Shepherd & Schaller | Outdoors Starts In Here

Winter Sports Gear – Cleaning and Storage

As the temperatures rise and we start to dig out our summer sports equipment, it’s important to take a few minutes to clean and store your winter gear properly. Not only will this save you time and money in the long run, it’ll keep your gear performing great for years to come.

Skis and Snowboards – The bases of your skis and boards should be cleaned and waxed before you place them into storage. Often, the wax you started the season with is long gone come spring, leaving your bases dry and unprotected. Left in this condition, summer storage only make the problem worse.

Cleaning is best done using the hot wax and scrape method. Using a high temperature wax or base prep, iron in the wax and scrape while the wax is still warm. This will remove

any dirt and grime far more effectively without damaging or clogging the base than heavy cleaners such as WD-40, Simple Green, etc. After cleaning, apply another coat of wax and leave it on the base without scraping for storage. This protects the base from drying out and other damage that may occur during the months of nonuse.

Click HERE to learn more about our summer wax special. This month only, it’s $10, and if you’d like, we’ll even store your gear for you in our cozy downtown Wausau, WI maintenance center over the summer.

Snowshoes and Ice Skates – As with skis & snowboards, you’ll want to wipe down your other winter equipment before putting it away for the summer months. Storing your shoes & skates indoors in the summer will prevent the metals from rusting & will keep the plastics in their original form. It’s best to keep these items off the floor too (especially if we’re talking about a garage!) to prevent moisture damage.

Winter Apparel– Your jackets & pants will last their longest & look their best if they are cared for properly. While we suggest washing your jacket throughout the year too, you’ll definitely want to clean it up before storing it for the summer. Washing your outdoor clothing with harsh detergents such as Tide or All can damage the waterproof technologies of the piece. The same qualities that make these detergents hard on stains make them hard on quality outdoor apparel. Shep’s sells Nikwax, a detergent specifically designed to clean apparel without damaging their DWR (durable water repellant)

coating or clogging the waterproof membranes that live in the quality fabrics. (Always remember to follow the care labels on your jackets & pants when washing!) The same company that makes Tech Wash makes an entire line of fabric care products, including TX Direct, which restores waterproof/breathable coatings on your clothing.

Our staff is always around to answer any questions you may have, including anything about storing your winter toys. Stop in, give us a call, or post your question on our Facebook page.

Free Ski Demos for Skiers 65+ on Tuesdays!

We believe that skiing starts when you learn to walk and never has to end. We hate to hear that when someone reaches their 50th, 60th, or 70th birthday, they buckle their boots, hang up their skis, and call it quits.

We can all get inspired by Klaus Obermeyer, who started the well known and highly respected apparel company that took his last name. Klaus, now 95, skis every day of the season, just as he’s done since he was young. His slogan? “The days you don’t ski,
you don’t get back.”

So what about you? Have you been told you had to turn in your pass, or are you still going strong? We’re offering our ski veterans (those 65 and over) FREE performance ski demos on Tuesdays through the season. You have no excuse!

The fine print: Free Rentals on Performance Ski Demos only ($35 value). Setup includes performance skis & bindings. Boots not included, but can be rented for $10. Free Demo Program valid on Tuesdays only; pick up skis Monday from 7-8 pm or Tuesday anytime, and return skis Tuesday evening or Wednesday by 10am. Reservations are not available on Free Demo skis, and quantity is limited. Paying customers’ requests are filled first. Shep’s reserves the right to modify the program at any time.

2016-17 Ski & Snowboard Demo

Join us Saturday, March 5th, at Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau from 10-3pm for our Annual Demo Day. Chat with reps from the biggest brands in the ski industry and test the goods that are coming out next winter including parks skis, freeride skis, race skis, all mountain skis, snowboards, helmets and goggles too. Pre-order your favorites by April 1 at a special Demo price, lower than any price all next season.

Your one-time $5 donation will go to local ski & snowboard youth programs. Bring your boots along, purchase a lift ticket, and try before you buy.

Holiday Shopping at Shep’s

Calling all Santa & Mrs. Clause stand-ins! Shep’s has great deals for your holiday shopping!

As always at Shep’s, you’ll save big money on all ski & snowboard equipment with our sale and “package” pricing. But besides that, enjoy our current promotion & save on all clothing, footwear, accessories, helmets, goggles, and more!

Here’s how it works:

After filling your gift bag & throwing it over your shoulder (Ho Ho Ho), you’ll spin our Discount Wheel at the register and earn a discount of 10, 15, or 20% off all applicable items.

Besides this offer, you can take advantage of the Daily Deal; one favorite gift/stocking stuffer idea at an end-of-the-season discount. What’s better?!

Take advantage of the discounts through December 24th!

Shep’s Annual Dungeon Sale 2014

You are expected in the Dungeon, October 22-26, 2014. We’ll be waiting to help you find new or used ski and snowboard gear for your entire family, at prices so low it’s frightening!

Shep’s accepts used gear late summer through October 10th (leaving a little time before the sale so we can inspect, clean, tag and inventory all the gear — no small task) for consignment sale. We help price it unless you know exactly what you want out of it, and keep only 10% consignment fee (when swaps keep 20%). After your used items sell, you’ve got ‘Shep’s Bucks’ store credit to use toward the purchase of any of our products or services.

We set the used gear up alongside our own inventory of new gear (left over from last season) and make it easy by installing ski and snowboard bindings so you only have one price to consider.

Kids gear goes fast, so most years there is a line at the door before our Wednesday morning opening at 9:00am. Have no fear, there is usually enough selection to satisfy shoppers all through the five-day event. The basement is stocked with Alpine Ski, X-C Ski and Snowboard equipment.

You’ll want to shop upstairs too, where the latest 2014-15 gear is also on sale along with the season’s greatest fashions and accessories like helmets, goggles, wax, tuning supplies and more. You can even combine the great used gear you find in the Dungeon with new equipment from upstairs at Shep’s low “package price.” All clothing and accessories are at least 20% off during Dungeon Sale and we’ve got lots of other great specials going on.

To top it off we have crazy deals on shop work, like binding adjustments or re-mounts on dungeon gear for only $10, a full ski tune-up for only $34.99, and great prizes including a Free Granite Peak season pass which you can register for while you shop.

Once the Dungeon Sale is officially over, you are still free to shop the basement. (There’s just less to choose from!) Still not sure you want to own equipment and can’t find just want you want from our used inventory? Talk to an associate about Leasing.

Oh yeah… don’t be alarmed when you leave the shop after the sale and run into a crowd on the sidewalk. Shep’s is on the Paranormal Society’s Ghost Tour each year during Halloween Weekend. Our spirits rarely makes an appearance during the event though, so you’re safe in the Dungeon. Mwaa ha ha ha ha…

Dungeon Sale 2014 is October 22-26. The sale is 9am-8pm Wed-Fri, 9am-5pm Saturday and 11am-5pm Sunday. Suck up your courage, dig up the family and check our our frighteningly fun sale.