Sporting Life has been a pillar for Canadians when it comes to ski apparel and equipment. Living the Sporting Life is about taking everything in and enjoying every minute of it including ski, aprés ski and the little moments in between. As a proud partner of Alpine Ontario, they have been a key player in the success of our athletes and coaches on and off the slopes, making sure they are outfitted, have their skis tuned and boots fit, and have access to experts at their stores for all of their ski equipment needs.
Sporting Life’s store in Collingwood has been a community cornerstone in Collingwood for 20 years. Store Manager Andy Hotson has been there since 2002 and became store manager in 2014. He has seen generations of families come through the doors, making sure they have what they need to have a fun and fruitful ski season.
In early 2020, the iconic Sporting Life store had a major fire. It wasn’t until the next morning that they realized it was a complete loss.
“The community is what gets you through. I remember people stopping me on the street the next day, making sure I was okay and that staff were safe. They continued to check in whether they saw me on the hill or just getting groceries, always asking what the next chapter was and if a new store was in the works.” said Andy.
He knew that with the overwhelming support of the community there was no question that they had to rebuild and the plans were set in motion. In the meantime they opened up a temporary location. By early December 2020, the temporary store was up and running, fully stocked with skis, boots, poles and accessories enabling them to suit up their customers and continue to maintain the incredible relationships they had built with their local neighbourhood, including Alpine Ontario.
Sporting Life has always put community first, helping local families get the gear they need to enjoy the outdoors. Whether that’s skis or boots, they have experts on staff to help you find what best suits your needs when it comes to hitting the slopes.
In the spring of 2021, reconstruction at the Hurontario location began in the midst of the pandemic, supply issues and restrictions. The new store opened its doors on November 27 last year, welcoming the community back to a place that, while brand new, it felt very familiar, like home. The full team of staff are back with their personal knowledge and expertise that has helped many including some of Canada’s top athletes. They have even added a brand-new Wintersteiger Jupiter ski-tuning machine.
Ready for you this ski season and for many seasons to come, Sporting Life is a place where community comes together, sharing a passion for the outdoors.
You can stop by the new shop at 222 Hurontario Street in Collingwood or shop online at www.sportinglife.ca