Ski Country Antiques premiere Importers of Fine Mountain Lodge & European Chalet Antiques

26 February 2003
the Canyon Courier

Ski Country Antiques, located on Floyd Hill, offers some of the most treasured and unique antiques in this area. Owners Brian, Eric and Jody Kleinwachter, all avid skiers, were attracted to Colorado originally because of the unending amount of mountain activities available. Their interest in skiinig and antiques led them to open a ski themed antique store. Brian, Eric and Jody, whose parents were antique dealers in Illionis, are always willing to share their knowledge of antiques and to help customers select the best piece for their needs. Visitors are treated like on of the family and are greeted by black labs Daisy and Bailey.
Ski Country Antiques specializes in antique furniture and accessories, especially snow and ski related antique items. They have a large assortment of antique wooden skis, snowshoes and sleds, as well as antique sports equipment and historical prints of early Colorado. The walls are covered with unique European skiing posters and stacks of past dated magazines fill the shelves.
A major attraction these days is the Winter Sports Museum, a private collection of Brian's. Just as you walk in the brand new front door, you'll see the Snowshoe Museum and Ice Skate display. The snowshoe collection includes styles from Native American early trappers, primitive ice climbing shoes, US Military prototypes and issued pairs.
The Ice Skating Museum features the evolution of the ice skate. Beginning with early work skates fro 1790 and early sport skates from 1860, the collection also features hand forged figure skates from the 1880's, Queen Skates and the more recognizable leather boot figure skates and hockey skates.
Antique Skis from the 1700's to the 1900's are among the other skis for sale on the ski wall. The Evolution of Skiing collection has skis from all eras. Early transport skis and work are shown from before 1800. Trapper skis and sport skis from the 1800's as well as downhill and jumping skis fromt he 1900's are also included in the display.
Every few months Brian or Jody make the buying trips through Europe. They have contacts in Holland, Germany, Sweeden and even China, who purchase unique and one of a kind items and have them waiting for Brian or Jody. They have recently ex-panded their contacts to include dealers in Poland, Switzerland, Austria and France.
This summer, Ski Country Antiques will begin constructing a 13,000sq.ft. warehouse off the back of the shop to be finished by Thanksgiving. "We are investing for the future and creating a better workspace for us and a bigger display area for our customers. We want to thank our Evergreen customers for their continued support and for helping to make Ski Country Antiques such a success." If you're looking for something unique, unusual or hard to find, call Ski Country at 303-674-4666, or shop on line at www.skicountryantiques.com. Come on in and see the new displays, learn about the antique skis, snowboards and ice skates we have for sale, their values and their rarity! Ski Country Antiques is worth the drive up I-70, off exit 248 Westbound or 247 Eastbound. Open seven days a week.

February 2001 Ski Magazine Skiers stuck in traffic on Colorado's I-70 may notice Ski Country Antiques just off the highway in Evergreen. The shop is a world apart from the post-industrial jam in which they sit. Adorning the interior walls of the log cabin is a sea of handmade woodworkings and antique ski paraphernalia-it's a veritable history museum of skiing and the mountains. Skier Brian Kleinwachter started the business six years ago in Breckenridge, Colo., collecting mostly antique skis and sleds. Soon, he had generated enough business to hire his younger brother Erik as a craftsman and his sister Jody as an artist and store merchandiser. The Kleinwachters have been dealing in antiques since 1978, when they worked in their parents' furniture business in Illinois. "We've been making furniture since we can remember," say the brothers. The shop is packed with wintry memorabilia dating back to the early 1800s, conveying a history of world wars and ski-gear evolutions. Although they specialize in old skis, sleds and snowshoes, you'll also find buffalo fur backpacks from the 10th Mountain Division and enormous rocking chairs made by Tubbs snowshoes in the Fifties. The Mountain Lodge and Cabin section is full of antique fishing rods, reels and nets. Erik's new and converted works take up their fair share of the shop. He transforms old sleighs into love seats and canoe halves into bookshelves, and also builds faux-antique cabinets from scratch. Jody adorns many of the pieces with tasteful faux finishes. The store's antiques may be old, but they're not collecting dust. The Kleinwachters moved the business from Breckenridge a year ago to boost their square-footage to 5,500 feet. So far the move has been a hit. For directions to Ski Country Antiques, call 303-675-4666. Or to view a sampling of the current inventory, visit www.skicountryantiques.com.

17 January 2005 Outdoors: Knock On Wood Newsweek Jan. 17 issue - Harking back to the sport's early days, wooden skis are once again king of the hill. Introduced this season, the Bogner ski ($3,000; indigoofamerica.com for info) features a retro-inspired bamboo veneer that looks as if pulled from the 1941 movie classic "Sun Valley Serenade." But unlike clunky old wooden models, these hand-finished German beauties can carve the most challenging mountains and come dressed up with state-of-the-art bindings and old-school poles with leather handles. Thanks to their surf stylings, Arbor's wood-finished snowboards ($519; arborsports.com) are a favorite of landlocked beach bums. The A-Frame uses koa (which Hawaiian islanders used to make the first surfboards) as well as white maple and walnut to evoke the feel of vintage 1960s longboards. Got a dusty old pair of wooden skis in the attic? Strap on some new bindings and visit woodenskis.com for a classic cross-country ski race near you. Or buy a new old pair at Ski Country Antiques (skicountryantiques.com) in Evergreen, Colo. Just watch out for termites.



26 February 2003 the Canyon Courier Ski Country Antiques, located on Floyd Hill, offers some of the most treasured and unique antiques in this area. Owners Brian, Eric and Jody Kleinwachter, all avid skiers, were attracted to Colorado originally because of the unending amount of mountain activities available. Their interest in skiinig and antiques led them to open a ski themed antique store. Brian, Eric and Jody, whose parents were antique dealers in Illionis, are always willing to share their knowledge of antiques and to help customers select the best piece for their needs. Visitors are treated like on of the family and are greeted by black labs Daisy and Bailey. Ski Country Antiques specializes in antique furniture and accessories, especially snow and ski related antique items. They have a large assortment of antique wooden skis, snowshoes and sleds, as well as antique sports equipment and historical prints of early Colorado. The walls are covered with unique European skiing posters and stacks of past dated magazines fill the shelves. A major attraction these days is the Winter Sports Museum, a private collection of Brian's. Just as you walk in the brand new front door, you'll see the Snowshoe Museum and Ice Skate display. The snowshoe collection includes styles from Native American early trappers, primitive ice climbing shoes, US Military prototypes and issued pairs. The Ice Skating Museum features the evolution of the ice skate. Beginning with early work skates fro 1790 and early sport skates from 1860, the collection also features hand forged figure skates from the 1880's, Queen Skates and the more recognizable leather boot figure skates and hockey skates. Antique Skis from the 1700's to the 1900's are among the other skis for sale on the ski wall. The Evolution of Skiing collection has skis from all eras. Early transport skis and work are shown from before 1800. Trapper skis and sport skis from the 1800's as well as downhill and jumping skis fromt he 1900's are also included in the display. Every few months Brian or Jody make the buying trips through Europe. They have contacts in Holland, Germany, Sweeden and even China, who purchase unique and one of a kind items and have them waiting for Brian or Jody. They have recently ex-panded their contacts to include dealers in Poland, Switzerland, Austria and France. This summer, Ski Country Antiques will begin constructing a 13,000sq.ft. warehouse off the back of the shop to be finished by Thanksgiving. "We are investing for the future and creating a better workspace for us and a bigger display area for our customers. We want to thank our Evergreen customers for their continued support and for helping to make Ski Country Antiques such a success." If you're looking for something unique, unusual or hard to find, call Ski Country at 303-674-4666, or shop on line at www.skicountryantiques.com. Come on in and see the new displays, learn about the antique skis, snowboards and ice skates we have for sale, their values and their rarity! Ski Country Antiques is worth the drive up I-70, off exit 248 Westbound or 247 Eastbound. Open seven days a week.

26 March 2000 Rocky Mountain News BRINGING THE LODGE LOOK HOME ANTIQUES STORE SPECIALIZES IN RUSTIC, UNIQUE PIECES If you're a true-blue Coloradan - transplanted or native - chances are you love the rustic ``lodge'' look when it comes to decorating, whether it's a get-away mountain cabin or just your family room. But where can you find authentic, quality pieces that haven't been churned out by the thousands in a foreign factory? If, as a true-blue Coloradan, you enjoy spending time in the mountains, the answer is right under your nose: Ski Country Antiques, on Interstate 70 at Floyd Hill. ``We specialize in mountain-lifestyle antiques,'' says Phil Roxworthy, store manager. ``We travel anywhere there is a similar lifestyle to here - Canada, the upper Midwest, parts of Europe - to find American primitives, European rustic furniture and sporting goods.'' The store is family-owned and operated. Brian Kleinwachter started the business with his sister, Jody, an artist who paints decorative furniture finishes. Brother Eric runs the workshop and des! igns and builds custom furniture. Roxworthy joined the trio in Colorado this year to apply his retail background and ``help with the business side of things.'' He and the Kleinwachters grew up in St. Charles, Ill., a rural town famous for its antiques markets. The Kleinwachters' parents were antiques dealers there for 30 years and involved their offspring in all aspects of the business, from refinishing furniture to going to antiques shows in Europe. ``We grew up in the business,'' Brian Kleinwachter says, ``but owning an antique store was the last thing I ever thought I'd do.'' After some bad experiences running pizza franchises in Oregon, Kleinwachter returned to help his mother with the family business. ``That was it,'' he says. ``Fate turned me this way. For two years I traveled and did shows by myself, me and my dog, bringing in huge loads, and reacquainted myself with the business.'' He was the youngest person on the circuit by about 20 years, he says. ! Now, at 30, he's the oldest of the Ski Country crew. Four years ago he moved to Breckenridge, where his sister lived, and together they opened the first Ski Country Antiques, on Main Street. The siblings decided to move and expand the store when the Floyd Hill site became available in 1999. ``It's a perfect location,'' Roxworthy says, and not just for its high-profile position on I-70 between Denver and ski country. The building - home of several former restaurants, the last one gutted by fire - is the quintessential log cabin. The store has been open since November, and Roxworthy says business has been awesome. They plan to add 15,000 square feet in showroom and warehouse space by year's end. ``We're in between Denver and Summit County, geographically,'' Roxworthy says, ``and we try to be in the middle in pricing, too. We stress affordability to open the antiques world to the average person. With the added space, they plan to offer wholesale prices to designers and dealers. With one of the largest collections of vi! ntage skis anywhere (typically 250 to 500 on hand), Ski Country also carries a sizable stock of snowshoes, sleds, ice skates and hunting and fishing paraphernalia. The most eye-catching item is the 24-foot authentic Chippewa ceremonial canoe hanging from the ceiling. And it wouldn't be Colorado if you couldn't find a wagon wheel or two. Roxworthy and the Kleinwachters also search for quality furnishings on buying trips. The store contains many finds from around the United States, but the standout pieces are European, such as a 17th century Flemish cabinet, a glossy Romanian armoire, a Belgian cupboard and a colorfully hand-painted German armoire dated 1839. Kleinwachter says they travel to Europe at least four times a year but hope to increase that to every month or two, thereby increasing their stock of European antiques. ``Obviously, it's easier to find older things in Europe, but we also travel there for fun,'' Roxworthy explains. ``We enjoy the moun! tain lifestyle, so we go to ski and kayak. While we're there, we hunt for fun stuff to bring back.'' He points to a 17th century German hobbyhorse as an example. The Kleinwachters' own creations, or ``signature'' pieces, may be the best reason to check out the store. ``We find dilapidated things and turn them into modern, usable pieces,'' Roxworthy says. In addition to being usable, their creations have an unusual twist, a tie-in to their sporting theme. ``Sleigh tables'' are made from old sled runners and Midwestern barn wood and make distinctive coffee tables. Some are more elaborate than others, using 18th century German ``ram curl'' sled runners or fastidiously ornate ``eagle head'' runners. Old wooden skis become sturdy slats for ``ski benches.'' And the ``boat bar'' is exactly what the name suggests - a wet bar built from the hull of an old speedboat, complete with oar sidepieces. ``They make great decorative pieces and they're fun,'' Roxworthy says. ``The basis of the company is that it's a family business oriented ! around having fun and buying and selling fun things.''