May 25th thru 27th . Saturday thru Monday . 10am to 6pm

The entire Memorial Day Weekend our parking lot will be full of great merchandise at big discounts! Ski Equipment, Skiwear, Footwear, Sportswear, and more.  Stop by and say hi and grab up some bargains.

While you’re there checkout our kayak and SUP rental fleet.

In Search of the Endless Winter

by Jessie Cassidy

Every autumn in the high alpine regions of the country the leaves begin to turn, the air becomes cooler, crisper, and snow eventually begins to coat the high peaks. For many in these mountainous regions this brings excitement as thoughts of the ensuing winter fill the heads of these winter enthusiasts. For a select few however frustration and disappointment are the feelings expressed rather than excitement. For these people winter is seen as a hindrance rather than a wonderful time of the year that many winter sports enthusiasts view it as. Known as Snowbirds, these types of people tend to spend the winter months in warmer regions of the country such as the sun belt. On the opposite end of the spectrum we see the reverse snowbirds if you will, those who seek endless winter.

Reverse Snowbirds are generally winter sports enthusiasts that seek endless winter by means of hiking hours for one run of skiing in the summer, or even moving to the Southern Hemisphere during our summer months. Come late April or early May most of us are content with barbequing and trading skis out for bikes. Meanwhile however, the reverse snowbirds are driving south to the Eastern Sierra’s to start the spring back country season. While we are drinking beers on the beach, these die hard skiers are hiking, often for hours, to ski just a few runs in the spring corn down on the east side.

Some of these reverse snowbirds even take it to the next level by moving to the Southern Hemisphere during our summer months. Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand are popular destinations among these winter enthusiasts. The Andes Mountain range in South America harbors high peaks and deep snow that keep these reverse snowbirds satisfied June through August.

While a majority of us are enjoying our favorite summer time activities such as SUP, biking, hiking and such, these select few are chasing endless winter season after season. Come October as the first snow begins to blanket the peaks in the Northern Hemisphere, most skiers are elated with joy as they have waited upwards of seven months to strap skis to their feet once again. Meanwhile these hardcore reverse snowbirds are returning from winter in the Southern Hemisphere only to have at it once again only ever increasing their ski day totals.

by Treas Manning

Which is right for you?
There are two types of recreational kayaks, the sit on top and the sit inside models.
Deciding on the right type of kayak is actually pretty easy once you understand the
advantages and disadvantages of both.

Sit-On-Top Kayaks
The most obvious aberration from the standard sit-inside kayak is the open cockpit.
An open cockpit is a shallow hollowed out seating area on the mid deck of the kayak. Essentially you are sitting on the deck and your legs and body are fully exposed.

This type of boat has several advantages, foremost is the ease of entering and exiting your kayak even in open water. That bring us to another advantage; should you capsize your sit-on kayak in open water it is much easier to right the boat as the haul is not engulfed with water. There may be some water in the hollowed out cockpit but the amount is minimal and top brands of this type of kayak have drains called scupper holes . Scupper holes are tubes that run from the cockpit and the tank well to the bottom of the hull of the boat. The hulls of the boat are sealed making the sit-on-top kayak virtually unsinkable. Because the cockpit is open and flat even in deep water it is easy to swing your legs and body back on to the kayak and you are on your way.

Another issue to take into consider, will you be kayaking with a dog? If so there is plenty of room for a medium size dog and it is much easier for a dog to jump up onto an open cockpit and remain balanced. Many sit-on-top kayaks are equipped with bungee deck rigging, tank wells, or hatches allowing for light storage of day gear.

PROS:

• Ease of entry and exiting when launching
• Easy to right your boat in open water
• Great when paddling with a dog or small child
• Virtually unsinkable

CONS:

• Exposure to the elements and cold weather

Sit-Inside Kayaks
The paddler on this type of kayak sits in the cockpit with their legs under the deck of the boat. Most sit-in kayaks have foot bracing and your knees are slightly bowed to the outer sides of the boat which give the kayaker great balance and control. Read the rest of this entry »

What is SUP yoga and can your skiing benefit from added strength and balance? If not for skiing, is there a more calming place for a yoga moment?