Enthusiasts arrive hours early for first chance at gear and clothing during annual Juneau Ski Sale

Fundraiser for Juneau Ski Club and Juneau Ski Patrol occurs five weeks before scheduled opening of Eaglecrest Ski Area

Rory Vrabec, 7, looks for her first pair of downhill skis at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Eleanor Thomas, 17, was first in a very long line at Saturday’s annual Juneau Ski Swap by arriving at Centennial Hall at 6:45 a.m., more than three hours before the doors to the main ballroom opened.

"It's just kind of a tradition for my family to get here as early as possible," she said a few minutes before being let into the sale by a security guard.

Thomas said no other family members came for this year’s before-dawn wait, so she coaxed a couple of friends, Bergen Erickson and Mira Janes, to join her.

"I said she could get hot chocolate," Thomas said when asked how she persuaded them to show up that early.

Hot chocolate and cookies were indeed available outside the convention hall from youths with the Juneau Ski Club, which along with the Juneau Ski Patrol are the current beneficiaries of the annual nonprofit fundraiser that has occurred for more than 70 years. But the wait for the arrivals was longer than the sale itself, which ended at 1 p.m.

The line when the ballroom opened at 10 a.m. snaked along the full length of the interior hall, out the door, and along the length of the building’s exterior extending toward the State Office Building.

Eleanor Thomas, Bergen Erickson and Mira Janes — who were first in line at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall — talk with security volunteer Frank Reid just before the doors to the sale area open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Among the others at the front of the line were Carter Bancroft and Amelia Budd — he a downhill skier and her a cross-country enthusiast. Bancroft, who said he was selling some skis and mountain boots in addition to looking at what was for sale, said he’s been a big enthusiast of Eaglecrest Ski Area since moving to Juneau from Anchorage three years ago.

"It's such a fun mountain," he said, noting he prefers it to Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. "It's a little mom-and-pop operation. I'm just happy it's here and I just want it to keep going."

Eaglecrest has struggled with financial and operational problems in recent years, due to issues ranging from aging equipment to poor snow conditions, with local leaders now evaluating a new proposed strategic plan after cancelling a troubled gondola project earlier this year.

"I’m glad they were able to get out from under the gun," Bancroft said, echoing comments of many other people interviewed about moving on from the gondola. When asked if there are future changes he would like to see at the ski area, he said "I would love it if all the lifts function."

Eaglecrest’s target opening date for its 51st season is Saturday, Dec. 12.

People examine equipment at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Picking out her first set of downhill skis once the doors opened was Rory Vrabec, 7, who was with her parents and 3-year-old brother. Her father, Tommy Rory, said he’s planning to sign his daughter up for ski lessons at Eaglecrest this year, while he was more interested in looking for cross-country skis for himself.

"I’d love to do some more mountain biking up there in the summer," he said when asked what improvements or activities he’d like to see if Eaglecrest expands its offerings.

Kyle Willingham, 40, a lifelong Juneau resident, said he’s hoping to return to skiing after a broken leg 30 years ago halted his visits to Eaglecrest. He said the ski sale is an ideal place to seek gear and his interest was revived this year because "all my friends ski."

"I want whatever lets my friends have fun," he said when asked what he would like to see offered at Eaglecrest.

A variety of other outdoor gear and clothing for hiking, snowshoeing, camping and climbing was also on tables throughout the ballroom. Kaishau Weston, 15, examining a pair of ice climbing axes, said he’s found the ski sale to be a good place to look for such gear in past years.

Robert Provost, left, buys a snowboard from volunteer Natalie Wojtala at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Among people providing clothing and equipment for this year’s sale was Robert Provost, who also bought a snowboard for one of his sons and other equipment. He’s also the uncle of the first-in-line Eleanor Thomas and "I've been coming here since I was her age," but opted this year for a much shorter wait than her by arriving sometime after 8:30 a.m.

"It's where you get to sometimes find good bargains on winter gear," he said. "As the parent that I am now it's just kind of exchanging stuff, hopefully for a good price, with other parents."

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.

Kaishau Weston, 15, examines a pair of ice climbing axes at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Gwen Lockwood, left, examines cookies being sold by Juneau Ski Club members Caisa Spickler, 10, and Ellie Hatch, 9, during the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

A line extends past the exterior of Centennial Hall before the annual Juneau Ski Sale on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Ron Patungan, 24, examines a snowboard at the annual Juneau Ski Sale at Centennial Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)