The annual Whakatipu Ski Club Sale, at the Queenstown Events Centre, again attracted thousands of people hoping to get their mitts on some new or pre-loved gear ahead of this winter season.
Club president Adrian Hoddinott said while numbers coming through the doors appeared to have been slightly down this year, he expected the club had raised about $15,000, which would cover its Coronet Peak hut’s operating costs for the year and enable it to remain open.
"I think one of the things we reflected on this year ... yes, we hope to make about $15,000, but the value to the community, we feel, is a whole lot more than that," he said.
"You can still walk in here, in 2024, with a young family and you can kit out a young skier or snowboarder for less than $100, and we think that’s pretty good.
"Each year [the sale] becomes more and more important."
For the second time, the club shifted its gear registration online — sellers paid $4 to list an item and the club took a 20% commission from each sale.
