Story and photos by Amy Collin
The Adirondacks are a beloved destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you have been one of the 12.4 million people visiting the Park each year, or you are stepping out of your front door, many of us are here because we simply love the beauty of Upstate New York.
Biking events like “Bike the Barns” sell out as people sign up to experience the Adirondacks’ rich agricultural history by biking through gorgeous landscapes and sampling local food and beverages. Groups like ADK Unite, a cycling club that raises money for local non-profit organizations, put a collective 34,206 miles of road under their wheels this summer.
As winter creeps closer and days get shorter, children who have grown into adults who have grown into grandparents look to the skies for snow. Skiing is in the genetic make-up of many people who live in the North Country. Winter warriors push the season starting in early fall by making their way to Viking Ski N’ Cycle in Plattsburgh to see what David Collin has in store for them.
David and Barbara Collin, owners of Viking, have spent a literal lifetime promoting outdoor recreation through what has been a family business for 67 years. Malcom and Nancy Collin, David’s parents, opened Viking in 1957. Their five children, David, Carol, Shelly, Michael, and Mark, have rich memories of the early days.
David said, “When Dad first started selling skis, he did it out of the basement in our home in Morrisonville.” He laughed, remembering how the inventory was stored in their bedrooms. He said, “Dad knew that with five children he wasn’t going to be able to afford skis for all of us. Viking was a way to make sure we all grew up skiing and had opportunities to race throughout New York State.”
Viking eventually moved to its original Route 3 location that evolved over decades, and the business evolved with it. The shop now shares ownership with longtime employees Tim Brennan and Brantley Beach. David explained, “They both have significant stock in the business and have been part of the leadership team for many years. Tim basically runs the business—particularly the bike shop.” He shared that both men hope to take over complete ownership in the future.
These days, anyone interested in buying a road bike or e-bike, or a new pair of skis may start by Googling it. “We absolutely compete with the internet,” David offered. “People think they can get a bike or skis cheaper online, and in some cases that’s true, but when they have problems with them and need repairs, they struggle to find a place that can service them.”
Like most family owned and operated businesses Viking places significant value on customer service, selling products they believe in and can repair if there are issues is an important part of Viking’s business model.
David discussed the trend toward e-bikes. “There are basically two kinds of e-bikes: pedal assist and throttle assist. There are over 50 manufacturers, but we’ve generally stayed with Giant pedal assist bikes. People often turn to throttle bikes because they are less expensive, but they can often turn out to be more costly in the end. They have components – in particular the motors, batteries and chargers – that are made in China. They have problems with the sensors, and we can’t get parts. Our service team has all we can handle with the pedal assist e-bikes we sell.
Moving on we discussed the upcoming ski season. “We are gearing up for the winter rush that will come as the first flakes start to fall. Race season is coming, and a lot of families are getting their kids into ski racing,” David commented.
It is impossible to talk about Viking Ski and Cycle and the Collin Family without talking about its deep connection to Beartown Ski Area which was opened in 1954, a few years ahead of Viking. Located just 15 minutes From Plattsburgh, Beartown is the only non-profit 501c3 ski hill in New York State. David explained, “My dad was influential in starting Beartown with the Reyell family, Russ Ricketson and a handful of others. They believed in the value of teaching kids to love skiing and enjoy the outdoors and Beartown was the perfect answer.”
David and his brother, Michael, agreed that Viking wasn’t solely the brainchild of their father. “Thelma Douglas was instrumental. She was an avid alpine skier and did more to get local children into skiing at that time than any other person.”
Remembering the Ski Club Thelma started with the schools, David offered, “She took a bunch of us to Tuckerman’s Ravine at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. We had to hike in, we camped out overnight in the snow and faced an intense headwall. She was amazing, and she pushed Dad to open Viking so that her ski club and kids learning to ski at Beartown could have a place to get gear.” Despite its humble beginnings in the Collin’s basement for the better part of ten years, Viking has adapted to change over the decades.
In this “buy it now” market, one might think people are likely to wait until there is snow on the ground before buying or leasing skis, snow boards and other winter gear. When asked how this affects his business, David simply said, “It doesn’t. Sure, many people wait, but this is how it always goes. There’s a mad rush after the first snowfall, but it’s our business to be prepared to meet that demand. It’s what we do. And kids who are going to be racing usually know what they want, and they’ll come in early.”
Over the years Viking’s shift in business strategy has been fluid, changing mostly in regard to what they sell outside of winter sports. They had a summer restaurant at one point and sold sailboards when it became a popular sport on Lake Champlain. “The most significant change we made,” said David, “was when we started selling bicycles with Jim Sullivan and Tim Brennan. They combined their efforts and really developed that part of the business.”
David, Barbara and the team at Viking have continued to change with the times. That said, some things never change. Barbara explained, “People are loyal to Viking for reasons that extend beyond the excellent customer service they receive. We treat them like family. We have generations of families who come back because of how they experience Viking.”
David echoed Barbara’s observation, “First of all, they come here because our products and our staff that is passionate about skiing or cycling, and they love what they do. Treating our employees like family is what makes them stay. They work hard and they become very good at what they do.” Many former employees at Viking have gone on to successful careers in the ski business as sales reps and ski shop managers. “It’s sad to see them go, but mentoring so many employees over the last 40 years is my most satisfying accomplishment,” David explained.
If you know any members of the Collin family personally, you know they were raised by Malcom and Nancy to be humble. What they won’t say (but everyone knows is true) is how integral Viking Ski and Cycle is to so many generations of outdoor enthusiasts. It’s practically a rite of passage in the North Country to get fitted for your first pair of ski boots at Viking and get your first bloody lip on the T-bar at Beartown.
Viking will need to change again at some point to meet the challenges of workforce shortages and competition within a shifting economy. Undoubtedly David and Barb Collin will adjust their model and merchandise, but they will most assuredly keep their principles. As they say, the leaves may change, but the roots are very much intact.
Viking Ski and Cycle
770 Route 3
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 561-5539
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