Erik Laithwaite and Jason Proulx

Erik Laithwaite and Jason Proulx could never have imagined that their childhoods spent at the rink playing hockey and hitting the local ski slopes would have led to owning one of the most iconic sports shops in Trail, but that’s exactly what happened.

Here’s what these hard-working entrepreneurs had to tell us:

Jason Proulx, Gerick Cycle and Sport Ltd. — Photo by Jason Proulx

How did you come to choose this line of work? 

Both of us started in high school as a part-time job, learned to love it and progressed from there.

What is it about your work that has you excited to get out of bed in the morning?

Everyday is different. There are always new customers and new products. Of course, we have the luxury of dealing with things we love the most which almost no one else gets to do in their line of work.

What’s your focus for 2016?

We want to continue on our path of great customer service, good atmosphere and a high level of knowledge in what we deal.

Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur in the Kootenays?

We both grew up in the area and had no desire to leave. It’s a great place with great people. All the sports we love are right at our fingertips. Obviously when the opportunity came to be partners in a sporting goods store, it was a no-brainer.