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Jan Guenther, owner of Gear West, and David Chamberlain, Gear West's Nordic Service Manager, weigh in on best trail running practices From Jan Guenther: 1) Focus on time not distance Don’t obsess over mileage completed. Trail running is a lot slower than road running, for all the logical reasons, uneven terrain,...

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to fly across the Atlantic to a small town called Oberhof, Germany. With a population of just over 1,500 people you wouldn’t think the sleepy town would have much to offer. However, hidden amongst the thick Thuringian Forest, lays a network of...

Fun does not have to be found in L O N G. (Ironman only triathlons) or by committing to events requiring skills beyond my abilities (Leadville bike, for me). As us indentured athletes age, or experience career or family challenges that constrict available training hours, it is possible to discover...

What are you most looking forward to for your first season on Atomic?  I am really excited to work closely together with the Atomic brand, communicating often and collaborating on skis, racing, and branding. I look forward to testing with the service staff on the World Cup and my wax technician to build...

I have been going to the Fischer warehouse in Auburn, New Hampshire for years now for various reasons and have always come away with the feeling that Fischer has a commitment to quality and excellence at every level. The first time I made the trip was to sit with Peter Ashley...

Thirty years ago, Gear West Ski & Bike opened their door into a tiny, rented 500 sq foot building behind the Domino’s Pizza building in Long Lake. We (Brian Knutson and myself Jan Guenther) invested $11,000 to stock basic bike repair items. A sprinkling of Bridgestone bikes and a few...

Greetings from Beijing! I have been over here at the Paralympic Games for 6 days doing ski service as a part of the US Para-Nordic (USPN) team. It has been a busy trip, but very successful for the team with 10 medals, two gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze. The...

David Chamberlain The American Birkebeiner, deservedly known as the pinnacle of the ski marathon season in North America, has it all: A beautiful, often challenging and changing course mostly through the Chequamegon National Forest, a race tradition approaching 50 years, and an atmosphere its race organizers capture and enhance so...

Short and intense is the life of a ski retailer and ski lover. We wait for our wonderful parks to cover their manmade trails with feet of fake fresh snow. Finally, real snowfalls randomly after the new year and stick just long enough for us to enjoy the natural trails and explore...