QuickTake:

The 55th Eugene Ski Swap will take place Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. The event benefits local ski patrols and provides an opportunity for skiers and snowboarders to buy affordable new and used gear and connect with the community.

It’s ski swap season.

With a notoriously snowy La Niña winter expected, winter sports enthusiasts are preparing for plentiful powder days.

And Brian Millington, director of the 55th annual Eugene Ski Swap, is preparing for the annual event that brings together snow lovers for discounted gear.

Swap logistics

The swap, an opportunity to buy used and new winter sport equipment at discounted prices, will take place this weekend, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13th Ave., in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2. Customers must buy a $2 ticket either online or at the door to get in on Friday evening. On Saturday, admission is free.

Consigners can drop off gear to sell 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Attendees can expect to find everything they need to ski or snowboard, Millington said, but ski swaps are also helpful for parents wanting to affordably outfit kids for sledding or any kind of winter activities.

Customers can find used and new skis at discounted prices at the Eugene Ski Swap Oct. 24-25, 2025. The swap also benefits local volunteer ski patrols. Credit: Courtesy of Brian Millington

“Really, we’re catering to people that want to play in the snow,” said Millington, who is also director of Willamette Pass Ski Patrol.

Proceeds from the Eugene Ski Swap go to the three local ski patrols in the southern Willamette Valley: the Willamette Pass Ski Patrol, which covers Willamette Pass; the Santiam Pass Ski Patrol, which covers Hoodoo Ski Area; and the Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol which covers the snowshoe and cross-country ski trails around the Gold Lake Sno-Park. 

All patrols are nonprofit organizations that mostly operate on winter weekends to assist resort crews and fill gaps. They raise money to train their crews and buy equipment.

Tips for swap attendees

Millington offered five pointers for swap attendees:

Boots are organized by size at the annual Eugene Ski Swap. This year’s swap is happening Oct. 24-25 at the Lane Events Center. Credit: Courtesy of Brian Millington
  1. Get tickets early if you’re looking for the best bargain: For ski swap customers hoping to be the first inside the door on Friday, the sooner you buy a ticket, the better. Attendees can buy tickets online and will receive a number used to stagger the crowd’s entry Friday evening. The lower the number, the closer the attendee is to the front of the line at 5 p.m. Friday.
  1. Ask for help: Ski patrol volunteers and workers from ski shops will be at the swap to assist customers needing advice, measurements and help finding specific items. They can advise customers on what gear to buy based on their size and experience level.
  1. Know your budget: Ski and snowboarding equipment is expensive — a new no-frills boots-and-skis setup can easily total $1,000 these days — but swaps can make winter sports more accessible. Millington said swap customers can find boots discounted by 75% to 80%, and if you get there early, a decent pair of skis and bindings can be had for $100 to $150. While there will be some compromises in quality, Millington said, swap workers can often outfit someone with skis and boots for as low as $250. This can be a good option for people who have rented gear in the past and want a basic setup while they save for nicer gear in the future.
  1. Assess the condition of items: Customers should examine used items for wear and tear. Millington advised customers to avoid buying helmets if they have visibly been in an accident, for example. When buying used skis, he checks for the condition of the base and edges of the skis to make sure they will be tuneable. He also looks at how responsive or flexible they are. The more a skier or rider uses their skis or snowboard, the less “snappy” they get, Millington said, which affects the feel.
  1. Get connected: The annual ski swap is also an opportunity for ski resorts to sell passes and scout out seasonal employees. Ski patrols will also have tables where people can sign up to be volunteers. Millington said being a part of a ski patrol can help people feel more connected to their community. Volunteers work in fields ranging from academia and law to construction and firefighting.

The swap will accept cash, credit cards and digital wallet payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

Lilly is a graduate of Indiana University and has worked at the Indianapolis Star and in Burlington, Vermont, as well as working as a foreign language teacher in France. She covers education and children's issues for Lookout Eugene-Springfield.