Our Team

Jair Sherzer
Manager Vail Sports-Mountain Plaza

On Staff Since: 2001
Hometown: Foster, Rhode Island
Favorite Winter Destination: Jackson Hole
Playlist: Rap to Clasical

Biggest impact you've had on a customer: Making a wise decision on a ski and the customer returning with a smile.

Best advice to Vail Sports customers: Layer-up because you can always drop a layer.

Mike Beckley
Manager Vail Sports - Golden Peak

On Staff Since: 2004
Hometown: Holland Patent, NY
Favorite piece of gear: Splitboard
Favorite Off-snow destination: Somewhere with a lot of mud

Best Advice for Beaver Creek Sports customers: Watch out for that tree!

Kimberly Melvin
Manager Patagonia

On Staff Since: October, 2010
Hometown: Fishers, IN
Favorite Winter Destination: I love being at home; what could be better than Colorado in the Winter
Playlist: Damien Rice

Biggest impact you've had on a customer?  Just the everyday stuff we do in retail - make people happy.

Best advice to Patagonia customers: Get out there, enjoy life, and experience what the great outdoors has to offer.

Alex Dow
Store Manager - Vail Sports, Arrabelle

On Staff Since: 2006
Hometown: Princeton, MA
Favorite Winter Destination: Wherever has the most snow
Playlist: The latest ski movie soundtrack

Biggest impact you've had on a customer: A family from new York, their kids had never skied before, so I made sure they had everything they needed, they came back in march just because they had so much fun in December.

Best advice to Vail Sports customers: Always be honest, don’t be afraid to ask questions. We have heard them all, so don’t feel embarrassed.

John Quinn
Manager - The North Face, Lionshead

On Staff Since: 1998
Hometown: Chicago
Favorite Winter Destination: Chair 5
Playlist: Classic Rock-Who, Beatles;  also, Jack Johnson

Biggest impact you’ve had on a customer? Back in my boot fitting days I customized a pair of boots for a gentleman who had injured his ankles and lower legs in a motorcycle accident.

Best advice to The North Face customers? With The North Face buy exactly what you want because it will serve you for decades.

Lucy Grabenstein
Manager Quiksilver

On Staff Since: 2005
Hometown: Frederick, MD
Favorite Winter Destination: Jackson Hole
Playlist: Passion Pit, Phoenix, Ting tings, Journey

Biggest impact you have on customers: Helping every customer to enjoy their vacation

Best advice to Quiksilver customers: You're only as old as you want to be

Ty Cabrera
Manager Burton @ Arrabelle

On Staff Since: 2004
Hometown: Sterling, CO
Favorite Winter Destination: Jackson Hole
Playlist: Johnny Cash, Wolfmother, Michael Jackson, Kayne West

Best Burton Memory: Having Jake Burton in the store

Best advice to Burton Customers: Wear only one pair of socks

Valerie Lukach
Manager One Track Mind

On Staff Since: 2007
Hometown: Denver, CO
Favorite Winter Destination: Japan
Playlist: Random

Biggest impact you've had on a customer: Minturn Mile last season with one of our most stoked guests (Ya Betty!).  Get set up right and come ride with us!

Best advice to One Track Mind customers: Go to One Track Mind for the best snowboard rentals in Vail.

Sarah Amundsen
Manager Vail Sports-Vail Sports, Vail 21

On Staff Since: 2009
Hometown: Underhill, VT
Favorite Winter Destination: The Vista Bahn
Playlist: The entire sound track of "In Deep"

Biggest impact you've had on a customer: Helping a very unhappy, frustrated woman with a new, comfortable, performance boot fit and new skis.  She left happy and excited, and came back into my store after her trip to say how great the gear was and how appreciative she was of the time I spent with her.

Best advice to Vail Sports customers: Be open and honest about what you are looking for so our experienced staff can give you the best gear and services for your ultimate outdoor experience!

Jason Noakes
Manager Burton-Vail Vaillage

On Staff Since: 2007
Hometown: Melbourne, New Zealand
Favorite Winter Destination: Australia
Playlist: Silversun Pickups, Iron Maiden, Mastadon

Biggest Impact you have had on a customer:  Helped a guy set up his 2 daughers - they were so pleased he tipped me $100

What is your best advice to Burton customers:  Ride "Outer Mongolia Bowl" - it's the bee's knees.

Mike Fulp
Manager - The North Face Solaris

On staff since:  December 2010.
Hometown:  Greenville, NC
Favorite Winter Destination:  Vail, CO and Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Playlist:  Reggae and 70’s Rock and Roll
Best (Store) Memory:  Making Guests Happy

Best Advice to store customers:  Wear more separate layers and you will be warmer! Cotton is the worst fabric you can wear.  Best example is when you dry cotton in the dryer it takes longer to dry.  This would retain moisture next to your skin and you will be colder if you wore to do any winter activities.  Most of our expensive base layers are made out of wool and this helps evaporate moisture quicker.  This is why wool dries the quickest in the dryer.
 

Ali Katz
Manager - Marmot

On Staff Since: On and Off since 1998
Hometown: Vail Co (15 years make it home)
Favorite Winter Destination: Vail of course
Playlist: Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic and a little Neil Diamond mixed in
Best (store) Memory: Opening the Marmot Store in 2 days….
Best advice to (store) customers: Shop well and often

Matt Bluher
Manager - Vail Sports, One Vail Place

On Staff Since: 2009
Hometown: Cody, Wyoming
Favorite Winter Destination: Bridger Bowl, J-Hole
Playlist: Biggie, Rodney Atkins, Nonpoint, John Butler Trio, Cali P, Skrillex, In Flames, Pretty Lights, Jason Aldean, Damien Marley

Best (store) Memory: Blizzard Sale, August 2011. Lots of hard work with great people led to a wildly successful weekend.

Best advice to (store) customers: Listen to the pros. We know what we're talking about and we love what we do! Trust us, and your experience will be unforgettable and amazing, every time.