snowboards | Outdoors Starts In Here

Save the Hassle & Get a Yakima Rack

Yakima 3 — 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:

Yakima2 — 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.

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.

2015-16 Ski & Snowboard Demo @ Granite Peak

Curious what’s coming next? Dying to get the first look at next year’s skis & snowboards? Join us at Granite Peak on Saturday, February 28th and do just that! Chat with reps from the industry’s biggest brands and test the goods that are coming out next winter! 2015-16 gear will be available, including free ride skis, race skis, cruisers, and snowboards!

Try as much as you can between 10am-3pm at Granite Peak. We just ask for a one-time $5 donation, that we’ll put toward local ski & snowboard programs.

Try as much as you can between 9am-3pm at Granite Peak. We just ask for a one-time $5 donation to be put toward local ski & snowboard programs. Register in the Lower Chalet.

Mark your calendar & get pumped up! We can’t wait to see you there.