ROCKPORT — After weeks of planning and developing systems and processes to keep safe, the volunteer organizers of the annual Camden Hills Regional High School ski team ski sale have come to the conclusion to cancel the event, according to a news release. 

“We’ve been working for the past month to determine whether we can pull off the annual Ski Sale this year,” said Margo Murphy, the sale’s faculty advisor. “Given all the variables (rising positivity rates, social distancing, outdoor setup, etc) and out of an abundance of caution, we decided to cancel the Sale this year.”

Consider shopping and posting your items for sale or inquire about your needs using other channels like Camden-Rockport Yard Sale, Midcoast Message and Marketplace on Facebook, the release stated. Local businesses like Maine Sport and Sidecountry Sports can help you out too, per the release. 

This decision was not arrived at lightly and there were many factors considered, the release noted. 

“Highest on the list was the safety of our community versus the benefit of having the sale,” stated the release. “Even though we’d be following the COVID-19 state guidelines, all the volunteers and in turn their extended families would risk being exposed to literally hundreds of shoppers and others dropping and picking up gear they want to sell or buy.”

With the number of cases on the rise, organizers were concerned about the possibility of a last-minute event cancelation being necessary if numbers worsen or if positive cases impact volunteers, or if volunteers need to enter quarantine due to being a close contact of a positive individual. 

The release also noted almost all the sporting goods stores that normally participate have opted not to participate this year, meaning none of their inventory at the usual deep discounts would have been available.

“Unfortunately, the ski teams rely on the Sale as the primary fund-raising source to buy all their gear for the year,” stated the press release. “We anticipate these two sports [nordic and alpine ski] will happen this year in some form or another. Please consider donating to the ski teams at CHRHS Ski teams, 25 Keelson Dr., Rockport, ME 04856.”