Our History
A Family Run Ski Shop in Spokane Valley Serving Generations of Skiers Since 1954
Where It All Began
Sports Creel Inc. opened its doors in 1954 on East Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley. Founded by World War II bomber pilot Harry Larned, what began as a small sporting goods shop grew into what is now the oldest ski shop in Spokane Valley, built on a simple idea: serve your community well and take care of people.
In the early days, Sports Creel sold everything from shotguns to boats to fishing gear. The name came from those roots. But as skiing grew across Eastern Washington, so did the shop’s focus. Over time, Sports Creel became a dedicated family run ski shop specializing in ski gear, professional boot fitting, and ski service for generations of local families.
That commitment became a lasting family legacy. Herb began working in the shop in 1967. Two years later, he married Lin, who had grown up dusting shelves and learning the business from the inside out. The shop was never just a workplace. It was home.
Today, Sports Creel remains a family owned ski shop in Spokane Valley, with multiple generations working side by side. Parents bring their kids. Those kids grow up and bring in their own children. What we are most proud of is not simply that we have been serving skiers since 1954, but the families who have trusted us season after season.
That kind of history cannot be manufactured. It is earned.
Adapting Without Losing What Matters
As skiing changed, so did we. What began as a general sporting goods store became a dedicated ski shop focused on what we truly know and love. We have always believed you should not sell what you do not understand. That is why we focus on carefully chosen ski gear, expert boot fitting, and service that holds up on real snow.
For more than seventy years, Sports Creel has grown through relationships, not advertising. Families return season after season. Kids who once needed help with their first boots now bring in their own children. Professional skiers trust us with their setups.
We have never chased trends. We have simply taken care of people.
The Heart of Sports Creel
For more than seventy years, Sports Creel has grown not through advertising, but through relationships. As the oldest ski shop in Spokane Valley, our reputation has been built on trust, expert ski boot fitting, and honest ski service. Families return season after season. Kids who once needed help with their first boots now bring in their own children. Professional skiers trust us because they know the people behind the counter care about getting it right.
The faces you see here are the heart of our family run ski shop. Decades of hands on experience. Real conversations at the boot bench. Real pride in every ski tune, binding mount, and custom boot fit.
Date skis. Marry boots.
Boots matter. Fit matters. And helping skiers enjoy their time on snow has always mattered most.
Lin Genteman (aka Mama Lin)
The matriarch of the Sports Creel family, Lin is a second generation cornerstone of the shop. She has been here long enough to start as the boss’s daughter, become the boss’s wife, and now be the boss’s mom.
She does a little bit of everything, from selling gear and fitting boots to keeping the shop running smoothly. She is also known for keeping the team well fed with home cooked meals and cookies. And the snowflakes hanging from the ceiling? Those are all her.
Her favorite local place to ski is Mt. Spokane, and she prefers trying new skis rather than sticking to just one pair. Some past favorites include the Hart Galaxie and Fischer Presidents, with newer favorites like the Head Kore 93Ti.
When asked what she loves most about working here, her answer was simple. The people.
And something that might surprise you? She does not like heights.
Micah Genteman (aka Boot Skywalker)
To say Micah was born to do this would be accurate. He has spent most of his life in the shop and now leads from the front, often arriving early with TJ and the dogs to get skis mounted, boots dialed, and everything ready for the day, and staying late to make sure it is all done right.
He wears many hats, but his passion is boot fitting. He loves breaking the idea that ski boots cannot be both comfortable and high performing. For Micah, it is all about diagnosing the problem, fixing it, and seeing the results alongside the customer.
His favorite place to ski is wherever the best snow is, though he admits Whitewater BC is hard to beat. His current ski lineup includes the Head Standard, Fischer Ranger 102, and K2 Reckoner KF Pro.
What he loves most about the job is simple. Working with his wife, his family, and his friends.
And something you might not expect? When he is not fishing for bass or building Legos, he takes care of over 500 gallons of freshwater tropical fish.
TJ Genteman (aka Teeeej)
TJ has been part of the Sports Creel family for more than 25 years and is a key part of what makes the shop run the way it does. Like Micah, she is incredibly capable and always ready to jump in wherever needed, but her specialty is boot fitting and taking care of people.
As a master boot fitter, TJ goes above and beyond to make sure every customer leaves happy, comfortable, and confident in their gear. She is passionate about building relationships and making sure each skier gets exactly what they need.
When it comes to skiing, she believes we are lucky to be surrounded by great mountains, with many of her recent days spent at Schweitzer. Her ski lineup includes the Black Crows Corvus and Mirus Cor, along with the Fischer Ranger 108, Head Kore, K2 Reckoner, and a limited pair of Atomic Benchetlers.
What she loves most about working here is simple. It is family. She loves working alongside her husband and continuing to learn and grow every season.
And something you might not expect? She used to compete in three day equestrian events, including dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping. And yes, she shares a bed with three French Bulldogs.
Alex Azarian (aka Ski Shop Dragon Mother)
Alex is the fierce leader of our back shop crew, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She operates the Scout tuning machine and is responsible for ski tuning and repair, making sure every pair of skis that leaves the shop is ready for the mountain. She has been part of the team since 2021.
Her favorite place to ski overall is Revelstoke, with Silver Mountain as her local go to. Like many on the team, she has built up a strong quiver, including the Black Crows Mirus Cor, Line Sakana, K2 Reckoner 110 for powder days, and a pair of Black Crows Captis she keeps as her beaters.
When asked what she loves most about working here, her answer was easy. The people. This is family. And, as a bonus, there is a pretty great whiskey collection in the back.
Something that might surprise you? Alex competes in two bowling leagues and a pinball league. She also listens to her music loud enough to drown out just about everything, including her alarm, and she grew up skiing on the East Coast.
Max Mällinen (aka Pickle Fingers)
Max is heading into his fifth year working at Sports Creel, but he has been part of the shop for decades. When he is not coaching ski racers, he is in the back shop making skis fast, handling everything from hot waxes to full base repairs and everything in between.
Schweitzer is his home mountain and still his favorite locally, though he also calls out Mammoth, Jay Peak, and Saas Fee as some of his top destinations beyond the Northwest. His ski lineup spans Head, Atomic, Black Crows, Fischer, Stockli, K2, Volant, and Line. On hardpack he is on Head FIS SL skis, on powder days the Head Oblivion 116, and for touring he rides the Black Crows Camox Freebird.
What he loves most about working at the Creel is simple. It feels like showing up every day to work with your favorite ski buddies.
And a fun challenge for you. Max was once a Sports Creel sponsored athlete, but not for skiing. Guess the sport and he might owe you five dollars. Or at least he says he will.
Austin Wrenn (aka Aust-zyn)
Despite being one of the best humans we know, Austin is a man of very few words, which made gathering this information a bit of a challenge. He has been part of the Creel crew for four winters, starting up front before finding his true home in the back shop. These days, he works alongside Alex and Max, taking care of ski edges and bases to keep everything running fast and smooth.
When it comes to skiing, Austin has fallen hard for the long powder runs at Whitewater BC, along with his home mountain of Bear Valley, California. Like many on the team, his ski lineup runs deep, including models from Stockli, Black Crows, Fischer, Atomic, K2, and more. His current favorites include the Black Crows Justis and the K2 Reckoner 112.
His favorite part about working here? The people. As he puts it, “We really do feel like one big family… and Max.”
And something you might not expect? Austin can stick uphill ice.
Brady Davis (aka Slim Brady)
Brady fills a crucial role on the team as one of our boot fitters, and does it with the confidence of someone who has been doing it for years. He brings a calm, steady presence to the shop and has fully embraced his unofficial role as our IT manager. You have likely seen him up front helping customers check in, drop off skis, or get set for the day.
Whitewater in BC tops his list of favorite places to ski, though you can also find him making quick laps at many of our local mountains. His ski lineup leans heavily toward freeride and powder, with favorites like the Black Crows Anima, Atomic Maverick 115 CTI, and RMU YLE 110, along with a deep bench of other options ready for any condition.
What he enjoys most about working here is simple. Talking skis with stoked skiers who are excited to be on the mountain.
And something you might not expect? Let’s just say Brady takes “black belt” very seriously… especially when it comes to keeping his pants up.
Andrew Jones (aka the FNG)
Andrew joined the team in September 2025, which felt a little poetic. We first met him when he and his brother were kids, and have watched him grow into both a great human and a fantastic skier.
He is often the first smiling face you will see when you walk into the shop. As our intake specialist, Andrew helps get everything moving, from checking you in and routing your skis to the right place, to connecting you with the right boot fitter, and making sure everything is ready when you return.
Having grown up skiing there, Schweitzer is his favorite mountain. His ski lineup includes Atomic Bent 100 and 110, ON3P Kartel 96, Head Yahoo 94, a Dynastar FIS GS ski, and even a pair of 80s era Elan Ceramics he keeps around to make his coworkers laugh.
What he loves most about working here is simple. Meeting and connecting with people who share the same passion for skiing.
And his personal “surprise”? In his words, “I’m the best skier on this mountain.”
Ian Royter (aka FNG #2)
Ian is one of the newest members of the Sports Creel crew, joining the team in 2025 and quickly becoming part of the gang. You will find him up front handling greeting, check in and check out, and helping keep things moving smoothly through the shop. He is also a go to for park specific questions and recommendations.
Schweitzer is his home mountain, and his ski style reflects it. His current lineup includes the Fischer Nightstick 97 as his do everything ski, along with the ON3P Mango 90 for dedicated park days. Being new, his quiver is still growing, and we are pretty sure more skis are on the way.
What he enjoys most about working here is the people and how much he is learning every day from the team around him.
And his surprise? He once considered snowboarding, but decided to stick with skiing. We always say it is not what you ride, it is that you ride… but we are glad he made the right call.
Questions About the History of Sports Creel
When was Sports Creel founded?
Sports Creel was founded in 1954 in Spokane Valley, Washington. It is the oldest ski shop in the Spokane Valley area and has been serving generations of skiers for more than seventy years.
Who started Sports Creel?
Sports Creel was founded by World War II bomber pilot Harry Larned. He opened the shop on East Sprague Avenue with a commitment to hard work, outdoor recreation, and serving the local community.
Is Sports Creel still family owned?
Yes. Sports Creel remains a family run ski shop in Spokane Valley. Multiple generations of the same family continue to work side by side, carrying forward the values and traditions established in 1954.
Why is Sports Creel considered a destination ski shop?
Over decades of serving families, beginners, and professional skiers, Sports Creel built a reputation for expert boot fitting, honest advice, and quality ski service. Many customers travel from Spokane, North Idaho, and across Eastern Washington because they trust the experience and expertise.
What makes Sports Creel different from other ski shops?
Sports Creel focuses on relationships, proper fit, and long term trust rather than trends or volume sales. As a long standing family owned ski shop in Spokane Valley, the team prioritizes safety, comfort, and honest recommendations for every skier.
Make Sports Creel Part of Your Ski Season.
Shot at Lookout Pass, Idaho/Montana.
Outfitted in Spokane at The Sports Creel.