SKI Magazine senior editor Joe Cutts announced that Hickory & Tweed of Armonk, NY, was named National Ski Shop of the Year by SKI magazine. The honor was bestowed at an SIA awards party presented by the makers of eVENT® Fabrics celebrating the sixth annual SKI Magazine Gold Medal Ski Shops program, which selects North America’s 60 top ski shops.

“Specialty retailers are a skier’s local connection to the slopes,” says Cutts. “They are vital sources of information on equipment and new trends, and more than that, they can be almost a second home for diehard skiers who just want to hang out and soak up the vibe. Hickory & Tweed is a classic example: 44 years in the same location in downtown Armonk, longtime employees and owners who really know and love the sport, and the kind of service that inspires unfailing loyalty among its customers.”

Regional Shops of the Year were also announced. They are:

  • Rockies Shop of the Year: Alpine Sports-Sante Fe, New Mexico
  • Far West Shop of the Year: Sturtevant’s Sports-Bellevue, Washington
  • Midwest Shop of the Year: Vertical Drop-St. Charles, Illinois
  • New England Shop of the Year: Outdoor Sports-Wilton, Connecticut
  • East Shop of the Year: Hickory & Tweed-Armonk, New York

The winning shops were selected from 1,500 ski shops in North America by a panel of industry experts including manufacturers, product managers, and SKI editors. Shops are rated in six categories: staff expertise; selection; price and value; backshop and tuning; bootfitting and innovative programs.