A NEW independent store which is the brainchild of a Penarth husband-and-wife team has opened in Penarth Road, Cardiff.
Naski Sports, owned by John Thomas and Katie Meades, specialises in all things skiing and opened late last year at Unit 24, Freeman’s Parc Industrial Estate.
The couple are avid skiers and regularly hit the slopes of their favourite mountains in Europe whenever they can.
John spent the best part of his 20s within the ski industry stationed at resorts in Japan and New Zealand, where he worked in a variety of roles, such as snowboard instructor, backcountry guide, ski patroller, snow safety officer, and ski boot fitter.
Due to John and Katie’s passion of the sport, the couple noticed that there was a lack of stores that offered high-quality equipment here in Wales, often travelling to Bristol and further afield to get correctly fitted for their skiing and snowboarding boots.
John told Newquest's Voice magazine: “We love to ski and opening a store close to where we live is our way of being in the industry instead of another part of the world.
“Our family home is in Penarth, and we absolutely adore the area.
"We wanted to be a part of the local community and knew that the store was in a good location for people living-in and travelling to the Welsh capital."
John went on to describe all the services the store offers for any avid skiers.
John said: “With easy access from the A4232 we’re just a 5-minute drive away from Cardiff City Stadium, with plenty of free parking outside, so it’s very easy to drop off and pickup skiing equipment from servicing.
“Our store offers all things ski and snowboard, ranging from a whole host of equipment and clothing, with brands such as Nordica, Tecnica, Blizzard, Spyder, Duvillard, Picture, Degre7, Quiksilver, Roxy, and Dakine, with exclusive eyewear from Smith, and Izipizi.
“We offer custom insoles for a range of footwear and sports, using a specialist machine from Sidas that can create an exact mould of your feet for the perfect fit. We highly recommend getting your boots fitted at least two weeks before your trip to make sure that your boots fit correctly and comfortably.
“In addition to our professional skiwear, we also have a fine selection of casual clothing, including our very own Naski Sports range, suitable for the Welsh winter.
“As previously mentioned, we have a servicing department for ski and snowboard servicing and repairs – so if you’re heading out on a trip this festive season or the New Year, skiers now have somewhere local to check their equipment before they hit the slopes.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome people in through our doors and we’re very proud of what we’ve created. We believe in the quality of products that we offer and hope to be hub for Welsh skiers and enthusiasts.”
Visit naskisports.co.uk - Facebook, @naskisports - Instagram, @naskisports
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here