Lone Pine Named USA Today’s #1 Ski Shop

When we opened Lone Pine in 2019, we weren’t trying to build the “best” ski shop in the country. We were trying to build a shop that felt good - one that reflected our values, strengthened our community, and kept the ski world accessible to as many people as possible. A shop we would want to support.

So when USA Today named us the #1 Ski Shop in the United States, we were genuinely, humbly stoked. This recognition validates the choices we’ve made, the path we’ve forged, and the people who’ve supported us from day one.

A Different Kind of Ski Shop

Salt Lake City hasn’t seen many new ski shops open in the last 30 years. From the start, we knew if we were going to create something new, it needed to not be just another retail space, but something meaningfully new - A shop rooted in sustainability, creativity, and community.

Selling new and used gear side-by-side isn’t common in the ski industry, but it allows families, beginners, lifelong skiers, and dirtbag adventurers to find gear that fit their needs and budgets. It makes skiing more sustainable, accessible and affordable. We weren’t sure it was going to work to be honest - but our community and industry partners showed up and showed us that having more options when buying ski gear matters.

Sustainability and Affordability

Two big trends have become impossible to ignore in the ski industry: the rising cost of gear and the need for more sustainable choices. Families are feeling priced out, and more people than ever want to shop in ways that reduce waste instead of adding to it.

Selling used and consigned gear is one of the most meaningful ways we keep skiing affordable and accessible. It also keeps high-quality equipment in circulation longer, reducing the environmental footprint of the ski industry. Listing used gear online is a huge lift — every single item gets photographed, measured, and described, whether it’s a brand-new ski or a single pair of tiny kid boots. We invest the same amount of time listing a one-off consignment item as other companies spend listing products with a quantity of 200.

This year, we expanded our circular model even further by building a nationwide ski trade-in program on our website, letting skiers anywhere in the country give their gear a second life. And here in Salt Lake, our in-store consignment program keeps us deeply connected to our local ski community — helping neighbors pass gear forward, support one another, and keep the mountain stoke alive.

We make hundreds of small decisions in this shop that most people never see. They take longer, cost more, and require more hands-on effort — but they’re the decisions that make Lone Pine feel like Lone Pine. Our sustainability choices show up in the small details, too. Every price tag in the store is cut by hand from recycled beer boxes and tied on with hemp string instead of plastic hang tags. It would be significantly cheaper and faster to order new tags, but the plastic waste simply didn’t sit right with us — so we do it our way. We do it because it matters.

The Crew That Makes It All Happen

Lone Pine’s soul is our crew. Our crew is just as excited for the first-time skier picking up their inaugural gear as they are for the 100-day skier getting a new setup. The Lone Pine staff are some of the most knowledgeable, grittiest, and kind humans in the ski industry. They show up every day in meaningful ways, always ready to help, teach, share stoke, and ready to make the ski industry a more welcoming, inclusive environment. 

We’re proud of them and grateful to work alongside a group of such good humans.

Thank You. 

Being named USA Today’s #1 Ski Shop is a huge milestone for us, but it’s not our end goal. We have a lot we still want to do and improve upon. It is a reminder that staying true to our values matters - and that this community supports and believes in what we’re building.

Thank you to everyone who has shopped with us, consigned with us, traded gear with us, repaired gear with us, or simply believed in our new approach to retail. This recognition also belongs to all of us. 

Cheers!

The Lone Pine Team