Shop Profiles
Sliders Profile
Give us a quick run-down of your shop and its history.
The shop was actually a sporting goods store through the 60’s. It spent time as a deli, liquor store, and health food boutique. It was vacant when I bought it except the old coolers and deli counters which we sold for remodeling cash. I opened it in 2003 cause there weren’t any good board shops in the area. Lot’s of ski shops that carried boards but no true board shops. We started small and have grown every year.
What is it about your shop that keeps the local shreds coming back to get all their gear?
We have great service. Meaning, we take care of everyone like we would want to be taken care of. We sell what customers need, not what we need to sell.
Describe your local shop crew; do you often have people hanging out at the shop?
Most of us live in town or close to it, so yeah there’re always people hanging around. Watching videos, trying on gear, talking smack, you know, the standard stuff. The latest is Jack-Link beat downs. You don’t know pain until you’ve been double fisted, wind-milled with two free Jack Link Meat Snacks. What is mechanically separated anyway?
What is it about your shop that sets it apart?
I think we’re different cause compared to other shops, we really ride. We have tons of combined years of experience. Instructors, local shreds, dudes and chicks that all really love riding. People feel our enthusiasm and it gives the shop a good vibe. I love when a customer tells me “thank you” after they drop a boat load on a set-up.
What’s your current set up?
I’m gonna rock the Pusher 153 and Targa’s. My trusty set-up is the Design with Targa’s. Rode the Marshalls last season and will again this year, but I’m gonna play with a dual BOA boot for shits and giggles.
Crazy customers make for good stories, got any really good ones from the past season?
This one’s called the 2 little old ladies and the 47 hats. Basically 2 ladies that don’t fit our normal demographic came in looking for a hat. They were….uh….let’s just say, unclean. I was setting up a snowboard for some folks and kinda kept my eye on them. They tried on every damn hat. After about an hour of puttering around the store they made their way to the check-out. I ran up to cash them out and realized they had one pair of gloves. “Couldn’t find a hat you liked ladies?” I asked. They both kinda giggled and said no. So I’m making my way back to the repair area and notice pegs of hats missing! I about freaked. I just got robbed by two little old ladies! Come to find out, they didn’t take the hats but rather relocated them into little piles. They were jammed in bags, under displays in coats….unbelievable. Don’t know what they were up to but it was definitely Twilight Zone.
Any up and coming shop riders to keep an eye on?
Freddy Maybach, 16 years old, local Colden kid, everything he does looks effortless. Jake Sabin, 15, local Colden kid, small dude but boosts big, and Tyler Cashmore, 19, area rider, smooth rail style.
What’s your local spot for lunch/dinner how about your evening hangout zone.
No question, The Colden Country Inn, aka “The Hick Bar”. Best food and home of the deep fried taco. Best beer selection in the area and they also have 4 rental rooms upstairs for weekend shredders. Live music every weekend.
What’s the hardest part of working in the shop?
Selling people what they want not what they need. I hate selling based on colors and graphics.
What’s been your all time favorite sticker?
Steal your face. Grateful Dead.
What’s the piece of Rome gear you guys get asked about most often?
390 Bindings probably number one and the Artifact would be number two.
What’s the closest shred spot to the shop? What’s your local shred scene like?
Kissing Bridge and Buffalo Ski Club. KB has been around for 50 years. It’s only got about 600 feet of vert, but some of the best park riding in the area. We’re in the Buffalo Snow Belt, so we’ve seen some epic dumps over the years. The local kids ride everyday and there have been some sick riders that have gone unnoticed for sure. Others have gone off and did some neat shit. Mike Basher is from our area, now an editor for Snowboard Mag. I got his instructor locker when he left town.
Describe your local’s run, hot lap or secret pow stash.
There’re a few good local runs at Kissing Bridge, but the best is at an abandoned ski area called Bluemont. Best poach around. Fresh snow and trees.
What’s the best story of a customer trying to return something or ask for their money back?
White pants customer spilled coffee on and tried to convince us we should just take them back. She was a real bitch about it. Left, tried to clean them off and brought em’ back again. We had one mom call and ask if board theft was covered under warranty, and she was serious.
Do you get out on the hill enough to make you happy?
Never, but I sure try. I ride in the mornings mostly. I try to snake first chair from the old retired skiers. Most “cool” times I’m in the shop. I think I got about 40 days last year. The most ever was 81 the year I ran the snowboard program at KB and took a trip to Austria.
Is there a particular event or occasion that really kicks the season off in your area?
The Kissing Bridge Open House\ Swap gets it rolling about the second week of November. They put on a rail jam and this year they featured a cycle-cross race.
Visit them online at: www.slidersboards.com