Shop Profiles
SFO Snowboarding Profile
Give us a quick run-down of your shop and its history.
SFO was established in 1995 by Kent Uyehara. FTC had been selling snowboards for years and it was prevalent that snowboarders were a different breed of customer. So as time went by it was only right for snowboarders to have their own shop. So SFO was opened right next door to FTC on Shrader Street. Then soon after that both stores made their way down the block to Haight Street where we find ourselves today. We are SFO and we know how to party.
What is it about your shop that keeps the local shreds coming back to get all their gear?
SFO is a shop owned and run by snowboarders. We’re the only core snowboard shop in San Francisco and are repeatedly told we offer the best service in the city.
Describe your local shop crew. Do you often have people hanging out at the shop?
We get lurkers all day. Could be a gremlin girl from the night before or a homeless guy looking for food. We have a pretty vibrant crew who really kicks it though. All our skate and bike homies come in and give us the scoop. It’s chill.
What is it about your shop that sets it apart?
SFO has a family vibe. Everyone feels welcome here. We don’t care if it’s your first day up or your thousandth. You’ll get the service you need and the respect you deserve. I’m not going to “cool-guy” some gaper just to be a dick. It’s not our style. So I think that’s what sets us apart - family.
What’s your current set up?
I was able to try out a few different things this season, which was cool, but my favorite was the Rome Postermania with 390’s. I’m feeling that flat camber!
How many applications do you get per day, and how many do you actually read?
1-2 a day, our shop is small so we’re not often looking for help. Sometimes you read them and get blown away. It’s like wait…. So you have no experience, you got fired from jiffy lube for stealing, and you don’t snowboard? You’re in bro. Sike! No, you’re not. Except for the one kid who attached a lollipop to his resume.
What’re some of the most important aspects you look for in a new hire?
- You snowboard.
- You have worked in a shop before.
- You bring good stories to the table.
- You know how to party.
- See number 4.
Crazy customers make for good stories, got any really good ones from the past season?
A guy and a girl came in and asked if they could film the girl naked walking around the shop. If the girl was more attractive we could have been in business, but I told those kooks to beat it.
Any up and coming shop riders to keep an eye on?
Summer Fenton is a 16-year old shred from our own San Francisco. She’s been destroying the half pipe and has her eyes set on the next Olympics. Keep an eye out for her and her crew, Enemies. Also, Drew Bousquet is throwing down around Mammoth and so-cal. Kids got serious style! We expect some great things from him in 2012. But you know team manager Keith Shrederman is always looking for talent.
What’s your local spot for lunch/dinner how about your evening hangout zone.
SFO is fortunate to be here on Haight St. There are a lot of eateries and bars to get your grub on. Cha Cha Cha has always been a favorite. Zona Rosa for life, they’re the best Mexican food on Haight. As far as bars go, Hobson’s Choice is rad. Their punch is dangerous. But Delirium down in the Mission has to be the ‘hangout” if there was one. Somehow, the night always takes you there and it’s a good time. Just ask Dirty Joel aka Clean Cline or JG if you don’t believe me!
What are your off-seasons like in the shop?
It’s busier than you’d think. We get a lot of end of season customers, people looking for the good deal. Last year we started carrying some bikes and accessories. Living in SF, everyone bikes. Summer is pretty much bbq’s, bikes, tall cans and skating.
If your employees were forced to fight to the death, who would emerge victorious?
This is actually how we determine who stays on from our seasonal hires. Courtney: 1 Shop guys: 0
Do you remember buying your first kit? How do your early snowboard purchasing experiences affect how you sell snowboards?
Yup, my dad took me to Any Mountain in Dublin California on my birthday. Got me some janky Burton board with Salomon boots and bindings. Board was too big and the bindings didn’t fit properly. Dude was just selling his stock rather than finding the gear for me. You can bet I never went back for gear or advice. Luckily, I found The Shop in San Ramon. They taught me a lot about what I needed to get me down the hill. I picked up my first M3 and some Drake’s the following year and never looked back. It taught me a lot about making the customer happy. Getting him to come back and tell me about the last time he went up. Our goal is to make everyone of our customers a lifer. And that’s usually the case.
Do you have any yearly event at the shop that you look forward to?
Our annual Pray For Snow party kills it. Just imagine a thousand people raging as hard as you can. Good music, good people and free shit. What is not to like?
What kind of stuff do you do to keep your employees motivated around the shop?
Safety meetings.
What’s the hardest part of working in the shop?
I don’t know if there is one. We get to talk about snowboarding all day and have fun with some of our best friends. I guess the hardest part is not being on the hill.
“Will you guys sponsor me?” or “do you have any free stickers?” Which one do you hear most often?
Stickers for sure. Sometimes I want to tell them, “You’re a grown ass man. It’s a sticker. Figure it out.”
What’s been your all time favorite sticker?
I ride for Kevin. We also had one that looked like the “Don’t feed our bears” stickers, but this said “Welcome to San Francisco, please don’t feed our bums.”
What was your all time favorite snowboard graphic?
M3 Scotty Wittlake pro model.
What’s the piece of Rome gear you guys get asked about most often?
Anthem SS and beer gloves, everyone wanted the Colt 45’s.
What’s the closest shred spot to the shop? What’s your local shred scene like?
The closest shred is Tahoe, which has epic riding. It usually turns into a first chair last call kind of day.
Describe your local’s run, hot lap or secret pow stash.
This season it was pretty much Northstar hot laps or Kirkwood pow days. Team rider James Fagen let us in on some proper Sierra caves too!
What’s the worst thing or strangest thing you’ve ever seen brought in for a repair or tune up as far as snowboard equipment goes?
Ski Blades. We will not service your skis and I will not look at pair of ski blades.
Favorite trick?
Methods.
Would you hire a samurai to work in your shop?
Only if he had a John Belushi attitude toward hospitality.
What’s the best story of a customer trying to return something or ask for their money back?
This guy bought a girl’s one-piece, rode in it, and then decided he wanted the yellow color way and not the off white. Lost for words.
Do you get out on the hill enough to make you happy?
Not a chance. That’s impossible unless you live close enough, and Tahoe’s just not close enough. Every time I get bummed though, I will head out for a skate. Bombing hills, drinking beers, and seeing what crazy shit will happen that night makes living in SF more than worthwhile.
When do you feel that switch go off in your head that snowboard season is coming quick?
By September or October we have product arriving at the shop daily and find ourselves ripping boxes open like kids on Christmas morning. Somewhere between that, watching the new vids on repeat, and praying to the snow gods, we realize it’s about time.
Is there a particular event or occasion that really kicks the season off in your area?
Our Pray for Snow party for sure. It is always a good time and get’s people in the mood. Not to mention all the video premiers that come through the city.
What’s the shop’s all-time most played shred flick? What makes it the best flick for repeated viewing?
Afterbang. That vid will never get old. You watch that and you understand what snowboarding is all about- fun, friends, and progression.
What’s on the music playlist in the shop lately? Who usually gets controls over the music and why?
We’ve got a pretty even split between hip-hop and rock, depending on who’s working. Could be Odd Future or Lil’ Wayne, or you might hear Thee Oh See’s, Black Keys, or Motorhead.
Any celebrity or pseudo-celebrity sightings ever happen in the shop?
Robin Williams will come through and check out the new season’s product. He usually picks up a fresh kit while cracking jokes and has the whole shop laughing. Dave Chapelle comes by when he’s in town. Once in awhile you’ll see Mos Def, too.
Visit them online at: www.sfosnow.com
