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In the summer months you will find our staff at the Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake Illinois where you can take paddle board lessons and rentals. Since the owners retired in August 2021, the ski shop in Lake in the Hills has been permanently closed. The ski shop was the place for McHenry county’s skiers, snowboarders and paddle boarders to find ski, snowboard, cross country and stand up paddle board equipment and accessories. The closure of the in-store service department means you will have to go farther to ski or snowboard tuning and ski binding installation.
History Alpine Accessories started in the basement and garage of the owners in 1993 as a ski accessory mail order catalog named Sno-ski. In 1995, they started their first web site which was called Sno-ski.com. In the first year, on-line sales out sold our catalog sales so the catalogs were discontinued at the end of 1996. From 1997-1999, expanded our product selection to include snowboarding and other winter accessories In 2000, the name changed to Alpine Accessories. In 2003, they opened the first ski and snowboard accessory store. No equipment or clothing was offered at this time but many of the customers visiting requested equipment, clothing, service and rentals. So in 2005, Alpine Accessories moved into a larger and current location. We increased our product selection to include equipment, apparel, service and rentals. Alpine Accessories became the first new ski and snowboard specialty shop to open in Chicagoland in over 15 years! In the summer of 2008, remodeling was done to our store. The summer of 2009 spent on new web site and in the summer of 2011, doubled the size of the store by moving into the unit next to them.
In August 2021, Rick and Laurie retired and closed the retail store. It has given us a chance to do a lot of skiing, where we were unable to do so while working seven days a week during the ski season.
Meet the Business Owner: Rick P. Rick has been in the ski business since 1976, when he began working at Munson Marine and Ski shop part time. Before long, Rick became the manager of a second store, then helped to open a third store and later became manager of all 3 stores. After 15 years at Munson, Rick then went to work for another local shop for 3 years, then left to start the mail order/internet/retail store business.
2013 Alpine Accessories Celebrated 20 years in business
This October marks 20 years since Alpine Accessories made their first sale out of the basement of the owners home in October of 1993. See the complete story.
You may had seen the Alpine Accessories billboard the north side of Rt 62 in 2010.
Ski Shop Security
Lexi and Aspen greet Alpine Accessories customers. The girls especially like children.
All joking aside, Alpine Accessories is PCI compliant. Our systems are regularly scanned by First Data PCI Rapid Comply and we use PCI Validated software from Dydacomp. You can be assured that any data you have provided in store or online is safe and secure. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Update 2021: Sadly we have lost these two sweet girls. Aspen loved her visitors to the shop, the kids, the scratches, and bisquits. They both will be missed. Aspen: April 27, 2009 – July 28, 2021. Lexi: April 27, 2010 – September 3, 2021.
Alpine Accessories Donates Jackets
Alpine Accessories donated $500 worth of warm clothing to the local clothing drive organized by the Algonquin Commons shopping center. The Winter Cothing Drive Benefiting D300 Homeless Students collected winter clothing for those in need. Alpine Accessories owners Rick and Laurie Pasturczak donated new childrens ski jackets pants, and adult insulated waterproof ski pants.
Alpine Accessories has been active in the Algonquin / Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce
Tent for Events
Alpine Accessories has a new tent for our upcoming Stand Up Paddleboard outdoor events. This photo was taken at the Hollows Conservation Area at the Paddle in the Park event. Sixty people tried the paddleboards at this event.
2011 Chamber Corn Roast at Founders Days
Employees of Alpine Accessories volunteered to man the Algonquin Lake in the Hills Chamber Corn Roast boot at the annual Algonquin Founders Day Festival. The proceeds from the sale of roasted corn on the cobb, hot pretzels and bottled water help fund area business development. 
2009 Awards Dinner Dance
Here are 6 employees that attended! Rick & Laurie Pasturczak, Patrick Bean, Sean (S50) O’Meara, Rachel Pasturczak & Ashley Tidwell
Mr Patrick Bean & Mr Sean (S50) O’Meara having a little fun!
(making everyone laugh)
Close up of the guys!
2013 Wilmot Winter Carnival
Alpine Accessories joined other area shops in the Wilmot Mountain Winter Carnival Flea Market. Used equipment including snowboards and alpine skis were available for sale as well as a few accessories.
