Courtesy Ann Donnelly
Story Updated Dec 19, 2025
By Ann Donnelly
The Alpine Sport Shop, a Saratoga fixture since 1941, is more than a retail store; it’s a community hub built on a legacy of family, service, and local involvement. Today, the shop is owned and operated by Jack and Cathy Hay, who met on the Saratoga High School ski team in 1968.
The store’s rich history began with founder Ed Taylor, who opened Alpine in 1941. Cathy’s parents, Dorothy and Thurlow Woodcock, purchased the business in 1966. At that time, it was located on Spring Street near the old Skidmore College campus. Back then, the shop was quite different, catering to the then all-girls school. According to Cathy, the students of Skidmore “were big customers then, and Alpine sold clothing like skirts, blazers, a variety of nice apparel. The ski shop was downstairs.”
In 1968, when the Skidmore campus moved, the Woodcocks moved the business to the current Clinton Street location. Cathy notes that her father “designed and built the building to be a ski shop,” creating a structure that evokes a European chalet.
Jack began working at the shop part-time in 1970. Although Cathy initially worked at a savings and loan, citing that she didn’t want to work for her parents, she and Jack took over the reins following her father’s sudden death in 1988. Reflecting on stepping up to manage the business, Jack admitted he felt unprepared, saying, “I had gotten more and more responsibility from Cath’s dad, doing the advertising, and then doing signage. So, you know, I wasn’t really ready, but you know, things happen.”
Nearly 40 years after taking over, the Hays’ unflagging commitment to service and experience has helped it build an incredibly loyal customer base, now serving the fourth and even fifth generation of some local families. Cathy reflects on their history: “Once in a while somebody walks in the front door and says, ‘I learned how to ski in here.’”
Ski lessons were held in the shop for eight years, starting in 1976, utilizing the Graduated Length Method of ski instruction. These lessons took place on a unique ski deck that Jack and Thurlow built. The deck was located at the eastern end of the shop, an area that is now used for office and retail space.
The Alpine Sport Shop continues to embrace modernization in its current operations, especially in service. The owners understand the need to evolve, noting, “You have to continue to upgrade and play with the technology.” Following the COVID-19 pandemic, they purchased an expensive, automated Wintersteiger tuning machine, which performs tuning and edge adjustments. The basement workshop is staffed by two retired, dedicated skiers who love the work and make their own hours.
In terms of offerings, the store sells downhill skis, snowboards (a line they have carried since the late 1980s), cross-country equipment, snowshoes, and a range of clothing suitable for both performance and winter lifestyle.
One of Alpine’s signature offerings is its season-long lease program. They process about 800 to 850 leases annually. The pricing is notably reasonable: $259 for an adult season lease, $119 for kids, and free leases for children five and under. Because the equipment requires specific attention, Kathy recommends appointments for leases and specialized services.
The shop prides itself on expert fitting, particularly for boots, sending staff to specialized clinics. Lorrie Patenaude, a salesperson with the organization for 16 years, is recognized for her knowledge, with Cathy noting, “Lorrie is our best salesperson. She knows more about skis and boots than anyone else.”
Beyond equipment, Alpine offers unique experiences, having organized ski trips since 1994. Their first international trip took 84 people to Innsbruck, Austria. The trips have become a tradition, with the store organizing its 49th trip this year, again to Innsbruck. now led by the owners’ daughter, Julia Lee. They used to organize popular Sunday bus trips to mountains like Killington and Okemo, which ended after the pandemic and the rise of affordable season passes. Jack remarked, “It was fun while it lasted. People still talk about them”.
Jack and Cathy recognize that online shopping challenges independent stores, but they emphasize that their expertise and community focus are irreplaceable. Their dedication makes customers feel valued and connected, reinforcing their role as a social hub. Cathy says, “This is our social life. We are selling fun, and it’s nice to see repeat people.”
To get more information on the Alpine Sport Shop, visit their website alpinesportshop.com.