Snow Sports | Outdoors Starts In Here

Win a Trip to Aspen Snowmass!

Shepherd & Schaller brings you the mountain lifestyle and ski culture you crave, even if you don’t live in the mountains. Part of the laid back vibe is the music you love. Keep the vibe going with tunes that take you back. Tune to Peak3 Radio when you’re not here enjoying the station in our Downtown Wausau, WI store! (And notice the widget on this page to your right? You can listen right here, right now!)

Peak3 Radio is easy on the ears and easy to love, especially when they want to send you on a trip to Aspen Snowmass! Enter to win with Shepherd & Schaller!

Contest Details: Contest runs Feb 15th – March 15th, 2015

· 1 consumer will have the chance to win a 4 day ski trip to Aspen Snowmass, for 2 people (4 nights lodging and 3 day lift pass). 1 winner will be picked randomly from all entries

· 1 ski shop employee will have the chance to win a 4 day ski trip to Aspen Snowmass too. So please, pretty please, choose Shepherd & Schaller!

How the contest works:

·     PEAK3 listeners and shop consumers will go to peak3radio.com<http://peak3radio.com>, click on the Aspen Snowmass giveaway homepage banner to access the contest

·     Consumers will be directed to a page to enter name, email, city, state, and zip code

·     On the entry page, there will be a list of participating shops with a ‘check box’ next to each shop listed

·     Consumers will select 1 shop they wish to “vote” for

·     Consumers must choose a shop to complete their entry

·     1 consumer will be drawn at random from all entries to determine the winner

It’s Birkie Time!

Next weekend, thousands of nordic skiers from all corners of the globe will find their way to Northern Wisconsin for the annual American Birkebeiner ski race. While it’s famously know for it’s draw of elite skiers, most people are surprised to find out it’s grown into so much more, offering four days of races, festivals, demos and expos, family fun programs, and more! Did you know they even offer child care for participating parents where children can visit museums, partake in outdoor activities, and learn amazing things about the environment?!

Maybe you’ve always been interested in checking it out, but nervous you’re not the best skier out there or not interested in competing. Don’t let that stop you! You can participate in on-snow demos to familiarize yourself with all the new gear, swing by the expo to chat with industry professionals and racers about getting involved in the sport, and even give racing a try in a shortened 12k race geared for newbies and recreational skiers. And with hundreds of volunteers and super friendly supporters along the way, you’ll find the help and encouragement to get to that finish line!

For our more experienced skiers heading back for another year of racing, remember to stock up on the race day essentials you can find right here at Shep’s! With a full line of Swix tuning products and a certified ski technician working in our state of the art tune shop, we’re here to get your skis performing at their best. And don’t forget we’re also a multi-line nordic ski shop able to outfit skiers of all abilities. So whether it’s some temperature specific wax and a scraper or a new pair of racing skate skis, Shep’s is the place. Be sure to stop in and chat with our friendly and knowledgable staff today, and be sure to check out our race day gear list below to help you prepare for race day!

Clothing
-Base layer (top and bottoms)
-Outer layer (top and bottoms)
-Wind briefs
-Hat/Headband
-Gloves
-Socks
-Neck warmer
-Glasses
-Warm jacket and pants for pre/after race activities

Gear
-Skis
-Boots
-Poles
-Waxes and tuning supplies
-Energy food and water
-Sunscreen/Chapstick/Dermatone

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.

Snowshoeing: The perfect winter activity!

With all the winter activities one can participate in, snowshoeing might just be one of the best. Why? Simple: it’s relatively inexpensive to purchase the gear, practically anyone of any age can do it, and you can finds dozens of places to hike in your area for free.

We all know the benefits of leading an active lifestyle, yet finding ways to stay active in the winter proves to be difficult year after year. While walking during the warm summer months is one of the most popular forms of exercise, many call it quits once the snow starts to fall due to snow covered paths, icy sidewalks, and cold feet. Thankfully, with a good boots and a pair of snowshoes, winter walking and hiking is made easy and people can reap the benefits of daily walking year round.

Interested? Great! Let’s talk gear. Most people who live in cold weather climates already own a pair of winter boots, and for the most part, those work just fine for snowshoeing. We always say if you can walk comfortably in your current boots, they’ll work perfectly for use with snowshoes. So grab your trusty Sorels and read on!

Clothing is another important part of snowshoe gear and like boots, most people only need to purchase a few key items to add to their existing outdoor clothing collection to complete their outfits for the cold and snow . It’s important to start with a good base layer, made with a non-cotton material able to wick moisture away from the skin. Brands like Smartwool, Patagonia, and Terramar are constructed with wools and synthetic materials that are very efficient at keeping you warm and dry. From there, a mid layer should be worn to provide insulation and warmth. Fleece, power stretch, wool, or any other heavier weight fabrics work great for insulation while continuing to move moisture from the base layer away from the skin. Lastly, a good outer layer rounds out the perfect winter activity outfit. Most are windproof and waterproof, yet breathable, and should allow for good mobility. Jackets, vests, shells, and snow pants provide a great barrier to keep you warm and dry. Top it off with some warm gloves and a hat and your all set to go!

Last but definitely not least, you’ll need a pair of snowshoes. Here at Shep’s we carry three brands of shoes for a great selection at all price points. From our great performing, great value Yukon Charlies to the locally made Redfeather line of snowshoes, we have a snowshoe to fit any budget or activity. All our shoes are durable, lightweight, and very easy to use, requiring little to no learning curve for new users. The old saying remains true: ‘If you can walk, you can snowshoe!’

If you have any questions about getting started snowshoeing, or if you are a current snowshoer looking to take things to the next level, our friendly and knowledgable staff are always eager to help in any way possible! Call or stop in today!