By Leslie Kilgore EBS STAFF
In a town often defined by change, Gallatin Alpine Sports has been a constant for 30 years. As Big Sky has grown from a small mountain community into a world-class destination, this locally owned outdoor retail shop has quietly evolved alongside it, adapting, expanding and continuing to put service first.
Founded in 1995 by Tom Owen, Gallatin Alpine Sports recently marked its 30th anniversary and was also named Best Outdoor Retailer for the annual Best of Big Sky awards, a recognition Owen sees as a reflection of both longevity and community trust.
“I came to Big Sky first in ’94, came back in January of ’95, and opened the shop in the fall of ’95,” Owen said. “I just had a passion for skiing and wanted to move out West.”
Owen arrived from Tennessee after years in the ski and bike industry, including time working in the Teton Mountains.
“Back then, it was a very different town, maybe like 800 people,” he said. “I was in the Blue Mall, where Broken Spoke and Blue Moon Bakery are now. It was kind of crazy at first, but also really fun.”
That first winter delivered one of the snowiest seasons on record, giving the shop an early boost. Owen ran the store with just one employee while juggling trade shows, product orders and the realities of starting a business in a remote mountain town.
In the decades since, Gallatin Alpine Sports has grown into a full-service outdoor shop offering sales, rentals and service for alpine and nordic skiing, snowboarding and biking. The store carries a curated selection of equipment, apparel and accessories from leading brands, along with bikes, skis and snowboards. Rentals include everything from alpine and Nordic skis to snowshoes and fat tire bikes, serving both locals and visitors year-round.
In 2003, the shop moved into its current location after construction began the year prior. Since then, Owen has focused on staying open year-round and meeting customers where they are, literally, with a focus on deliveries too.
“We are open 52 weeks a year,” he said. “We don’t close. For our customers, but also for our staff, so they have year-round work and aren’t unemployed during the shoulder seasons.”
One of the most significant evolutions of the business has been delivery service, which Owen says has become essential, particularly in the last decade.
“Something that’s really big for us is deliveries,” Owens said. “I’ve been doing them since I opened, but in the last decade, and especially since the pandemic, this has been a necessary growth.”
Today, Gallatin Alpine Sports delivers ski and snowboard rentals in the winter and bikes in the summer directly to homes, condos and hotels throughout Big Sky, offering convenience for visitors while maintaining the personal service locals expect.
“Any outdoor sports business that’s recognizing trends and elevating customer service to meet those demands, that’s paramount,” Owen said.
That service-first philosophy extends to the shop’s staff, many of whom have stayed for years in an industry known for seasonal turnover.
“Just give them a lot of freedom, pay them well, help them out with health insurance, pay their gas from Bozeman,” Owen said. “Take care of them. Make them feel like they have a future here, not just a season.”
Owen credits his employees as the backbone of the business, noting that the shop can operate smoothly even when he’s away.
“Oh, heck yeah,” he said, when asked if the store can run without him day-to-day.
Like many Big Sky businesses, Gallatin Alpine Sports is greatly affected by weather patterns.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said, when asked about the current winter season. “I’ve heard the same when talking to buddies in their 60s who were born and raised in Montana; they also say by far the warmest.”
Despite the unpredictability, Owen remains optimistic and deeply connected to the lifestyle that initially drew him to Big Sky. He still alpine and Nordic skis, cycles and competes in races regularly.
“Am I tired? No,” he said. “I still love running the shop.”
After 30 years, it’s clear that Gallatin Alpine Sports remains more than just an outdoor shop. It’s also a reflection of Big Sky itself: resilient, adaptive, community-focused and rooted in a deep love for the outdoors.
Looking ahead, Owen says his vision for the next decade is simple.
“I’d like to see the people who have helped me out so much still doing well,” he said. “And myself, still doing everything I love to do here in the outdoors. “Happiness is pretty key.”
