Two Great Local Snowboard Shops

My boys love to snowboard.  They both quit playing basketball because it was cutting into their snowboard time!  Finding quality gear that is reasonably priced has been a challenge but we have found two local snowboard shops that not only offer good prices but great, friendly service too.

Pinewski's Ski & Board shop is located in Anoka, MN.  From them, we have purchased snowboards, wake board shoes, gloves, sweatshirts, a long board, helmets, socks, board shoes, snowboard bindings, t-shirts, stickers, goggles, sunglasses, a wax iron (with waxing supplies) and a host of other things I'm sure I've forgotten.  We've also had them tune snowboards and assemble a long board.  They've answered all of my questions and haven't laughed at me once!!!  They sponsor snowboard competitions, give long board demonstrations and have ski/snowboard exchanges.  Whenever we've had to return anything, they're just as pleasant as when we purchased it. 

Examples of the great customer service at Pinewski's happened twice to me within a week.  Last Friday I took my son Trent to buy some new snowboard gear.  When we got home, he decided the boots he got weren't exactly what he wanted so I took them back to return them and I ended up buying some other items while at the store.  I was really confused at how they were handling my account with the return and the new purchases.  The young guy helping me asked (not sarcastically) if it would help if he could draw me a picture.  I said, "Yes!  I'm a visual learner so that would help."  He drew a little diagram and I instantly understood that my account was being properly handled.

Tonight, I stopped in at Pinewski's to get a snowboard helmet as a Christmas gift for one of my sons.  The young guy helping me asked all the pertinent questions and when it was apparent that they didn't have what I wanted in stock, he said he would order what I needed, "right now", and I would get it within a week.

Check out Pinewski's website at:  www.pinewski.com.  They don't do internet orders as they are a small neighborhood shop but their website will give you all the information on the gear they carry and the events with which they are associated.

The other great local snowboard shop is The House located in Little Canada, MN.  The House has a showroom and an outlet.  They also have a website and they do internet orders.  Here's a link to their site:  www.the-house.com.

At The House, we are greeted like friends.  Not because we are a high buck customers.  Lots of times we go there "just to look".  The employees are just really friendly and get to know whoever comes into the store.  That has definitely created loyalty from us!  It's not every day you walk into a store and one of the employees genuinely wants to know how your Thanksgiving was!

We've purchased things in the store and online and have had great results with both.  We had an issue with a snowboard that cracked and they gave us a new one without a receipt.  They keep your purchase history online so they just looked us up and saw that it was a recent purchase.  We walked out with a new board and a renewed sense of LIKE for The House.

They too have answered question and given advice because choosing a snowboard isn't just picking one that looks cool.  They point you to the right ones based on whether you are a big hill rider or a terrain park person AND based on your height/weight.  We've bought snowboards, snowboard jackets & pants, gloves, hats, sweatshirts and a million other things here.  In the summer season they have everything you'd need for wakeboarding - right down to some pretty cool swimsuits!

We've also shopped extensively at the outlet.  It's where we go to do our school shopping.  They have hundreds of t-shirts for $10 and sweatshirts for $25.  Jeans, sweaters,shoes, backpacks and bike gear are also sold here.  They have winter gear - snowboard jackets/pants, hats, gloves, mittens, etc.  The quality is great and name brand (Burton, Sessions, Thirty Two, DC, etc).  They have a variety of sizes - even kids' sizes.  We've found things for the boys, their sister and even me!

Check out both places AND Happy Shopping!