Thursday Merchant: Paddling through rough waters

When the economy hits a rough patch, many times it's businesses that cater to the leisure market that get hit the hardest.

And while business at the Sporting Rage on South Carson Street did slow down, owners David Goodwin and Ryan Frost are optimistic about the future.

"It's tough. We had five employees at this time last year, and it's just me and Ryan now," Goodwin said. "But we are still open."

The Sporting Rage opened in 1988. Goodwin and Frost both worked at the store before they took over ownership on Jan. 1, 2005.

The business specializes in outdoor sports gear for rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, kayaking and skiing. Besides the economy, they also are impacted by the weather, as they were this winter.

"Skiing was tough this year," Goodwin said. "We had good snow, but it came in late, which is great for your diehard local skier, but we hardly saw any traveling skiers."

As the weather warms up, more people are hitting the trails and rivers, and coming into the store for their supplies, Goodwin said.

While kayaking drew a lot of interest in the past, Goodwin said sales has tapered off.

"Kayaking is a great activity, but it has a big work-to-fun ratio," Goodwin said. "Loading these kayaks on top of your vehicle, especially if you are a mom taking the kids to the beach for the day, it's a lot of work. The Lake Tahoe area doesn't have great put-in access, so a lot of times you have walk a ways."

The one area of kayaking that has grown, according to Goodwin, is fishing from a kayak. The Hobie kayaks have a pedal drive that allows your hands to be free to fish. The boats are very versatile, allowing users to pedal, paddle or even sail them.

Rock climbing has proved to be a steady business for the store.

"People who aren't climbers don't realize it's a year-round activity," Goodwin said. "Cooler temperatures are better than hotter temperatures. And people who do climb are passionate about it. When times get tough, climbers will stop going to the movies or extra activities in order to pay for climbing."

The newest trend in outdoor gear at the store is eco-friendly products.

"There is a huge emphasis on being green, eco-responsible, products made in a sustainable, eco-friendly way," Goodwin said.

There is some uncertainty about the possible opening of Sportsman's Warehouse across the street. The parent company declared bankruptcy in March, and questions persist whether the Carson City store will open.

While the new player might offer some competition, Goodwin said there is a positive way to look at it.

"Honestly, I kind of wish they were moving in, because that would mean that times would be better, and we would be doing better," he said. "Their customers are more hunting and fishing, while ours are more backpacking, skiiing and climbing. I feel that we have different customers, and being here 21 years, I think we have a strong clientele."

While Goodwin and Frost wait for the economy to turn around, they know that their location means there will always be business for their store.

"We live at the base of the Sierra, and there are a lot of things to do outdoors here," Goodwin said.