WENTWORTH, N.S. — Camryn Reid is in her best element zooming down a ski slope, feeling at one with nature.
But first, she needed to try on her skis, which she did together with her little sister Rhyse on Nov. 16. The two siblings joined hundreds of other bargain-hunters searching out a good deal at Ski Wentworth’s annual ski swap and sale.
“I like going down the hills with my friends and they’re getting skis too, so I’m really excited for that,” said Camryn.
Camryn and her family joined other people at Ski Wentworth, picking up discounted skis, snowboards and boots over the weekend. The club’s shop and other retailers also offered accessories from goggles to ski poles, while anyone feeling the Christmas spirit enjoyed a festive craft sale downstairs.
But Camryn and her family focused on skiing. Camryn herself joined a ‘Skiwee’ program through her school last year and enjoyed it, prompting her family to return for the swap and sale.
Camryn’s mother Erin Reid-Boily said hitting the ski slopes meant “less screen time, more family time.”
Proceeds from the swap and sale went towards the Canadian Ski Patrol, whose members help skiers and snowboarders in trouble out on the trails.
For Leslie Wilson, general manager and president of Ski Wentworth, the sale marked a solid start to the ski season.
“I get excited seeing all of these people that are here,” said Wilson. “It fills my heart, that’s for sure.”
Meantime, Meghan MacCulloch was filling her boots with a bargain deal. She bought skis for both herself and her five-year-old daughter Ruby. Their total cost was only about $100.
She recalled skiing at Wentworth “all the time,” as a youngster and was keen to return to the slopes with her own child.
“This seems like a good way to get back into skiing,” said MacCulloch. “It’s something we can do together. It’s something I grew up doing with my family at Ski Wentworth and it’s great to get outside and get some fresh air and be in nature.”
