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Did you know that Inside Edge Ski & Bike was the fountainhead for our internationally known company Reliable Racing Supply, and that Inside Edge actually started as a rental consession at our local ski area, West Mt.? Read on!
When former Olympian Tom Jacobs and his wife Marilyn moved themselves and their three kids (Jeff, Diana and John) to Glens Falls from Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 1958, it was so that Tom could take a "career" job at the local paper mill Finch, Pruyn & Co. While at Finch, Tom became the Ski School Director at nearby Hickory Hill until 1963 when the Brandt brothers opened their first rope tow at West Mountain, only 5 miles from the center of Glens Falls.
The Brandts offered the Ski School directorship to Tom, and the opportunity to own the rental shop. Tom and Marilyn ran the shop until 1967 as a seasonal "moonlighting" effort. All this was going on even while his "day job" took him to New York City three days a week, every week (busy guy!). One day, he was supposed to board an airplane from Laguardia to Warren County Airport. For some reason, he missed the flight. That airplane crashed into Pilot Knob Mountain on Lake George during its approach to the airport during a thunderstorm. Everyone on the flight perished. Needless to say, it was a defining moment for Tom Jacobs.
The next day, Tom made a decision to quit selling paper and dedicate all his efforts and resources to selling ski equipment in New York and to his ski shop: the Inside Edge. The rest, as they say, is history. In classic entreprenurial style, the Inside Edge flourished into an internationally known and respected company that has made a lasting imprint on the wintersports industry.
Here's the timeline on the evolution of Inside Edge and Reliable Racing:
1968: Inside Edge moves its location from West Mt. to Bay Road in Glens Falls
1968: Inside Edge enters bike business as first Peugeot dealer north of NYC
1968: Tom & Marilyn go full time into Inside Edge
1968: Reliable Racing (parent company of the Inside Edge) offers bamboo and printed racing bibs to local clubs
1969: First Reliable Racing Supply catalog is published, includes racing bibs, bamboo poles, plastic slalom poles, banners and a timing system
1970's: Business moves to Glen Street; RRS begins manufacturing of patented products including Road Ski & Sixtens Heel Wedge, and launches the direct importation of nordic equipment from Sweden
1977: Introduction of the first flexing slalom pole in North America, called Snowfeather
1979: RRS begins manufacturing of Break-A-Way® slalom poles; development & sale of the world's first coin-op timing system to Copper Mt.; First use of flex pole (Break-A-Way) in World Cup competition at Waterville Valley, NH
1980: RRS exhibits at the SIA show in Las Vegas for the first time
1981: RRS lands contract with Labatt to produce the Labatt Ski Machine program with automatic timer developed by RRS
1982: RRS lands contract with Phillip-Morris to produce the Marlboro Ski Challenge with automatic timer
1983: RRS gets slalom pole contract with Sarejevo Olympic Committee. FIS renegs on contract due to "technicality" (read politics) and
awards it to an Italian slalom pole maker.
1980's: RRS splits catalog into two: Hill & Event supplies (business-to-business) and Wintersports (consumer)
RRS invests in direct-mail computer system - first in the ski industry
RRS begins the direct import of helmets for Wintersports Catalog
Inside Edge/RRS moves to current location on Glen Street, renovates 30,000 sq ft facility
1987: RRS becomes US Distributor for TAG Heuer electronic timing
1992: RRS becomes US Distributor for Jofa Helmets and ski protective gear
1993: RRS enters golf business with a Golf Course Supply catalog
1998: Break-A-Way official slalom pole of Nagano Olympic Games
1999: Break-A-Way official slalom pole of FIS world championships at Vail/Beaver Creek
2000: RRS launches fully integrated on-line ordering website
2001: RRS becomes US distributor of Acerbis helmets
2002: RRS imports soccers supplies, enters soccer business with a Field & Event Supply Catalog
2003: Break-A-Way official slalom pole of US Nationals
Inside Edge website established to serve regional market
We are also located at the trailhead of the ...
THE INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRAILS AT COLES WOODS
The first lighted cross-country ski trails in North America opened here in
Crandall Park in December of 1971. A budget of just $3,000 was put to use cutting
brush and illuminating two kilometers of trails on the terraces of Halfway Brook. The
Adirondack Ski Club played host to the U.S. Ski Team and the first "International"
Ski Race was held at the trails' opening dedication. The event remained a popular stop
on tour for years to come due to spectator interest and community enthusiasm - aided
by prizes and a banquet offered by the Downtown Merchants Association. Despite heavy
use, the two kilometer loop sufficed for seven years. In 1977, a generous donation from
Kaymr, Inc. along with community development funds and a grant from the National
Heritage Trail System allowed for the purchase of 35 adjacent acres. The existing trail
system was expanded from two to seven illuminated kilometers and the community
enjoyed great publicity as a result of stories written in a number of national periodicals.
In 1986, the trails were widened and a coalition of volunteers help to grade and smooth
the trail surface and improve the flow and cleanliness of Halfway Brook. Today, the trails
continue to play host to several cross country ski races each year, along with mountain
bike and running races and community events.
There's much more to come! Stay tuned!
