November 1, 2018, was a very special day for the Martinez family who have lived and worked in Red River for the past two and a half decades. Thursday was the day they closed the deal that saw the passing of the torch of the Sitzmark Sports Shop from George and Carol Woerndle to Mark and Stephanie Martinez.
“We feel blessed to have this opportunity to keep this great Red River business for the community,” Mark says.
“I know this business. I’ve spent half of my life here. This deal allows the next stage of Sitzmark, giving George an opportunity to have a great retirement.
“There couldn’t be a better fit, with the partnership I’ve had with George. He’s been kind of a father figure to me. All the time and effort… He loves this place and I have the same passion for it. His hard working ethic and his attention to detail, his passion for the ski industry, and he loves Red River!”
Sitzmark Sports, located at 416 W. Main, offers ski and snowboards for sale and rental, as well as skiing accessories: goggles, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. During summer they also rent mountain bikes, four-passenger surreys and book adventure tours – hot air ballooning, river rafting, etc. – throughout the region. In addition, they have condo units for nightly rental in the heart of town.
“This year we’re going to offer ski delivery. It’s that next level service that Sitzmark believes in. We’ll come to your townhouse, condo, lodge. We’ll bring the equipment to your room – we’ll fit you in-house or in your unit or to the mountain. No need to wait in line, no worry about bringing the kids out. Just go on line at www.sitzmarknm.com and reserve, or call us at 575-754-2456.”
Born in Scott’s Bluff NE and raised in Guymon, OK, Mark came to the mountains on Memorial Day weekend of 1993 and never looked back. He has been working at Sitzmark since 1995 and treasures the fact that he has become a member of the extended Woerndle family.
Stephanie has been working at Sitzmark since 2017. A native of nearby Questa, she has lived in the high country most of her life, with the brief exception of a stay in Portland, OR, before returning home. She moved to Red River in 1992.
Two sons, Payton and Maceon are avid boarders and skiers and will be busy with the family business when not on the slopes.
The Sitzmark ski shop was established 1977 by Toni and Ilse Woerndle. Owners of the Alpine Lodge just across the street on West Main, they needed to expand the ski shop at the lodge because it was too small for the increase in business.
According to their son George Woerndle who has operated the business for over 40 years, the site at the corner of Mallette and Main was originally purchased with the idea of establishing a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. It became a top-flight ski shop instead.
George and brother Rudi grew up in Red River and even attended classes at the Moly Mine school located between Red River and Questa. George still resides in Red River.