Article by Stephanie Hobby | Photos by Jamie Blotske

If you’re a skier in south central Montana, chances are at least one of your seasons started with a friendly greeting from shop dogs Legend and Macy at the door of SkiBoot RX. The customer service and knowledgeable staff make it a must-stop for area ski enthusiasts, whether a complete beginner or seasoned racer. And this year, there was even more reason to hit the skier’s pro shop on the way to the mountain.

Owner Tim Hedin started selling skis in Billings in 1996, and in 2013, he turned his dream of owning a ski shop into reality. SkiBoot RX started with a 450 square foot space and Chaco, his faithful chocolate lab. Hedin’s in-depth knowledge of skis and boots and unmatched customer service quickly made its mark on the regional ski community, and Hedin’s little shop quickly outgrew its space. After a few years, he moved to a 2,800 square foot facility in the Rimrock Mini Mall, where business continued to flourish and where he, his growing staff, and his dogs stayed until a fateful day last spring.

Hedin had just received an email from the property manager asking if he wanted to renew his lease. He got the email while on a Big Sky chairlift, but the attachment wouldn’t open. This was an unexpected turning point. When he got home, he decided to look and see what else was available before signing the lease. The first thing that popped up was a 4,800-square-foot space on Gabel Road.

“The price was right; the size was just what we needed as we’ve expanded, and it turned out that the realtor who was showing it was a friend of a friend,” Hedin said. “When he asked when I wanted to see it, I said, ‘Tomorrow!’”

Driving in, he knew he had found something special. After expanding into the summer raft business, the current parking lot was problematic for boat trailers. The new space solved that issue. “I saw coming into it how big the parking lot is and thought this was perfect, and we need to make this happen. It was just a God-ordained stroke of luck or something,” he laughed.

By spring, his staff and friends helped move, and the changes have been dramatic. The high ceiling and open floor plan allow for more boot shelving and options for displaying accessories like hats, socks, and gloves.

“There’s this wow factor when you walk into this big open space,” he said, adding that at the previous location, on busy days, people were on top of each other. “Now, even if there are four or five people getting boots fitted, there’s plenty of space to shop and walk around. And I’ve already noticed accessory sales are much better because people can shop everything out on display. You can’t sell things when they’re in a box behind the counter.”

With the increased space, SkiBoot RX has added cross-country skis, which were always in demand but kept out of the shop due to space constraints. Because the new location is so close to the interstate and Costco, Hedin is seeing business tick up as people from all over the region can easily stop in.

Over the years, he has perfected the art of matching the right skier to the right gear. “The main thing I hope we do best is to really identify the skier because an expert skier who really cares about performance will want their boot to fit differently than a grandma skiing with her grandkids on green and blue runs,” Hedin said. And with the wide array of options and SkiBoot RX expert boot fitter Josh Howley, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find the right fit.

The youngest skiers are an important part of the business, as Hedin is passionate about helping kids fall in love with the sport. He offers seasonal rentals and a trade-in program if you purchase skis for little shredders.

Hedin didn’t start skiing until he was a student at Concordia University. He laughed that his first time out was terrible, but he was hooked. He took lessons at nearby Welch Ski Village, and when he graduated, the Billings native moved home, working construction jobs so he could spend winters in the mountains.

One of the defining characteristics of SkiBoot RX is Hedin’s generosity. He goes out of his way to support organizations like Eagle Mount and Silver Run Ski Team, citing the help he’s had along the way. “I want to share those experiences because I think skiing is the greatest thing you can do, and I wish everyone would do it,” Hedin said.

It’s gratifying when his work comes full circle. He’s now at a point where people tell him, “Hey, you sold me my first pair of skis when I was seven,” Now they’re buying skis for their children.

“The ski shop is a happy business, so it’s just fun to see excited people in the shop, going, ‘Wow, there’s nothing else like this in Montana!’ It’s a little dream that started and grew into something I didn’t expect, so that always makes me proud,” said Hedin.

For more information, visit www.skibootrx.com or stop by the new location at 2490 Gabel Road.

Originally printed in the January 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

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