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 concession 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. 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 entrepreneurial style the Inside Edge flourished into Reliable Racing Supply Inc. an internationally known and respected company that has made a lasting imprint on the wintersports industry.
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 incorporated (becomes 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 hinged slalom pole in North America called Snowfeather |
1979 | RRS begins manufacturing of Break-A-Way® slalom poles; introduces coin-op timing system at Copper Mt. |
1980 | RRS exhibits at the SIA show in Las Vegas for the first time. First ever use of flex pole (Break-A-Way) in World Cup competition at Waterville Valley NH |
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 European brands Boeri Kunsmann Moon Knut Brynje (and many others) for Wintersports Catalog Inside Edge/RRS relocates to 30 000 sq ft facility |
1987 | RRS becomes US Distributor for TAG Heuer electronic timing |
1992 | RRS becomes US Distributor for Jofa Helmets and protective gear |
1997 | RRS publishes Golf Course Supply Catalog. Fairway Feel range practice mats and T-Sentry inroduced to golf market |
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 |
2002 | RRS introduces Porta-Flex fence system for recreation park and school facilities. |
2003-4 | Inside Edge website established to serve regional market RRS introduces EnergiaPura to the US |
2005 | Break-A-Way Rapidgate introduced J4 & J5 racing and training. |
2008 | Tom Jacobs inducted into US Ski Hall of Fame. |
2009 | Featherbase slalom pole introduced. Export of Break-A-Way commences in Europe. 500 units sold. |
2010 | Ski Carpet introduced for summer tubing operations. |
2011 | RRS celebrates 10th year at Mt. Hood summer outlet store. T-Sentry with LED technology introduced Pro-Gate electromagnetic controller for horse and drop gates introduced |
2012 | Break-A-Way sales into Europe top the $1-million mark. RRS becomes official ALGE timing distributor in the US John Jacobs elected to NSAA board of directors |
2013 | RRS adds SnowCarpet synthetic gliding surface and Snow-Bright ski area lighting to product line |
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