PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Memories of Kyburz Sports Center, a long-standing family-run ski shop once located on Main Street in Placerville, are resurfacing across social media, offering a vivid snapshot of El Dorado County’s deep connection to mountain recreation.
The renewed conversation began when Joey Ferguson recalled buying his first pair of skis in 1980 at Kyburz Sports Center, when the shop operated downtown. “I went to Kyburz Sports Center with Kevin Kyburz and bought my first pair of skis when their shop was on Main Street,” Ferguson wrote, prompting dozens of responses from former customers, classmates, and employees.
Many of those responding emphasized that Kyburz Sports Center was more than a retail store. Operated by the Kyburz family, the shop became a community hub for skiers heading to Sierra Ski Ranch—now Sierra-at-Tahoe—and other regional resorts. Customers recalled custom boot fittings, knowledgeable service, and an in-house payment plan that helped families afford equipment. “Always had a cool in-house payment plan. The whole family was wonderful,” Loren Evans wrote.
Former employee Katy Hayes Miller identified herself in a 1980 El Dorado High School yearbook advertisement for the store, recalling her time working alongside the Kyburz family. “I really enjoyed working with the Kyburz family and at the shop,” Miller said, adding that the relationships built there lasted long after the store’s busiest years.
Several commenters credited Kyburz Sports Center with helping them discover skiing through rentals and entry-level gear. Michael Mellor said the shop’s rental program allowed him to spend enough time on the mountain to “fall in love” with skiing, leading to years of season passes. Others remembered buying iconic equipment of the era, including K2, Rossignol, Head and Nordica skis and boots.
Longtime residents also recalled the shop’s later move from Main Street to the Fair Lane area near what many describe as the Carl’s Jr. corridor. Though the storefront eventually closed, its legacy remains strong among those who came of age skiing in El Dorado County during the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
“Great family, awesome store,” Ted Jost Sr. wrote, summing up a sentiment repeated throughout the discussion.
While Kyburz Sports Center is no longer part of Placerville’s retail landscape, the outpouring of memories underscores its lasting impact on the region’s outdoor identity—and on generations of locals whose first turns on the snow began with gear fitted by a hometown shop.
