Save the Hassle & Get a Yakima Rack

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Photo: instagram.com/yakimaracks

We’ve probably all tried to cram a bike into the too-small trunk, always to realize it’s not worth the scratches, grease, and parts moved out of alignment. Maybe the snow covered skis that begin to drip all over the moment you crank the heat is more familiar to you? If you’re feeling us, this is where Yakima comes in.

Yakima makes racks for a variety of needs with a variety of prices. If you need to carry your bike, you can choose to carry it on top of your car or on a hitch mount. Need a cargo box up top? Sure thing, how much space do you need? Want to carry kayaks or skis? Yakima racks can do it all.

Here’s how car-top Yakima systems work:

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Photo: instagram.com/yakimaracks

1- Start with the parts you need to create the rack system on the top of your car. Depending on the make/model/year of your car, and what it may or may not come with from the factory, we’ll select the specific clips & bars you need. This part stays on your car and acts as the “base” to build off of.

2- Once you have your base, you can choose which systems you want to add, depending on what you want to carry. Onto your bars, you can attach the kayak carriers, bike carriers, cargo boxes, etc. These parts can be easily taken on and off, so you can customize your rack for the weekend ahead.

Come chat with our staff about your car & carrying needs and we’ll help you out. And, if you act soon, you can take advantage of an offer from Yakima and get a $20 rebate for purchases over $300. Yakima

Play Outside on the 4th of July!

What does the 4th of July look like for you & your family? Maybe it’s a sunny day on the lake or a relaxing day in the cabin, fireworks, sunshine, or cookouts. With warm & sunny weather arriving by July (this year, much sooner!), and lake temps comfortable to play in, you’ll need some summer toys. Here’s the thing: July 4th is when the party happens, so you need to prepare BEFORE then! Stop in now and get your gear!

We’ll set you up with anything you need for behind the boat: tubes for the family, wake boards, water skis, wake surfs, or wake skates; completed with life vests, ropes & accessories.

Like water, but prefer to be your own motor? This might be the year to get those kayaks (singles or tandems). Not much beats a day of paddling on a peaceful lake (or for you adrenaline junkies – a river of rapids), and when’s a better time than the present?

If it sounds more fun to spend the weekend roaming the streets of Minocqua, we can help you there too. We have dresses, skirts, denim, tanks, tees, flip flops, purses, and more that will give you something to strut about. Want to bike around? Even better! We can help there too.

If you’re a camping family, look no farther. We can pack your bags with the gear you’ll need to have the best time possible. Need a tent, sleeping bag, hiking shoes & poles, cookware or bug repellant? We have it all, and more.

And, if you’re traveling with your kayaks, bikes, water sports equipment, or just extra luggage, be sure to stop in early to talk about fitting your car with a Yakima rack to carry your toys. We’ll order each part you need for your specific car year, make, and model. It doesn’t take long for it to arrive, but it does take a little forward thinking!

Celebrate the long weekend in whichever way you choose, but be sure you’re ready to make it memorable. Our knowledgable outdoor-loving team can answer any questions you have, give their expert opinion about gear or destinations, and be sure you’re set for the fun.

Gifts for Dad

Did you come here for inspiration?  A small gift or a big one? You know we’ve got Wausau’s largest selection of ski and snowboard gear, bikes, tennis, camping and waterspouts.  But we’ve got other great gifts that wrap up in small packages and require only small budgets too:

Man-Cans   Ahhh, the scent of Bacon.  Or Grandpa’s Pipe, a Leather Mitt, Fresh Cut Grass, Sawdust, Fresh Brewed Coffee, Campfire, Gunpowder or Hot Chocolate (to name a few.)  There’s nothing girly about scents that do more than just smell good.

Man-Cans are made inside a real soup can.  The can is donated to a soup kitchen and when it’s been cleaned and returned, the label is removed and the can is filled with manly scented natural wax.  When you buy a Man-Can you’re helping feed people who need a little extra help.  All thanks to a 13-year-old with a unique idea.  And dad likes good smells as much as mom.  $11.50

Does dad like to hang out on the patio, do a little camping, hide in his man cave?  Help him spruce up his favorite place with kitch-y cool knick-knacks from Outside Inside.  Seriously neat bird feeders, games, and other fun stuff.  $20-35 range.

 

 

Kuhl Clothes   Does Dad like to look cool?  Or is it Hot?  Or even sick?  Whatever, he will look and feel good in duds from Kühl®, where the passion remains to get outdoors and have fun. Kühl® is what it means to be comfortable and relaxed in the challenging environment of life and sport. For Kühl®, this dedication to original thinking translates into excellence in design and exceptional construction because they use not only innovative style and features, but exclusive fabrics with unique weaves and vintage washes that create authentic character. Articulated, gusseted, precise designs as well as the utmost craftsmanship provide a fit that is pure comfort. Wearing Kühl® not only represents the freedom of movement but also free will.  Dad will love their long and short-sleeved shirts, fleece and wool sweaters and great outerwear in addition to their well known pants. Every man looks good in Kuhl.  Starting at $45.

Does dad have a lot to juggle?  How about a great day pack, with a lifetime warranty to boot.  Dozens by The North Face, Patagonia, Dakine and Burton are in stock.  Starting at $45

 

 

How about a round of Disc Golf?  This is a sport everyone can love.  There are usually no greens fees, you can dress down, and most courses have no pro shop, no marshal, no tee times, and feel much more like what they are: a public park where people can come, go, and do as they please.  Of course ‘golf etiquette’ is practiced just like ball golf, which makes for a pleasant outing for everyone involved.  Pick up a disc and give it a spin and you’re on your way.   Shepherd & Schaller stocks hundred’s of Innova and Discraft golf discs each spring.  Starting at $8.99

Sock it to him.  Smartwool socks are a gift he’ll really love.  At the heart of these great socks is the highest quality merino yarn available from sheep raised in the most amazing places on earth.  Skillfully woven in the American Southeast, the world’s best performance socks are Made in the USA.  Dad will like that too. Read more here and fall in love with Smartwool even more.  Starting at $14.95.  (By 3 Get 1 Free June 1-15, 2014)

 

Found his photo of a Perception paddler from NC who reviewed his boat online.  Looks like he’s having fun!

Got a little healthier budget?Recreational Kayaking.  If you have access to a local lake, stream or river and can sit and move your arms, you can kayak.  Sport kayaking is a relaxing way to spend a day outside.  The crew at Shep’s can help you decide what kind of boat is right for your goals and the water you expect to be on, and can recommend a PFD (personal flotation device otherwise known as a life jacket) that is specifically designed for paddling.  Don’t forget the paddle – or dad will be up a creek in no time!  Recreational boats from Perception are incredibly stable, so rolling is not usually an issue.  Many models are designed for fishing, so dad wins again. Boats begin at $399.  And be a sport.  Get him some Sun Bum Pro sunscreen too.  Starting at $3.99

Visit us in Downtown Wausau, Wisconsin or online at www.shepssports.com to shop for  Bike, Camping, Tennis, Water Ski and Snow Sports departments too, along with a great selection of clothes from Patagonia, The North Face, Kavu, Smartwool and lots more.  Dad’s worth it.

 

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.

Continue reading “Become Part of Shep’s Summer Experience!”