Tony Shumaker wants to make sure you look good, feel good, and have a blast playing in the snow this winter.
“No matter how you like to enjoy Michigan’s beautiful winters, we’ve got the equipment, clothing, and accessories for you,” said Shumaker, vice president of Shumaker’s Ski & Snowboard in Flint Township.
The Shumaker family has been outfitting winter sport enthusiasts since 1947 when Tony’s grandfather, Carl Shumaker, started the business at the corner of Ballenger Highway and Miller Road — the same place it still operates today.
Now the only full-service ski and snowboard shop in Genesee County, the family is looking forward to welcoming its fourth generation into the business. Garrett Shumaker, Tony’s son, is in his final year of business school at the University of Olivet and ready to learn the ropes from his dad.
“I’m excited for Garrett and his plans to continue growing the family business,” Tony Shumaker said.
Right now, the biggest plan on the drawing board is adding a new store in Brighton.
“Brighton would be another great spot for us because of its proximity to Ann Arbor, Novi, and southeast Michigan, not to mention the Mt. Brighton Ski Resort,” Tony Shumaker said.
The Shumakers are still looking for the right location but hope to have a store up and running this fall.
A Brighton store would be its third location; the family expanded into the Saginaw market when they reopened The Stable Outdoor Outfitters in 2019. The store is now known as Shumaker’s at the Stable and offers an extensive line of ski equipment, bicycles, and other outdoor gear.
No matter the location, the Shumakers are committed to taking care of their customers.
“Our philosophy is to make sure our customers have the best experience in and out of the store,” he said. “The best way to do that is by providing the proper equipment to match each person’s skill level.”
That’s possible at Shumaker’s thanks to its experienced staff including Tony Shumaker, who is a certified U.S. Ski & Snowboard coach, a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and a master ski boot fitter.
“We’ve got a lot of experienced and highly trained employees who have been skiing and snowboarding for most of their lives and know the best way to help our customers — no matter their skill level,” he said.
“We know it can be difficult for some people to come into a store if you’ve never been fitted for skis or a snowboard before. We’re happy to provide as much information as they need to feel good about their purchase.”
To that end, Shumaker’s offers customers a SkyTechSport ski and snowboard simulator at its Flint store. The simulator is 25 feet wide with three projectors and recreates the look and feel of snow sports.
It’s the same professional snow sports trainer used by the U.S. Ski Team and one of only two trainers like it in Michigan. The simulator is used as a training tool by local racing teams and as a learning tool for beginner to intermediate snowboarders and skiers.
“Instead of watching someone come down a hill, the simulator allows us to look at an individual from the comfort of our store, watch them, see how they would perform on the slopes, and then evaluate and correct in real time,” Shumaker said.
Shumaker recalled helping a young snowboarder who came in looking to start downhill racing.
“He got on the simulator and within two seasons he was one of the best racers on the team,” he said. “The technology is pretty amazing.”
Shumaker said his family looks forward to many more years outfitting mid-Michigan skiers and snowboarders.
“Skiing is a passion in our family, so we love helping other people find their passion, too,” he said.