New for Spring 2014

It’s sunny and bright in our shop, whether it is chilly outside or not! We have brand new spring & summer merchandise in the store so you’ll have it in time to travel for Spring Break (or just to brighten your mood).

Stop in the store to see new warm-weather merchandise including swim, yoga & summer apparel, luggage & purses from Kavu, prAna, Kuhl, Patagonia, and Dakine; and footwear from Teva, Minnetonka, and Salomon. You’ll also want to check out Diamonback bikes, Prince tennis gear, HO watersports equipment & accessories, golf discs from Innova & Discraft, and more!

We’re here year round to help you have the most enjoyable outdoor experiences possible. We’ll talk with you about apparel, equipment & accessories and make sure you’re set for the adventures that lie ahead. Stop in and get ready for sunshine and 80 degree days!

Styles for the guys from Kavu, Patagonia, Teva, TNF, Kuhl & more!
Be casual & cute in Kavu’s summer apparel. Effortless styles that you’ll want to wear daily.
You’ll end up taking prAna’s lifestyle pieces from the farmer’s market to dinner (just because you can).
Be ready for the beach with a new suit from prAna, a beach bag from Dakine & sun protection & beach toys from Sun Bum.
When you make your way to yoga, show up in prAna & Teva and be confident of your style.

Give Nordic Skiing a Shot! Beginner Information

With record breaking snowfall (and now climbing temperatures), this is the year to get out and enjoy some winter activities. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are two of our favorite activities for Wisconsin winters. They’re great to enjoy nature, break out of the house with the family, fight the winter blues, and get your blood pumping.

What You’ll Need:

Skis, bindings, boots & poles
Breathable outdoor clothing

Types of Skiing:

Classic skiing is the most common form of nordic skiing, and is a great place to start if you are new to cross country skiing.  Performed primarily in ski areas with groomed trails, classic skiers propel themselves forward in pairs of groomed tracks or grooves cut into the snow.  If touring the outdoors at a leisurely pace in more your speed, look no further than a pair of classic XC skis.

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Become Part of Shep’s Summer Experience!

Our shop is all about outdoor memories. They’re why we do what we do. They’re why we’ve worked for 65+ years. It’s not just about the skis, the kayak, or the bike. It’s about the fun; the memories, the speed or the calm, the record breaking time, or the laughs with family. We hope you’ll join us as we think back on our favorite outdoor memories, as we dig up the hilarious old photos & bring our old, worn out gear to the shop, all to be put on display.

We want our store to be an experience for you, and it can only be more complete if you get involved with us. Join us in one (or all!) of these three ways and leave your mark in our store this summer.

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Afton Alps Demo

A few weeks back, Robb, BT, TonyZ, and I made our way over to Afton Alps in Minnesota for the dealer ski demo.  Most of the big names were there with next year’s gear, and for five hours straight, we put dozens of skis through their paces to make sure the gear we offer you next year is the best possible skis on the market.

While we each walked away with a list of personal favorite skis on the day, all four of us agreed on two as clear standouts: for the second straight year, the Salomon Q98 was a clear winner.  Smooth, stable, able to ski anything by any type of skier – this ski just rips.  The other favorite?  K2’s Rictor 90XTi.  An unbelievably stable ski, we couldn’t make it loose it’s grip in even the hardest of turns.  That said, it was super easy to make turn any radius turns we threw at it, while remaining smooth the entire time.  It was hard not to smile riding this ski.

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How to Ruin Your Water Sports Gear in a Few Easy Steps

Want to enjoy your wakeboard, waterskis, and tube for years to come? How about the great neoprene vest  or wetsuit you count on?  Will the rope you bought last more than one season? It’s up to you.

But if you’ve got nothing but money and time, and want to shop for new gear every year there are several ways to damage your water sports gear, including :

No one wants to wear a moldy life vest. Stored on a hanger in a well ventilated space is the best option to keep your PFD healthy.
  • Leaving life jackets in the sun where they can become faded or the fibers can deteriorate
  • Leaving skis and wake boards on the dock where  fins can get damaged
  • Leaving knots or dirt in your tow rope
  • Hanging your wetsuit on a thin wire hanger.
  • Tossing wet life vests in the hold of your boat, the perfect warm, dark, damp environment to grow your own batch of mold.

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