"If you want to know what car to buy, go to a mechanic who repairs cars. If you want to know about skis, go to a skier who tunes skis."

Rick McAllister is proof positive that success can come from doing what you like best. Featured as Powder Magazine's Shop of the Month, Ski Sharp¹s owner can be proud. His is a unique one-man operation. All accolades belong to him.
So, when I needed some to talk about ski equipment trends, Rick was my first choice. The fact that I first knew him as a ski bum working at Glen Ellen¹s Norse House 33 years ago helped influence my decision. He¹d wanted to be a ski bum for a year after graduating from Norwich University in 1969. "I¹m still doing it," Rick says because what¹s so great about skiing is you deal will all ages from tiny tots to grays in their 80¹s.
"I like it because it¹s seasonal. You get a break and then it¹s new all over again."

Rick¹s proudest moment, as a Dad and skier, came when he and his son Travis won the coveted Mad River Glen Father/Son Trophy in 1994 .

Combines Ski Tuning/Sales with Lifeguarding
For 20 years, he¹s been in the same Waitsfield location: First as a motorcycle repair shop in summer followed by Ski Sharp in 1988. He¹s continued as a skiing enthusiast but replaced his motorcycle in 1999 for a power-free bicycle to train as a triathlete. His summers now are spent oudoors as a lifequard at North Beach in Burlington instead of repairing motorcycles.
Rick¹s excellent reputation as a ski tuner first attracted Powder¹s writer who then discovered that Rick carried only one brand of each item: skis, poles, bindings, goggles and helmets. In an era of shorter skis of varying shapes. The tall 210 cm downhill straight models he carries tower above the others.

Rick, who sells top-of-the-line skis made by a small family owned 60-year old Swiss company, argues "It¹s not a stretch to buy the very best skis." because of the quality of materials and workmanship. " They don¹t scrimp." thereby producing a longer lasting, stronger product.
Stockli sells skis to the public from the same batch World Cup racers buy. If you can afford it, the highest quality equipment is your best value. "Quality never goes out of style," he declares.

Buying the Right Ski Equipment Takes Time
Hints for buying equipment: Buy the best ski you can afford, he says, suggesting that you upgrade to a better ski than you had before. Finding the right ski takes time. Describe your ability by explaining the terrain you like best and how fast you ski. The more the sales person knows about you and your skiing style and ability the better he can determine the right model and size ski for you. Tomba¹s slalom model though great for the Olympic gold medalist may not be the ski for you. Trying several different skis of varying lengths, shapes, and weight on a variety of terrain and conditions on a "Demo Day" early in the season is invaluable.

The sport of skiing is fragmented into niches. The ski for you depends on what you want to do. A larger platform under foot according to Rick, allows for easier turning. The new wider, shorter shaped skis are making it easier for novices.
"Today with shaped skis and groomed slopes " it doesn¹t take a masochist to enjoy skiing. "A good skier will get the most out of a good ski whatever the shape," says Rick who cautions "A lot is marketing. Whatever you¹re having fun with is the ski for you."
Skiing with his kids on a day at Mad River when the powder was fluffy deep is Rick¹s most memoriable. "At Thanksgiving and Christmas our conversation about great skiing invariably returns to when I took the kids out of school for those very special powder days."

Check Your Bindings
Before heading for the slope: exercise, check your equipment especially your bindings. "Check your bindings every six to ten ski days," he advises. Release bindings have made the difference. "Injuries are not near the part of the sport as they used to be thanks to release bindings." Shops are better equipped then ever before to provide equipment checks. In past years, it was not unusual to see an injured skier or two in the base lodge sporting a cast. A rare sight today.
"Young skiers hanging out on the half pipe having a ball along with the riders" is a trend Rick¹s noticed. "Kids want to be on the snow. A short lift ride with an even shorter run" is all they need says Rick recalling the fun youngsters have on Mad River Glen¹s practice slope.
Rick¹s favorite ski is "the one he skiing at the time." recalling the great fun he had testing a variety of skis at Stratton last year. A super skier in good physical condition, Rick¹s body tweak came not on the steeps, but under strange circumstances. His most serious injury, a broken leg, came at Glen Ellen over 30 years ago. He, however, was not on skis but riding down the lift in summer when the chair he was in slid into another at the bottom. "We slid a long ways," he recalls. "Talk about seeing life pass before your eyes."
His advice: "Beware of the unexpected."
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