The Locavores of Skiing

We're all very focused on shopping locally here in Boulder.  Locavores are those who endeavor to eat only locally grown foods, and when given the choice, would much rather spend their money to support local farmers and cooks.  I'm seeing this trend when it comes to the sport of skiing and snowboarding. The sport is once again no longer just the domain of Big-Skia Corporations.

Historically, skiing was all "Mom and Pop."  Growing  up in Denver, I remember a few of the old shops in town.  Jerry Jollies, and especially Andel's Pro Shop come to mind--(I can still smell the hot wax and pine tar).  And skiing was much more accessible then.  Who remembers Geneva Basin near Guanella Pass with the cute Saint Bernard for their mascot?  That little ski area that was less than 30 minutes from Denver.

This week one of the oldest independent ski shops in Colorado is about to celebrate their 60th birthday. The Ski Shop, in Colorado Springs opened their doors in 1952, and now brothers Rick and Scott Uhl continue to run it independently.

New independent ski shops are cropping up too, like Tin Shed Sports in Nederland that has a local-based niche: combining a mountain biking and backcountry ski shop with a great cafe and pub called  Salto. 

The Boulder Nordic Club has been setting ski tracks for several years now at Noth Boulder Park when it snows (whatever you do, don't mention prairie dogs!) and Denver's Wellshire Golf Course is about to do the same this winter. This will provide free cross-country skiing for thousands of locals, and will save time and gas you used to need to get to the mountains.

Another example of local skiing is the new training facility just outside of Denver. Echo Mountain, built entirely on private land, will serve the youth of the Front Range by providing access to ski and snowboard training minutes away.

The local revival toward skiing can be found in the film by brothers Elliot and Tyler Wilkinson-Ray, of Vermont.  The Story of Small Ski Areas that features small ski hills in Vermont that have remained as Powder Magazine says, local institutions and kept skiing a local sport instead of a tourist activity.

Surely all of this is good news for the local AND corporate industries who can count on a thriving sport.  And most importantly it is good news for individuals and families who can more easily get their ski-fix in and have the peace of mind knowing that they made their local dollars count!