Employee Spotlight

Tracy McEwan Gibbons

July 2006: Back in 1984, Tracy McEwan walked onto the Sturtevant's salesfloor and sold her first pair of boots. It's impossible to know how many boots, skis, bindings, poles, and all, she's sold since then, but considering the fact that she's now the company's general manager and buys all the hardgoods for both Sturtevant's stores, Ski Mart and Sturtevants.com, you can safely say she's responsible for a lot of people's comfort and enjoyment out on the hill.

Tracy's passion for the sport started back in 1969 when she was just 3 years old and took her first turns. She had stopped turning by 1985 when she was the Junior National Downhill and Overall Champion. That same year she joined the U.S. Ski Team. It wasn't all glory though, the guts came following a broken ankle in '86, a blown out knee in '87, and a shattered arm in '88. Tracy's not easily dissuaded, she went on to a Silver Medal in the World University Games as a member, and future coach, of the Seattle University Varsity Ski Team. She was also the Whistler Peak to Valley Champion five times in nine years. (She didn't enter the other four years.)

These days, Tracy has a different last name, Gibbons, thanks to her husband Paul. They have two incredible kids, Otto and Anna, who were taking turns with mom and dad before they could walk. And, Tracy's passion for the sport continues. She's running one of the top specialty ski shops in the country, racing as time allows, and coaching women's specific ski clinics up at Crystal Mountain.

Chris Reimertz

February 2007: Born in Malmo, Sweden and raised in a small (and flat) town called Furulund, Chris first strapped on cross-country skis around the age of 6. Emulating their heroes Ingemar Stenmark and Gustavo Thoeni, Chris and his brother took their cross country skis down the local "hills" skiing the course between sticks of rose hip bushes. By the age of 9 Chris had his first downhill skis and never touched the cross country skis again. At age 17 Chris was ready to see the world and promptly landed in Oakes, North Dakota, population 2800, as an exchange student. Making a name for himself as the kicker on the football team, he was recruited and ended up at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. After college he moved to Beaver Creek, CO where he worked as a Bank Officer. He met his wife Gina there and in 1995 they moved to Olympia where her family is from. In 1996 Chris answered an ad in the paper for a ski sales job and through the years he's taken on a huge variety of roles for Sturtevant's. Chris is now Assistant General Manager and oversees our Puyallup and Ski Mart locations as well as our off-site sales. All while continuing to commute to and from Olympia where he, Gina and their son Sam reside.

Keith Rollins

October 2006: Sometimes the most random day can change a life. For Keith that day came when he was 17 and some friends in his high school shop class invited him to go night skiing at Crystal Mountain. A poor kid living in Tacoma, Keith was more inclined to go fishing and almost passed on the opportunity. But his friends talked him into it and his life was never the same.

After high school he took a job in construction and started making good money - enough to pay for the best ski gear money could buy. But then he got a better offer, take a 65% pay cut and go work in a ski shop. He worked for that shop, Parkland Sports in Tacoma, for 16 years before Sturtevant's recruited him.

Keith is now the Puyallup store manager and in his 6th year with the company. His free time is spent skiing and biking, often in front of a camera. Keith has had over 200 photos published in ski and bike magazines, and has even found himself in a couple of movies. Whether he's skiing the Northback at Crystal Mountain with his 9 year old son Blake, or heli-skiing a peak in Alaska, Keith still gets that same feeling he had 21 years ago when he first grabbed a hold of that rope tow at Crystal. Kind of gives you a new appreciation for shop class, doesn't it?

Martin Rand

August 2006: Sturtevant's has been around a long time but Martin has been around even longer. It was back in the early 70's when Martin first worked at Sturtevant's, except it was called Alpine House in those days. He was already an avid skier, after being introduced to the sport on a trip to Switzerland with his family. And Crystal was already becoming his second home, he started skiing there right when it opened in 1962. Martin spent five years at Alpine House before becoming a sales rep for skiing, climbing, tennis, and biking equipment manufacturers.

From there, Martin started his own manufacturing company, designing and producing physical therapy products, including custom work for physical therapy clinics as well as for the Sonics, Storm, and Seahawks. Through the years, he would come back to Sturtevant's in the winter, specializing in custom bootfitting.

Realizing that improving the world one boot at a time was a full-time endeavor, Martin decided to take on the role of Sturtevant's Custom Fit Center Manager. But, between the hundreds of custom fits he does every winter, he manages to ski (alot, in his words), roadbike, mountain bike, play tennis, surf, go fly fishing and trapshooting, rockclimb, golf, waterski, wakesurf, sail, and pack horses. All with his faithful companion, Buck, by his side.

Lisa Coles - Water Ski School

April 2006: Our Bellevue customers might not know Lisa Coles, but our Puyallup customers sure do! Lisa has been working at our Puyallup store since it opened in 2001, sharing her extensive knowledge and advice with customers throughout the year.

But, Lisa has another passion. Growing up on Lake Tapps, Lisa started water skiing when she was 9, competing when she was 13 and wakeboarding when the boards first arrived on the scene. She's been lucky enough to train with many pros over the years and is definitely an "insider" in the industry. Seventeen years ago Lisa began instructing, sharing her knowledge and passion for the sport, and today she operates her own school - specializing in slalom and wakeboard instruction, as well as driving instruction and tips.

Whether you're a beginner looking to get started on the water, or advanced and working on your inverts, give Lisa a call at our Puyallup store, 253-770-3621. She offers private and group lessons and enjoys working with all ages - from little kids to seniors, or even better, the whole family! What a great way to spend a summer day!

Sturtevant's Bellevue

Sturtevant's Bellevue
1100 Bellevue Way NE,
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: 425-454-6465
Phone: 1-888-454-SNOW (7669)
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