Uncategorized | Outdoors Starts In Here

Attn: Granite Peak Ski Racers! Shep’s Shares Your Passion.

Skiing was born in the valleys and villages where passion and persistence were required to master the mountain. That passion and persistence are found each ski season at Wausau’s Ski Authority, Shepherd & Schaller.

Why support your local race shop? Because the expertise is genuine, prices are competitive, and community support is unmatched. Go ahead and compare. Shep’s offers prices and selection that meet or beat other race shops, just minutes from Granite Peak Ski Area in Downtown Wausau. Because hundies matter, Granite Peak Ski Team Racers and their families enjoy:

Team Member pricing on Race Skis, Race Boots, Race Bindings and Race Poles (Head, Volkl, Nordica, Marker, Leki at the lowest price allowed by manufacturers)
40% off Shop Tuning services including Waxing, Binding Testing, Binding Adjustment, Swix Hot Box, Binding Mounting, Ski Tuning.
25% off Race Protective Gear including Race Gloves, Pole Guards, Forearm Guards, Shin Guards, Race Helmets and ski goggles.
20% off Swix Wax and Tools

Granite Peak Ski Team Members also receive, at NO CHARGE, a Wintersteiger Full Race Tune with the purchase of new Race Skis, a $60 value! We offer professional back shop services backed by 66-years of experience. And only Pete Kholmoos, a 20-year certified expert, will ever touch your skis. The best machines in the business complement his artistry:

*Winterstieger Micro 71 Stone Grinder *Wintersteiger Trim 71 Ceramic Disc Edger

*Wintersteiger Waxjet 93 Ski Waxer *Wintersteiger Drivetronic Binding Tester

NEW FOR 2015: The GPST Race Card. Visit Shep’s during Team Night on Thursday, November 12^th to register. Your Race Card will entitle you to all the offers listed above and identify you as a GPST member for special offers throughout the season. (Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to know when!) Be sure to visit to get one for each member of your family. Race night will again feature special discounts throughout the store and prizes as well. You can pick up your Race Card in store Oct. 1 – Nov. 30.

Since 1949, Shepherd & Schaller has been committed to the Wausau ski community and the investment it takes to match and surpass the services available to ski racers in large urban centers and around the world. Special orders are available of your favorite race brands. Just ask.

Join us November 21^st for Warren Miller’s “Chasing Shadows.” Again this year Shepherd & Schaller will provide all prizes and swag. You could win!

Who said bigger is better?

Fun things to try on the 4th!

The 4th of July is almost upon us, and with that comes planning to make the most out of summer’s favorite holiday weekend. But if you’re like many struggling to make old traditions fun year after year, why not give some new activities a try? There’s tons to do outdoors in the summer in Wisconsin, and Shep’s has all the latest gear to get you on your way to a new favorite outdoor activity. Here’s a few suggestions:

1. Disc Golf: There are disc golf courses popping up all around Wisconsin, and with the start-up cost so low, people of all ages are heading out to throw some discs. Shep’s carries hundreds of discs from Discraft, Innova, and Disc Mania along with bags and other accessories to get new players started and seasoned players restocked.

You can find a local course here –> https://www.discgolfscene.com/courses/Wisconsin

2. Biking: With hundreds of miles of city, country, or forest trails available for biking, Wisconsin is one of the best places to get out on two wheels. And with bikes for people of all ages and abilities, Shep’s is your biking headquarters. Comfort, fitness, or mountain bikes – we have it all, and we have all the accessories available too. Already have a bike? Our skilled mechanic is here to get your bike running smoothly and safely in time for the 4th of July weekend!

Interested in finding a new trail? Start here –> http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/activities/bike.html

3. Water Sports: Living in Wisconsin and being on the water go hand in hand, and even if you’re a seasoned water goer, chances are there’s a new activity you’ve yet to try on our beautiful waterways. Love to kayak? Why not give stand up paddleboaring a try? Are you a local pro on a slalom ski? Wake boarding, wake surfing, and more will give you an awesome new skill to master. Or if you’re simply heading to the beach for a quick dip, Shep’s has a great line of men’s and women’s swimwear from Prana, Patagonia, Roxy, Quiksilver, United By Blue, Kavu, and more! Lastly, don’t forget your Sun Bum sunscreen before you hit the water!

Don’t forget to look and feel great this holiday weekend wearing great new apparel for men and women from Patagonia, North Face, United By Blue, Krimson Klover, Prana, Kavu, Toad & Co, and so many more!

Our Staff’s Favorite Summer Gear! Brian’s Picks.

1. Oakley Sunglasses – Oakley has always been one of the most innovative companies when it comes to eye wear. I’ve been wearing Oakleys for years and still own my very first pair I bought for baseball. They offer awesome, comfortable lifestyle sunglasses as well as amazing, unique sport sunglasses. Oakley’s new technology, their Prizm Lenses, enhance colors and better your vision, boosting performance for specific sports. I have a pair for mountain biking that I wear for fun rides as well as races, and I’m telling you: they work. I see everything on the trail faster and more clear than I could with the naked eye. For road biking, I have a pair of the new Jawbreaker frames and they are the most comfortable sunglasses I have ever worn, plus they breathe extremely well and vent amazingly. Way to go, Oakley. I love you.

2. HO TX Slalom Skis – HO’s slalom skis are better than ever. They’re everything you would want for a fun day on the water… and more. They’re super stable and easy to ski, making waterskiing more inviting to people who may have been turned away form the sport before, and even more fun for the experts. HO has done their part and made a ski for everyone. They are awesome.

3. Mypakage Weekday Boxer Briefs – What is there to say…. they are the most comfortable underwear on the planet “for men”. They help me feel protected and safe all day long when I have them on. They make the worst days the best days. I feel like I’m on cloud nine when I am wearing them. They helped me find my dog when it was lost. They always keep me snug and happy. Mypakage is the best out there. You should try some for yourself.

All of this and MORE can be found at Shep’s. Don’t forget Father’s Day is coming up… we just gave you three super good ideas for dad.

#TBT – Shep’s Throw Back Thursday

This Thursday (June 4), Downtown Wausau’s River District is up to something special. You can read more details on the event’s Facebook page here, but I’ll sum it up using their own words: Merchandise, Music, and More! Come check out all that Downtown Wausau has to offer with added specials like one-night-only discounts, live musicians throughout the District, and extra entertainment and activities from 5 to 8pm. You’ll want to bring your family and friends as this summer-long event takes flight THIS WEEK! (This is an ongoing event happening in our Downtown. Mark your calendars for the First Thursday of June through October and join us from 5-8pm for special themes and lots of fun.)

In honor of June’s theme “Throw Back Thursday”, we’re throwing it back to the early years of Shepherd & Schaller. Not all businesses can pull out newspaper ads from six decades and re-live the old memories of time past, but Shep’s can. Believe us when we say we’ve been doing this a long time. 🙂 Take a peek below and notice how much Shep’s has evolved over the years. Changing and growing our store to meet our customer’s needs and wants is one of our favorite things to do.

So, #tbt:

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.