ABOUT GORD'S: Gord's Ski and Bike is a Winnipeg based shop that started from very humble beginnings: in 1961 with a $1000 loan from a gentleman named Shluderman who just happened to co-invent the removable metal ski edge a long time ago in Europe. From the coat check in the basement of the now defunct of the Winnipeg Ski Club on Togo and Osborne Gord's Ski Centre emerged as one of the premier ski shops in western Canada... From there Gord's grew into it's second location at Number 7 Donald Street... Today Gord's is the largest independent ski and bike retailer in Central Canada with two locations totaling over 13,000 square feet of the very best clothing, ski and bike product anywhere. Winner of the Prestigious Snow Industries Association's "Canadian Retailer of the Year" and most recently voted "Best Bike Shop in Winnipeg" by the readers of Uptown Magazine, Gord's Ski and Bike is constantly striving to be the best place for Manitobans to fulfill their Outerwear, Ski and Bike Gear fix.
Bolstered by the very best staff anywhere and an insatiable desire to become the best we can be, Gord's is committed to outstanding customer service and above and beyond product knowledge. What truly sets us apart is our common degree of caring and our need to get out there and participate in the activities that we represent. From our much loved Bike Club to our involvement in grass-roots programs and events like the International Mountain Bicycling Association, it's in our mission statement to get out there and play with our customers. To not only sell stuff but also to get to know WHO our customers are in order to better take care of their needs. Like Gord once said to JF one winter day many, many years ago: "Never sell them the wrong stuff... let someone else do that".
Read more about how we do what we do and why we do on here or drop by Gord's L1 on Donald and Gertrude and L2 on Kenaston at Scurfield.
DOING IT RIGHT
Bob emailed us, concerned about a little paint chip he had on his bike... So we suggested to him that he drop by one of our shops and we'd take care of him... Here's his follow-up email (we thought we'd share):
JF,
I ended up taking my bike in to the Donald Store and they touched up the paint. I have had a great experience. I am a novice rider and I am very happy that I bought my new mountain bike from your company, because your staff have made me feel important and have helped me pick out a bike that I am looking forward to riding. In particular, I would like to say thanks to Jenn of the Donald Store for greeting me very well and helping me pick out a great bike Rocky Mountain Flare.
She was very helpful and knowledgeable. Also, I would like to say thank you to another of the staff from the Donald Store who helped adjust the bike to fit me better. As well, I went to the Kenaston location yesterday afternoon to get some additional adjustment to the seat and stem. I ended up buying an air pump and a water bottle from there. My point is that I am very happy and looking forward to continuing to learn more about riding and trail riding and I will look forward
to shop at your stores because of your friendly staff and their good knowledge. Hopefully, once I am a bit more fit I can join the bike club and hit some trails. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Bob Mitra
Thank you so very much for your Email, Bob... Made our day to hear we did right by you. Thank you for your business, we very much appreciate it.
Read more testimonials like this one by clicking here
GORD'S IS HIRING! As some of you may have heard we're
growing! As a result we're looking for a few good men
and women. If you have a desire to be part of our great
group of staff who love to share with our customers their
passion for biking, skiing, boarding or simply having
fun outside... If you think
you have what it takes and you're up for the challenge
of learning everything there is to know about what we
do and how we do it, we'd like to meet you! Please email
us at careers@Gords.com
and let's set up an interview
BUYING A BIKE AT GORD'S True fact: We sell a whole lot of bikes. We like to think that the reason we sell as many bikes as we do is simply because we do thinge a wee-bit differently. First off, we're not on commission. Secondly, we genuinely care about your experience. Thirdly we sell nice bikes, fun bikes, cool bikes. Bikes we would ourselves ride. And while we don't define ourselves by the brands that we do, we do really like the brands that we sell. Rocky Mountain, Scott, Cove, Bianch, Louis Garneaui and a few others that really care about your experience as much as we do. Brands may change but our commitment to you never has... not in fifty years. Drop on by, we'll show you how we do it. Relaxed. Fun. All about YOU.
THE BANFF MOVE The rumors are true. There is now a Gord's Ski and Bike in Banff, the gateway to ski country. It was a lifelong dream for many of us and a must-do for the rest of us: To bring Gord's vision, passion and commitment to the mountains. Bringing the Gord's experience to the Rockies was no easy task. But we've done it!
Situated at 317 Banff Avenue with a great big frontage on Wolf Street, Gord's Banff occupies the space that was once Banff Mountain Wear. Managed by Banff local and Veteran member of the Banff ski community: Pat Gillespie, Gord's Banff mission statement is identical to the one that drives Gord's in Winnipeg: Quality, Service and a commitment to ethical retail through the support and promotion of the sports we represent.
WHAT YOU GET... Whether you're purchasing a $219 kids bike or a full-bling Cove G-Spot, when you buy a bike at Gord's you not only get the benefit of 50 years of heritage in taking care of our customers. You also get the benefit of dealing with people who care deeply not only about our sport but also about your experience. Provided your bike was not clearance priced, you also get Gord's Exclusive Service Program as well as a few other perks ... Check out what you get:
JOIN GORD'S BIKE CLUB AND SMILE! Someone once said of Gord's Bike Club "Think of it as a beer-league bike club" And while beer is not exactly part of the experience, it's a pretty accurate description of how non-elitist our club is. If you've never heard of our Mountain Bike Club and our many rides, you're sure missing out. Gord's Mountain Bike Club members are not only great riding buddies, they are also our family, focus group test team, marketing dartboard, drinking, buddies, best friends.... We are a gregarious and diverse group of riders (over 300 members), we love to ride together and share our love of riding. From casual early-season Wednesday Night Rides to more advanced Epic Rides to Friday Night and Saturday Morning Road Rides: lots of fun on bicycles!
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!
Join us today! Get backroom access to all the new stuff, special members-only deals and promotions, "this-just-in" alerts, prize draws and much more!
GORD'S IS HIRING! Gord's is growing... and with that comes more hiring! We're looking for well organized, career-oriented folks who are looking for a full-time job that provides them with the opportunity to work hard in order to play harder. We need ski and bike tech's as well as sales-people with not only experience but also drive and passion. If you're that girl... or that guy, please email us at careers@gords.com or pass this message onto someone who you think might be up for the challenge
AWESOME GEAR! Come to either store and check out the greatest bikes at the best prices! VIDEOS! Check out Gord's 450+ Videos! Doing what we do, testing gear, building trails, and enjoying the ride!
THE RIGHT STUFF
Nothing is better than the right gear. Nothing is worse than the wrong gear to mess up a vacation. Do yourself a giant favor: Don't fall into the mindset that sounds a little like "I only ski/snowboard only once a year
so I don't need anything fancy..." Would you use the same line if you
were shopping for PARACHUTES? Think about it. Skis keep you from skidding off the side of a mountain, jackets protect
you from the elements, gloves keep you from losing your fingers... We'll leave you with that thought for a moment.
And now back to our originally programmed article:
JF has been doing this for many, many years and the gear he selected on his last day on the slopes in Utah was the best combination he's ever put together to date. Read lower as he runs down his fav's:
[1] The Gloves: Hestra Seth Morrison Pro Models. Yes they're expensive but man, warm, form fitting, dry during lunch... simply the best. Get a pair. Thank me later.
[2] The Boots: Lange Super Blaster 120's. This was a last minute trip and my boots were in Banff so I had to improvise by picking up a pair of Blasters. Probably our best selling series of boots this year. What a treat that my feet aren't hurting. Could be a combination of the boot and the awesome FOOTBALANCE footbeds Darci made for me the morning of my departure... but these boots are sweet. 80% of the performance of my 130RX's but with no break-in period. Lovely concept this "comfort" thing.
[3] The skis: Nordica Enforcers. Thanks to a complete lack of snow in Utah, We were skiing bulletproof hardpack and these baby's were rocking it like they were in their element. For the Enforcer "Their element" happens to be pretty much anything. The ultimate 98mm-waisted all-mountain weapon, these skis, like their newer "Hell and back" brethren, can do it all. Amazing when you consider that this ski is basically unchanged since it was introduced as a twin-tip over 4 years ago (it has since lost it's rearward facing tip... Because, simply, they skied better without.). Call it a better skiing Volkl Mantra, call it a soft, wide-platform GS ski, call it whatever you want, on this trip I called it perfect.
[4] The Jacket: Eider Solden Jacket. No, seriously? You haven't heard of Eider yet? It's the French ski clothing brand that stole our heart in Denver at the SIA ski show last year. High quality, amazing innovation, super nice fits, great design, sweet price ing and in the case of this jacket, just the best jacket I've ever owned. Down-Filled, flattering and with great, breathable, offering great range of motion, warm (but not too warm), great pockets to carry all the crap I usually carry around (gopros, cameras, phone, leatherman...). A jacket's ability to carry stuff without distorting, without bunching up is highly underrated... Over my many, many years skiing including more than 18 years of coaching and instructing... I've owned more jackets than I could ever remember... and very few saw me proclaim out loud "this is the best jacket ever!" This Eider jacket rocks.
[5] Underwear: Dale of Norway base layer. The box says "Norwegian Quality Since 1879"... Now I know that everyone is talking "Icebreaker" these days but Dale (Those who are in the know call it simply "Dale") is synonymous with wool. After all, they've been in the business of making quality wool garments since well before the advent of the very term "base layer". Light, soft, warm, moisture wicking, comfy and well priced. LOVE my Dale stuff. Don't be a sheep, try something new.
[6] Helmet: POC Synapsis 2.0. I've been a fan of hard-eared race-like helmets since the day I got my first carbon Briko Race Helmet back in the day... But this year I decided to go soft-eared... and my choice was the very bling POC Synapsis 2.0. I'll be honest, I chose it mostly because of the fact that POC is still relatively rare in the market these days and exclusivity is kinda neat. Plus I really like the visor concept. Oh and did I mention that it has an aramid wrap that will resist puncturing from stuff like tree branches and hidden snow fence rebar? Yeah, that's a big one for me... Especially after seeing my buddy Dave Lewis get impaled in the head at Louise earlier this Winter.
[7] Socks: Darn Tough Ski & Ride Socks. There are things you love, and things that you won't do without... Product that you build a business around. Darn Tough of Vermont are the embodiment of what we, at Gord's Ski and Bike, believe in. High Quality, Accountability to our customers, great value and performance. Of all the socks I've owned in my lifetime, these are the very, very best. UNCONDITIONALY guaranteed (no, really who does that anymore?) and the most comfy sock you will ever own. It's not a tag line, it's the honest truth. Family owned and run, in Vermont, since 1978, Darn Tough only make one thing: Socks. Forget the Smartwool, Dudebro, and Party Socks of the world. These are the socks you want to own. Period [6] Ski Poles: Scott Pro Taper. Ready for this one? Life is too short to use aluminum poles. If you don't use your poles, if you think that poles exist solely to push yourself forward or to have something in your hands as your arms flail about like the dude in Team America World Police, this last statement may be lost on you. Using your poles requires a well balanced pole with lots of shock absorbtion, stable and strong shafts and great grips... These poles have that and then some. They just feel right and they're made by one of our favorite manufacturers in the Business: Scott Sports. I'm a big fan of their stuff... and their poles are the cat's meow.
Check back soon for more.
PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING It's easy to say that we participate in the sports that we sell. Many shops sell it but don't necessarily live it. Here at Gord's we'll prove it to you. We not only get out and test everything we sell, we also own it and we use it. We play with our customers and we spend all our disposable income skiing, biking, snowboarding and dreaming of the next trip, the next outing. We document every adventure we partake in. We take pictures, we take video, we don't just do it to back-up our assertion that one must walk it like he or she talks it, we also believe that it's important to leave all the participants with something to relive the good times with. We show these videos on the TV's in our stores and we catalogue them on line for all to see. Check out our latest evening night ride video below and check out all our other ride and adventure videos on by checking out our facebook page HERE or visiting our YouTube page HERE:
SHOP CLOSE TO HOME AND SAVE! Please forgive us as we do our best to convince you and appeal to your Winnipeg roots and suggest that you to consider shopping locally for your ski, snowboard and bike gear... and help support locally owned specialty shops in our community!
As a local specialty retailer that has fought hard to earn your trust and business for close to five decades, we'd be lying if we didn't admit that feel the pressure of the increasing number of big-box stores and internet giants and on-line discount shopping sites.
Although it's tempting to think you're getting the best deal by going big box or on-line, May we humbly suggest that you think twice about the implications associated with sending your dollars outside the city. Winnipeg needs our dollars, WE need your dollars. Remember the downsides to buying over the internet or supporting the big box stores that take your money and send it back to Alberta or BC... and if you think buying online is cheaper, always be prepared to pay additional money for shipping
charges, duty fees, brokerage fees and taxes... not to mention pesky little things like binding installation and warranty issues...
And while you may think things are always cheaper online, you might just be surprised... Many of the products we sell ARE ACTUALY CHEAPER than on-line retailers! Take our Nordica Cruise 80 for example: Our regular price:$399 CDN www.ski.com's price $435 US ... our sales price: $329 CDN, www.ski.com's sales price: $349 US. so much for savings! Now add to hat price the currency exchange and the shipping and you will have paid over $70 more for a boot that does not offer Gord's lifetime bootfit guarantee nor the warm and fuzzy feeling of supporting your local economy. (we're not kidding. check it out here)
When you shop at a local shop like Gord's Ski and Bike you can actually see, touch, feel or try on the products you are interested in buying. We would never assume that simply having a Winnipeg address is sufficient to count on your business, we try hard every day to EARN your business. Through the hiring of the very best staff possible, renovations, staff education, product testing, product testing and even more product testing... We're committed to giving
you as many reasons to buy at Gord's as possible... and that includes being price competitive.
Our friendly helpful staff fully understand what we're against as an ethical local retailer dedicated to doing right by our customers and they are not easily deterred... They are dedicated professionals and caring to a fault. Their mandate is not only to interact with you but to get to know you in order to properly advise you on the right products for you based on our own experience. In addition,
our staff is not only 100% accountable for the quality of your experience at our store, but they are also accountable to your experience with the product we've recommended. Come in and say hello, we are always happy to see you and can help you find exactly what you're looking for. So when you're thinking of new ski, bike or snowboard equipment or outerwear, think local, think Winnipeg and drop by either of our stores and experience
why it's good to shop close to home, why there's value in supporting local businesses such as Gord's and why you'll end up saving money in the end 'cause the wrong gear is always more expensive than the right gear.
GORD'S FIFTIETH SKI TEST
Check out the video above as we head to Winter Park Colorado to test the best of next season's skis. It's the way we select all the skis we sell. It's how we can guarantee that the skis you buy from Gord's are as awesome as we tell you they are. Putting our money where our mouth is. Walking it like we talk it. Being accountable to you.
THE BEST BOOTFITTERS IN CENTRAL CANADA
We've built our reputation on proper bootfitting. It begins with central Canada's largest selection of ski boots and ends with our LIFETIME BOOTFIT GUARANTEE. We rarely sell customers multiple pairs of boots... So we do it right... From the get-go.
Here are a few things you should know BEFORE you drop by to get fitted for boots at Gord's:
[1] Do your shopping and 'research' first but please, stay off the internet and "Ski Boot Tests" Come on, you're smarter than that. Unless the tester has the identical body and feet as you do, his/her opinions are simply useless.
[2]
We would appreciate it, if you could, if you made an appointment. (just call 284.2952 or email us at JF@Gords.com). Better you come as early in the day as you can since we don't do bootfitting's after 8:00pm.
[3] A proper bootfit appointment lasts 1 to 2 hours.
[4] Bring the socks you usually wear and your footbeds... If you don't own footbeds, we'll be selling you one so be prepared.
[5] Bring patience along... this more often than not takes some time.
[6] Once we've agreed on a boot we'll back it up with our unique LIFETIME BOOTFIT GUARANTEE.
Don't mess with your ski vacation get the RIGHT BOOT. Crappy boots have ruined many a ski vacation!
GORD'S OPENS A SHOP IN BANFF! It was inevitable... Gord's is opening a store in Banff!
Yes, you read right. Fifty years after our inaugural season, we're headed to ski country! And no, we're not giving up on Winnipeg. It'll always be home. We're just spreading our wings.
Here's what the Winnipeg Free Press said in the December 2nd 2011 issue:
AFTER a half-century of serving outdoor enthusiasts with their sporting gear in Winnipeg, the owners of Gord's Ski and Bike have decided to expand where much of that equipment is actually used.
"Many of our customers buy stuff from us in Winnipeg and go play with it elsewhere," said JF Ravenelle, the president and general manager of Gord's. Elsewhere, in many cases, is the Rocky Mountains, so Ravenelle and crew are about to open the doors to their first location in Banff. The 2,100-square-foot store on Banff Avenue in the Cascade Plaza will cater to Winnipeggers on ski and snowboard trips to Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mount Norquay as well as the mountain dwellers, a surprising number of whom need no introduction to Gord's. "We talked to hairdressers, businesses and other locals (before we decided to come here). It's amazing how many people know this brand," Ravenelle said.
Gary Silbernagel, vice-president of leasing at MDC Property Services, a Calgary-based real estate development boutique that handles the 100,000-square-foot Cascade Plaza, said he was eager to find another ski retailer after Banff Mountain Wear closed down this summer. Gord's name, brand and brand recognition were already very strong in Banff, he said. "We looked at their track record and liked what they had done. They have a long history in the business, a very successful clientele and business in Winnipeg and a big clientele that skis in the Banff region who could avail themselves to a new location," he said. "It's a very risky business with a high failure rate these days. Gord's believes in the Banff-Lake Louise area and we thought they'd be a good fit."
Saturday's official opening of the Banff store ended a remarkable run after nearly hitting business rock bottom three years ago. Ravenelle has taken on a new partner in the new store, too. Stephen Strachan, who runs The Hardwear Company in Kenora, a similar concept to Gord's, has come on board and brings Hardwear's focus on paddle sports, such as kayaking and canoeing, to Banff.
Gord Reid founded the store bearing his name in 1961 in the basement of the Winnipeg Ski Club on Osborne Street. A member of the Manitoba Alpine Ski Hall of Fame for his contributions to skiing in central Canada, he sold the business in 1988 but stayed involved for more than a decade after. He died following a stroke in 2006. One of his disciples, current president J.F. Ravenelle, said the current group of employees live by the values he set forward."He would say, 'Don't sell crap. Let the other guys sell crap,' " Ravenelle said with a laugh.
Writer:
geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 2, 2011 B2
RIP GREG Recently a whale of a man and a coach who coached and mentored for all the right reasons passed away. His name was Greg and all of us at Gord's are mourning his passing. For him life was all about the kids he coached. Ot was all about his love of this sport called Skiing. JF once asked him why he still raced when most coached his age would never dream of squeezing that body into a skinsuit... He told me that it was because he still could, and that he was going to do it until he couldn't anymore... and because it helped him be a better coach.
MAKE THAT A HAT TRICK! Done and Done! Gord's has made it a hat trick! It's quite the honor for us that Uptown Magazine has once again recognized us... It's the third time we've been voted Best Bike Shop in Winnipeg ...by a wide margin! Thank you to all who have voted for us on Uptown's Annual "Best of Winnipeg" poll! This is an honor we don't take lightly. The last thing we're going to do is sit on our laurels and pat ourselves on the back. It's just not the way we do things. We'll keep on doing our best to earn your business every single days, doing our best to get better at our craft. While winning stuff is certainly fun. We're in it to win it every year. Thanks again everyone! We sincerely appreciate the thumbs up. read the entire article here (we're category #63):
PRICE MATCH POLICY
Simply put, if you find anything cheaper anywhere, LET US KNOW! We want to be the ones selling it to you. If, despite our best efforts to check our competitors prices, we miss one PLEASE LET US KNOW. We'll gladly price match it and give you an extra 5% in the form of a store credit. Simple. For the exact rules of engagement on this one, please follow the following link:
RIDE WITH US
MEET OUR FRIENDLY STAFF! The other day we were counting how many folks were on our staff list and we realized that there is close to 35 of us working at Gord's. We suspect that that's more than any other independent shop of our category in the city. One big family with one common goal: To share our passion for what we do with you.
What makes us different could be that we actually do the sports we sell, that we're not on commission, that we don't do sales contests, or could it be that we all enjoy one another's company and that we genuinely care for every aspect of your experience? (even well after you've spent your hard earned money and left the building) Here's an idea: Come on in and find out for yourself! Read more about who we are by visiting our staff page here:
LEARN TO RIDE Every Thursday we host "learn to ride clinics" where we help folks just like you to learn how to ride better. Go ahead, join us. We'll help with your basic bike skills, better riders will share their knowledge, we'll get into some skills challenges and all together, we'll become better. Check out the following link and join the club. We ride together, we learn together, we laugh together... You get the idea!
PERSONAL GEAR CONSULTANT Gord's "Personal Gear Consult" is something we thought up after our first of many busy weekends here at Gord's. We were wondering how to give those who take buying something like a bike seriously ... What to do for those of you requiring a bit more attention. Sure we do all we can (and then some) for those of you just walking into any of
our stores... But sometimes it's frustrating for us, we get so busy, somewhat a victim of our success... and like it or not we sometimes miss details. So here we were, wondering how we could do things better, how we could give you 150% of the Gord's experience.
ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU A “good deal” is relative… Buying the wrong thing is always a poor purchase, no matter what the price paid.
Pseudo experts and armchair quarterbacks are absolutely everywhere… especially with the rampant proliferation of review sites on the web. Accountability is key. The difference between “them” and us is that we, the staff and ownership of Gord’s Ski and Bike, are accountable to you, our customers. Our word is our bond. If you put your trust in us and we make the wrong recommendation on something we will make things right. That’s
our promise to all our customers. Hopefully you can find some value in that.
INTERBIKE We don't just take anyone's word for it. While some people rely solely on information gathered from the internet, we prefer to test, test and then test some more. Here's the gang testing gear at the Mecca of bike product intros: Interbike.
OUR BRAND NEW STORE! The word "Right-Sized" clearly applies here. We're so very excited to announce that the doors to our NEW Kenaston location are now open! It was a long overdue move that we're happy we finally made! Here's the story: We're big enough to admit when we've made a booboo... and when we opened our Kenaston location in October of 2007 it was clear shortly thereafter that we'd made a big one. The Original Kenaston (Unit N) location was HUGE and just like the guy said "sometimes bigger is not better". So when the opportunity to jump on a space that we'd always coveted came available we pounced...
It's an understatement to say that we're excited. Sure, we'll miss the old monster but not as much as we're happy to be somewhere where we can take better care of those customers we value so much. Please drop by, you can't miss us. We're in the same mall but just 8 doors to the left of where we were. Once you set foot in what we now call 2.5 we're certain that you'll agree with us that this was the right move to make.
GOPRO HD... WE SELL THEM! The GoPro HD personal camera. GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO is the world’s highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera. Professional quality 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card! We have them in stock and we sell them for roughly the same as they do on the internet!
You get to strap it on, go have fun and relive every glorious moment when you get back home! We at Gord's use several GoPro HD's on a rotating basis and it shoots like a camera 5 times its price!
TEST IT
THEN SELL IT
It's a simple principle by which we live and die: "Only sell what you yourself would buy". After all, life's too short to sell crap, life's too short to buy crap. To make sure we're crapless we go through much time and effort to ensure that everything we sell is up
to our lofty standards.
LOWEST PRICE POLICY
Of course you don't want to pay more for the same stuff! Who would? We understand that when it comes to saving a dollar some of us can go a little overboard... spend more on gas than the actual difference in price... To help you out, we have this little thing called Gord's lowest price policy...
.
WE LOOOVE SCOTT BIKES When we insert an new brand into our mix, there's always a good reason. Sometimes it has to do with the culture behind a company, how passionate they are about what they do. sometimes it's the level of service and dedication to the sport and many times it's simply because the stuff just flat-out performs. Sometimes we select a product based on how technically excellent it is, how much homework, research and development and attention to detail the company puts into the end product...
Scott Bikes would definitely fall into the category labeled Technology Obsessed. The fine folks at Scott Bikes are clearly devoted to being technically dominant. Scott engineers are very serious about making sure every single one of their offerings is on the cutting edge of bike innovation. Take for example the Genius series of bikes... Brought to market in 2003 Scott Genius Bikes still have no equal when it comes to technical innovation on a 6 or 7 inch bike. For what it's worth, we're big fans. As a matter of fact most of our management team: Darci, Jared, JT and JF Ride Scott bikes... and there are a few reasons for that: Cool bikes, lots of innovation and serious performance.
True fact: We sell a whole lot of bikes. We like to think that the reason we sell as many bikes as we do is simply because we do thinge a wee-bit differently. First off, we're not on commission. Secondly, we genuinely care about your experience. Thirdly we sell nice bikes, fun bikes, cool bikes. Bikes we would ourselves ride. And while we don't define ourselves by the brands that we do, we do really like the brands that we sell. Rocky Mountain, Scott, Cove, Bianch, Louis Garneaui and a few others that really care about your experience as much as we do. Brands may change but our commitment to you never has... not in fifty years. Drop on by, we'll show you how we do it. Relaxed. Fun. All about YOU.
how non-elitist our club is. If you've never heard of our Mountain Bike Club and our many rides, you're sure missing out. Gord's Mountain Bike Club members are not only great riding buddies, they are also our family, focus group test team, marketing dartboard, drinking, buddies, best friends.... We are a gregarious and diverse group of riders (over 300 members), we love to ride together and share our love of riding. From casual early-season Wednesday Night Rides to more advanced Epic Rides to Friday Night and Saturday Morning Road Rides: lots of fun on bicycles! 
[1] The Gloves: 
2] The Boots: Lange Super Blaster 120's. This was a last minute trip and my boots were in Banff so I had to improvise by picking up a pair of Blasters. Probably our best selling series of boots this year. What a treat that my feet aren't hurting. Could be a combination of the boot and the awesome FOOTBALANCE footbeds Darci made for me the morning of my departure... but these boots are sweet. 80% of the performance of my 130RX's but with no break-in period. Lovely concept this "comfort" thing.
[4] The Jacket: 
[6] Ski Poles:
It's easy to say that we participate in the sports that we sell. Many shops sell it but don't necessarily live it. Here at Gord's we'll prove it to you. We not only get out and test everything we sell, we also own it and we use it. We play with our customers and we spend all our disposable income skiing, biking, snowboarding and dreaming of the next trip, the next outing. We document every adventure we partake in. We take pictures, we take video, we don't just do it to back-up our assertion that one must walk it like he or she talks it, we also believe that it's important to leave all the participants with something to relive the good times with. We show these videos on the TV's in our stores and we catalogue them on line for all to see. Check out our latest evening night ride video below and check out all our other ride and adventure videos on by checking out our facebook page 
Please forgive us as we do our best to convince you and appeal to your Winnipeg roots and suggest that you to consider shopping locally for your ski, snowboard and bike gear... and help support locally owned specialty shops in our community!
And while you may think things are always cheaper online, you might just be surprised... Many of the products we sell ARE ACTUALY CHEAPER than on-line retailers! Take our Nordica Cruise 80 for example: Our regular price:$399 CDN www.ski.com's price $435 US ... our sales price: $329 CDN, www.ski.com's sales price: $349 US. so much for savings! Now add to hat price the currency exchange and the shipping and you will have paid over $70 more for a boot that does not offer Gord's lifetime bootfit guarantee nor the warm and fuzzy feeling of supporting your local economy. (we're not kidding. check it out 
In addition,
our staff is not only 100% accountable for the quality of your experience at our store, but they are also accountable to your experience with the product we've recommended. Come in and say hello, we are always happy to see you and can help you find exactly what you're looking for. So when you're thinking of new ski, bike or snowboard equipment or outerwear, think local, think Winnipeg and drop by either of our stores and experience
why it's good to shop close to home, why there's value in supporting local businesses such as Gord's and why you'll end up saving money in the end 'cause the wrong gear is always more expensive than the right gear. 
Here are a few things you should know BEFORE you drop by to get fitted for boots at Gord's:
Saturday's official opening of the Banff store ended a remarkable run after nearly hitting business rock bottom three years ago. Ravenelle has taken on a new partner in the new store, too. Stephen Strachan, who runs The Hardwear Company in Kenora, a similar concept to Gord's, has come on board and brings Hardwear's focus on paddle sports, such as kayaking and canoeing, to Banff. 
Recently a whale of a man and a coach who coached and mentored for all the right reasons passed away. His name was Greg and all of us at Gord's are mourning his passing. For him life was all about the kids he coached. Ot was all about his love of this sport called Skiing. JF once asked him why he still raced when most coached his age would never dream of squeezing that body into a skinsuit... He told me that it was because he still could, and that he was going to do it until he couldn't anymore... and because it helped him be a better coach. 
Done and Done! Gord's has made it a hat trick! It's quite the honor for us that Uptown Magazine has once again recognized us... It's the third time we've been voted Best Bike Shop in Winnipeg ...by a wide margin! Thank you to all who have voted for us on Uptown's Annual "Best of Winnipeg" poll! This is an honor we don't take lightly. The last thing we're going to do is sit on our laurels and pat ourselves on the back. It's just not the way we do things. We'll keep on doing our best to earn your business every single days, doing our best to get better at our craft. While winning stuff is certainly fun. We're in it to win it every year. Thanks again everyone! We sincerely appreciate the thumbs up. read the entire article here (we're category #63): 
A “good deal” is relative… Buying the wrong thing is always a poor purchase, no matter what the price paid.
The word "Right-Sized" clearly applies here. We're so very excited to announce that the doors to our NEW Kenaston location are now open! It was a long overdue move that we're happy we finally made! Here's the story: We're big enough to admit when we've made a booboo... and when we opened our Kenaston location in October of 2007 it was clear shortly thereafter that we'd made a big one. The Original Kenaston (Unit N) location was HUGE and just like the guy said "sometimes bigger is not better". So when the opportunity to jump on a space that we'd always coveted came available we pounced... 
The GoPro HD personal camera. GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO is the world’s highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera. Professional quality 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card! We have them in stock and we sell them for roughly the same as they do on the internet!
Scott Bikes would definitely fall into the category labeled Technology Obsessed. The fine folks at Scott Bikes are clearly devoted to being technically dominant. Scott engineers are very serious about making sure every single one of their offerings is on the cutting edge of bike innovation. Take for example the Genius series of bikes... Brought to market in 2003 Scott Genius Bikes still have no equal when it comes to technical innovation on a 6 or 7 inch bike. For what it's worth, we're big fans. As a matter of fact most of our management team: Darci, Jared, JT and JF Ride Scott bikes... and there are a few reasons for that: Cool bikes, lots of innovation and serious performance.