of payment a swap accepts before you head out.
• Remember that ski swaps are much more than just skis and snowboards, they include all items related to skiing and riding from long johns to helmets to poles and more...

So gear up, have fun, and remember to stock up on your skiing and riding gear needs because there are only 15 days until opening day!

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