A successful ski fair, with “a lot of people and material“, according to the club manager.”We feel that people are impatient to find the tracks“, he assures. The principle: a second-hand equipment store, of which 10% of the profits will allow the club to finance the coming season. Christophe Gaide is the manager of Ski Snow USCC.
How does this scholarship work?
Christophe Gaide – This scholarship allows you to raise funds for the club. We put the equipment we want to sell, new or used: skis, boots, poles and clothes. We pay 50 cents for the deposit, then the club recovers 10% of sales. This money is used to avoid excessively increasing annual fees for children, training federal monitors, maintaining minibuses and purchasing competition poles. In principle, we make a profit of around 2,000 euros.
Are these funds needed, especially after a year without skiing?
It is even vital for the club’s cash flow. We have subsidies from the town hall of Chambéry, but we have minibuses to maintain, insurance … Without a grant, it would be complicated, it is very important.
How are we doing as a club after a year like this?
It was a blank season: no money coming in, nor too much money going out. We managed to balance the books. On the other hand, it should not last two years in a row.
Is this scholarship also an opportunity for you to start registrations?
Absolutely, and it worked very well. We are counting on 160 children, which represents four buses, and we have already had more than 90 registrations this weekend. In addition, we have new members, children from five to six years old. We feel that parents want them to see the mountains, skiing … It’s nice, for the moment we are confident for this season.