Sitzmark Sports & Lodge has acquired Crazy Mountain Sports, located in the Sitzmark building complex at 416 W. Main (Highway 38).
As of October 15, Mark and Stephanie Martinez will operate the popular shop under the Sitzmark name. The store specializes in winter and summer clothing and accessories.
Crazy Mountain founder Randy Lyles will continue to operate the Red River Trading Company at 200 E. Main and Elevation 8750, a clothing and gift shop located in the Lifts West building at 201 W. Main.
For Mark and Stephanie it’s a special feeling to unite the two well-known shops under the Sitzmark banner. It was in November of 2018 that the long-time Red River residents took possession of the shop founded in 1977 by Toni and Ilse Woerndle, owners at the time of the Alpine Lodge complex which included a ski shop. George Woerndle, their son, managed the Sitzmark shop for nearly 40 years, establishing a top-notch ski rental and retail shop with a reputation for quality skiing products and excellent service.
Sitzmark plans to maintain and expand its custom ski rental service. Make reservations three days in advance and they will deliver skis to your condo or hotel after you arrive in town.
For guests of the Sitzmark lodging, discounts on ski rentals and accessories will be available.
The shop also has plans to expand their snowboard lines and have already added seating specifically for board fittings and sales and they will be adding another member to their tech staff to oversee that area only.
“We’ve added another 30 snowboards. We’re at about 180 boards now. “
Mark laughs. “When I started here 25 years ago we had 3! We’ve seen it take off and grow.”
“Sitzmark never sold snowboards,” Stephanie adds. “We sell them now.”
The idea of uniting the shops and operating a retail clothing and accessories store came about this past summer, although “Markie Mark” had mentioned to Randy in 2018 that he’d like to be considered if Randy decided to sell the shop.
“We have such a great relationship,” Mark says, “and he (Randy) is kind of a mentor, so when the conversation came up…
“It’s a great template, you know, it’s been a really successful place. We’re going to continue the same success with those products and great customer service. The size limitation of the Sitzmark store has required that certain seasonal items had to be stored. With the expansion comes the ability to offer and increase such items as hiking equipment like Hammock and Camelbak.
“There’s a lot of great fishing gear and accessories out there that people haven’t seen and we will be selling fishing licenses.”
“Two years later,” Stephanie adds, “we’re moving on to this side of the building. It’s a huge move for us. It’s very exciting!”
Mark and Stephanie view it as quite a challenge, but they are looking forward to stepping into the “big footprints” of excellence established by Lyles who has been in Red River for nearly 50 years.
“We’ll carry the same line of quality products,” says Stephanie. “We’ll be able to sell year-round.” Some new lines like Costa Del Mar have been taken on and more brands will be available.
“We’re going to continue to cater to that next level of quality products. We always listen to our guests. If I’m asked about a product more than once, I write it down and check it out!”