The NEW MSR Windboiler Stoves are in!

We are excited to announce that we are one of a select group of outdoor stores in the country that are doing a holiday launch of the new MSR Windboiler Stove! We thought we'd share a few facts about this awesome new product!

Highlights:

• Won the 2014 Outdoor Industry Award – one of three items out of a pool of 361 entries from 35 countries!
• 2.5 minute boil time for 1.0 liters of water. System weight (stove and pot) is under a pound.
• Fuel efficient!
• Water will boil even in very windy conditions!
• Uses a radiant burner enclosed with windproof technology to allow the stove to boil water fast and operate in weather that many conventional stoves would not.
• Pot locks onto burner and has cozy with handle so you can eat/drink right out of the pot.
• All in one nesting system.

For more info on the new MSR Windboiler Stove please CLICK HERE!

Gift Guide is now available!

Who's looking for some great gift ideas for their friends and family this holiday season?? It's hard to believe it's already that time of year again! Check out our 2014 Fontana Sports Gift Guide! We've made it easy for you to shop for the active people in your lives! We're here to help if you have any questions or need some advice. :)

Small Business Saturday is Only 13 Days Away!

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014
Shop small with Fontana Sports on Small Business Saturday! Card Members can register any eligible American Express Card to get a $10 statement credit for spending $10+ in-store on that same Card on Small Business Saturday. American Express cardholders will receive up to three $10 statement credit on purchases of $10 or more for up to $30 in statement credits per registered card. When you shop small it can lead to big things. The shop small movement makes an impact on neighborhoods across the country. For more info CLICK HERE!

Flurries!!

Madison is finally getting some flurries this week! We know some people aren't ready yet for the change in weather, but we are pumped! Snow means a chance to get out skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, fort building, snowman making and hopefully a snowball fight or two! Anyways, we're ready! If you need anything so you're prepared too come see us!

Are You Ready for Winter??

Fontana Sports has been Madison’s local outdoor shop since 1949, we work hard to provide the best in outdoor apparel & equipment for our customers. Wisconsin is a great place to live, but can be quite cold during the winter months. We have a saying here at Fontana Sports,

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong gear.” 

We are here to help you enjoy your time in Madison even during the winter.

Let’s start from the top –

• You lose up to 40% of your heat out the top of your head. You need a hat, headband or earmuffs! We have 1,000’s for you to choose from. WINTER HEADWEAR >>
• A scarf, neck gaiter or face mask is a good idea for those extremely cold weeks we have every year. They come in fleece or merino wool. If you take up skiing you will want one that breathes more than if you are just standing outside waiting for the bus. SCARVES >>
• Gloves or mittens are crucial for all outdoor activities in the winter months even if it’s just cleaning the snow off your car. Mittens are warmer, but gloves provide more mobility. Tip: you want them a little roomy. The space allows the air inside to get warm and insulate your hands. GLOVES >> 
• The item we use most often, our winter jacket. These vary drastically in price and styles, but we have something for everyone. You can get a really nice lightweight goose down jacket, a ski shell with zip in fleece liner or an insulated soft-shell to name of a few of the options. Our employees will help you find the right jacket. INSULATED JACKETS >>
• Under the jacket you’ll need base layers (long underwear). We carry synthetic, silk and merino wool options. Be sure to get a top and bottom. These make all the difference in warmth if you are outside for long periods of time or it is extremely cold. BASE LAYERS >>
• Snow pants or bibs. A great addition if you are going to be active outside during the winter, which we suggest! Necessary for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling and are great for snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing and snowball fights. SNOW PANTS >>
• If your feet are cold, your whole body will feel cold. Socks are extremely important. We suggest merino wool socks and carry many different brands for you to choose from. SOCKS >>
• Insulated boots are also important. We have many to choose from whether you’d like something more fashionable or more functional. We recommend you make sure to get a waterproof pair if you will be walking a lot or want to play in the snow. WINTER BOOTS >>

We understand this can be overwhelming, but we are here to help. We’ll spend the time with you to explain products and figure out what will work best for you. Products do range in prices, but we have plenty of affordable gear. Honestly, it gets cold here. Investing in products to keep you warm and comfortable is important and you will not regret it. Be sure to join our Fontana Sports Adventure Rewards Club at no cost and get $10 in rewards for each 300 points earned.

Visit us at our two locations:

Westside: 231 Junction Rd, Madison, WI 53717, Ph# 608-833-9191

Downtown: 216 N. Henry St, Madison, WI 53703, Ph# 608-257-5043

Don’t forget that we can help you get involved in activities during the winter months as well. We sell downhill ski, cross country ski, snowboard and snowshoe gear as well as sleds. We also do snowshoe and cross country ski rentals if you’d like to try the sports before buying. We look forward to helping you!

Share your travels with Fontana Sports!

We love to hear from you guys and see where your adventures take you. Please email or Facebook us with pics and stories! We received an email from a happy customer who got to do some incredible traveling this year. Check out her awesome photos! Be sure to keep an eye out for Smokey!

"I mentioned to Adam (our Downtown Store Manager) that the Camelbak I purchased this past year has been the best gear purchase I've made. My mom grabbed this photo of us while hiking in the Desolation Wilderness (Lake Tahoe area) this past August."

"If you're interested, Smokey Bear, my Camelbak, and my hiking family also hiked the Rubicon Trail along the shores of Lake Tahoe and climbed the peaks at Squaw Valley.

In any case, thanks for the recommendations on the perfect fit Camelbak for me--best gear purchase yet!"

- Kirsti

Winter Adventure Sale

WINTER ADVENTURE SALE

Now Through Sunday, November 9th

It's finally getting colder and we're on the verge of snow. Now is the time to shop for all the gear you need for the winter and we're making it easier with a SALE!

Save up to 40% Off

Downhill Ski Gear >>

Cross Country Ski Gear >>

Snowboard Gear >>

Snowshoe Gear >>

SnowSports Accessories >>

Women's Apparel >>

Women's Footwear >>

Men's Apparel >>

Men's Footwear >>

New Billboard to get us all in the winter mood!

Look for our Fontana Sports billboards this month around town. We think they do a great job of inspiring us all to take a little time and enjoy the snow that comes along with winter here in Wisconsin! If you can snap a picture and share it on our Facebook page we'll give you a prize... a good prize! Share your pics here! Like us for more info on what's going on around the shop and for more contests! And don't forget to take a snow day when you get the chance! :)

Who's Ready for Winter?

We just got our new General Winter Ad back and wanted to share it with you. It features employees as well as customers at our westside location. We hope you like it!

Events & Clinics - November 2014

MADNORSKI NORDIC SKI SWAP / RESALE
Saturday & Sunday, November 1st & 2nd, 2014
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join us for a Nordic Ski Swap where a portion of proceeds benefits the MadNorSki’s!
Saturday - Swap is open to public at 10:00 am - 8:00 pm.
Sunday - Item pick up at 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

CXC NORDIC SUPERFIT PROGRAM
Saturday & Sunday, November 1st & 2nd, 2014
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
"Super Fit" is a weekend program filled with seminars, presentations & store specials. You can even have your equipment fitted by CXC Elite Team professional athletes & coaches using a state of the art 3D ski pressure mat. Bring your old skis in to test if they have a good fit for you & get an independent opinion. It’s a great chance to mingle with others that love Nordic skiing! Check out some of the weekend’s events:
Saturday, Nov. 1st:
*All clinics meet at Fontana's Westside location*
8 am: Free "Taste of Nordic" Dryland & Rollerski Technique Clinic
10 am - 8 pm: 3D Ski Flex Mat Testing & Flex Light Table Testing
10 am - 8 pm: Measure yourself against other skiers on the "CXC NORDIC SKI ERGOMETER"
Sunday, Nov. 2nd:
11 am - 6 pm: 3D Ski Flex Mat Testing & Flex Light Table Testing
11 am - 6 pm: Measure yourself against other skiers on the "CXC NORDIC SKI ERGOMETER”

TOKO WAX & TUNING with Bill Davis
Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join us as we welcome TOKO rep, Bill Davis, who will introduce and discuss the TOKO 2015 line up of waxes. He’ll also cover basic waxing and tuning of downhill skis, hold a question and answer session and can go into detailed Race waxing procedures if there is interest. This is a free event.

INTRO TO CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Downtown Location - 216 N. Henry St., Madison WI
Learn the classic kick and glide ski style. There’s a reason this sport has been around for so many years. It’s an easy way to enjoy the winter and get out for some activity during the cold months. We’ll get you prepared for the upcoming snow season, answer any questions you may have and give tips on the best local places to cross country ski. This is a free event.

PSIA - BEYOND LEVEL 3 - OUTSIDE SKI (Part 3)
Wednesday, November 5th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Presenters - Bill Davis PSIA L3, Matt McGinn PSIA L2. Bill & Matt bring decades of ski experience, thousands of hours of big mountain teaching experience, hundreds of hours of intermountain clinic and ski college experiences, and a racing background to share. Audience participation last session contributed a wealth of knowledge - from new ski instructors to PSIA Central examiners. Our goal – improve your skiing and teaching.
Power Point guided “Beyond PSIA L3 ski discussion -question and answer session.” We’ve covered Stance (part I) and Separation (part II). This next presentation will build on principals from session one and two with a primary focus on Outside Ski (part III of our 4 part series). This will be a high level interactive ski discussion aimed directly at PSIA Instructors interested in out West; All Mountain, All Terrain skiing. Principals apply directly to racers and advanced general public skiers as well. We now move from just standing on skis “riding and reacting” taking what skis give you – to taking control with anticipation and moving purposefully - supercharging micro movements from a managed balanced position – movements that create a cause and effect on skis for performance. We are excited to present this material and are looking forward to your contributions through question, answer, and discussion format.

NORDIC SKI WAXING BASICS
Tuesday, November 11th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join us for a class on the basics of waxing Nordic skis for skate and classic techniques. We’ll cover cleaning your bases, choosing and applying glide wax, and then go over applying kick wax. This is a free event.

INTRO TO SNOWBOARDING
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join us as we teach you how to select the proper equipment to get started snowboarding. The right equipment can make all the difference of enjoying your experience on the snow. We’ll be happy to share our favorite local places to hit the slopes, the best times to go for the deals and answer any questions you may have. This is a free event.

SNOWSHOEING BASICS
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Downtown Location - 216 N. Henry St., Madison WI
If you’ve thought about getting into snowshoeing, this is a great introduction to the sport! We’ll show you how to get started with gear and apparel choices as well as the best places to actually snowshoe and answer any questions you may have. This is a free event.

TURKEY DAZE
Friday, November 28th, 2014 at 8:00 am - 2:00 pm ONLY
Both Location - Westside & Downtown
Black Friday at Fontana Sports - Don't miss the best deals of the year! We open EARLY the Friday after Thanksgiving so we can bring you great deals on the products you love!The first 50 purchases over $50 will receive a FREE Tyrol Basin lift pass (value of $45)! Watch for our flyer in the State Journal!


DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Friday - Saturday, November 28th - 29th, 2014 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
State Street & Capitol Square, including Fontana Sports’ Downtown Location - 216 N. Henry St., Madison WI
Downtown Madison and Fontana Sports welcomes one and all to kick off the season at the Downtown Holiday Open House. Enjoy free rides on the Holiday Trolley, plus complimentary refreshments and special offers at participating businesses on State Street and the Capitol Square. Be sure to visit Fontana's Holiday Workshop! Bring your camera for a picture with Santa & be sure to get your candy cane from Mrs. Claus! Fontana is the place for your holiday shopping!

Visit FONTANA SPORTS EVENTS PAGE for additional events information.

CXC Nordic Super Fit Event is this weekend!

CXC Super Fit Weekend

CXC Super Fit is coming to Fontana Sports this coming weekend with CXC Team athletes and coaches! Bring your old skis to test if they have a good fit for you, learn what conditions they will ski the best and compare them to new skis side by side.

To learn more and see the schedule of events please click here!

Marmot Calen Jacket Review

- MARMOT CALEN JACKET -

With shoulder season arriving quickly, it's good to have an insulated jacket that can work in all conditions. The lightweight, Primaloft® Black insulated Calen jacket will keep you warm and happy in cool weather and excel in wet climates. DriClime®-lined collar and pockets wick away extra moisture and keep your neck and hands comfortable during your outdoor pursuits. The Calen also features Marmot's Angel-Wing Movement™ for ease of movement, and elastic bound cuffs and draw cord hem to finish off this piece. A perfect piece for layering in mixed conditions or a standalone jacket for cool days on trail.

Check out the Men's and Women's Marmot Calen Jacket here >> 

Events & Clinics - October 2014

PSIA - BEYOND LEVEL 3 - SEPARATION (Part 2)
Thursday, October 9st, 2014 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
Join us for a private, after-hours event with drinks, light bites and some tunes… Presenters - Bill Davis PSIA L3, Matt McGinn PSIA L2. Bill & Matt bring decades of ski experience, thousands of hours of big mountain teaching experience, hundreds of hours of intermountain clinic and ski college experiences, and a racing background to share. Audience participation last session contributed a wealth of knowledge - from new ski instructors to PSIA Central examiners. Our goal – improve your skiing and teaching.
Power Point guided “Beyond PSIA L3 ski discussion -question and answer session.” First session on August 28th we covered Stance (part I). This next presentation will build on principals from session one with a primary focus on Separation (part II of our 4 part series). This will be a high level interactive ski discussion aimed directly at PSIA Instructors interested in out West; All Mountain, All Terrain skiing. Principals apply directly to racers and advanced general public skiers as well. We now move from just standing on skis “riding and reacting” taking what skis give you – to taking control with anticipation and moving purposefully - supercharging micro movements from a managed balanced position – movements that create a cause and effect on skis for performance. We are excited to present this material and are looking forward to your contributions through question, answer, and discussion format.


WISCONSIN FALL COLORS RUN
Saturday, October 18th, 2014
Ice Age National Trail
Who else loves the fall in Wisconsin? We think it's one of the most beautiful times of the year. Join us for a 2, 4 or 8 Mile Run/Walk on the Ice Age Trail on the Gibraltar Segment in Lodi. Enjoy the fall colors seen along the bluffs on this run! $10 from each registration will go directly to the Ice Age Trail Alliance. EVENT DETAILS


NORDIC WAX BASE PREPARATION
Tuesday, October 28st, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Downtown Location - 216 N. Henry St., Madison WI
Learn how to get the most out of your skis with early season base preparation. We’ll discuss the hot box, personalizing your skis, conditions in our region and give lots of great tips for making your skis happy and fast! Contact Elizabeth at 608.662.9706 to reserve your space. This event is free to attend.

DOWNTOWN MADISON FAMILY HALLOWEEN
Wednesday, October 29st, 2014 at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Downtown Location - 216 N. Henry St., Madison WI
Enjoy trick-or-treating with your little ones on State Street. Be sure to stop by Fontana for some family fun too! Visit: downtownmadison.com/events for more info.

CXC NORDIC EVENT
October 31st - November 2nd, 2014
Westside Location - 231 Junction Rd., Madison WI
"Super Fit" is a weekend program filled with seminars, presentations & store specials. You can even have your equipment fitted by CXC Elite Team professional athletes & coaches using a state of the art 3D ski pressure mat. Bring your old skis in to test if they have a good fit for you & get an independent opinion. It’s a great chance to mingle with others that love Nordic skiing! Check out some of the weekend’s events:
Friday, Oct. 31st: 
10 am - 8 pm: 3D Ski Flex Mat Testing &/or Salomon Flex Table Testing
10 am - 8 pm: Measure yourself against other skiers on the "SKI ERG"
(simple double pole test will give you an idea where you will finish at the 2013 Birkie)
Saturday, Nov. 1st:
*All clinics meet at Fontana's west side location*
8 am: Free "Taste of Nordic" Dryland & Rollerski Technique Clinic
10 am - 8 pm: 3D Ski Flex Mat Testing &/or Salomon Flex Table Testing
10 am - 8 pm: Measure yourself against other skiers on the "SKI ERG"
Sunday, Nov. 2nd:
11 am - 6 pm: 3D Ski Flex Mat Testing &/or Salomon Flex Table Testing
11 am - 6 pm: Measure yourself against other skiers on the "SKI ERG”

Visit FONTANA SPORTS EVENTS PAGE for additional events information.

Farewell to 2014 Wisconsin Trout Season

We're not done yet-there's muskies, salmon, steelhead, and big lake-run browns to chase. Grab your 8-9 weight, some big flies, wire, and go get 'em. Enjoy the cool fall weather.

Visit our Fly Fishing Department

Preferred Customer Parties are this week!

Make sure our Preferred Customer Parties are on the calendar for this week! Tuesday at our downtown location and Wednesday at our westside location from 7 - 9 pm. We're having a killer ice cream sundae bar - we're talking caramel, chocolate, strawberry, bananas, nuts, sprinkles, oreos, gummy worms! Plus, we'll be giving out gifts to the first 50 people as well as lots of drawings and giveaways both nights. Thank you for your business and we hope to see you!

5% of Sales to Benefit Overture Foundation this weekend!

From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, we’ll celebrate our Madison Overture’s first 10 years by turning the entire downtown neighborhood into a performing arts circus! Circus wagons will roll down from the famed Circus World Museum in Baraboo and line the streets around Overture Center. We’ll have outdoor trapeze artists, roving performers and even a spot for you and the kids to try your hand at circus skills! Inside and out, we’ll have more than 20 performances, all FREE! Plus, stores up and down State Street will offer deals and discounts to help us celebrate.

That's where we come in! Fontana Sports downtown location will be donating 5% of our Saturday and Sunday sales to the Overture Foundation in honor of their 10th Anniversary. For more information about the awesome events going on downtown this weekend click here. We hope to see you!

Support our Henry Vilas Zoo!

Have you heard of Madison's Zoo Run Run or the Roo Run Run? It's a great event coming up Sunday, September 28th that supports our Henry Vilas Zoo! You get to run or walk in support of our free zoo and help raise funds to keep our zoo free! It costs a lot to keep our zoo free! Fontana Sports has donated $500 and 36 pairs of Smartwool light hiking socks for prizes in order to do our part. We'd love to see you there! There is a course for everyone including the kids. All kids get a t-shirt, race bib and metal! Pretty awesome. Please click here for more information. Can't make the Zoo Run Run? Check out Halloween at the Zoo here! Thanks for supporting Madison's awesome Zoo!

65th Anniversary Giveaway!

Don't miss the opportunity for your chance to win 2 FREE Zip Lining passes for Bigfoot Zip Lining in the Wisconsin Dells! Visit here for your chance to win! 1 day only! WIN 2 Bigfoot Zipline Tour ($190.00 value) vouchers! Don’t miss your chance to visit this world class zip line course in the Wisconsin Dells for FREE! Valid 2014 season. Good luck and make sure to follow us on Facebook for more opportunities like this to win cool stuff!

Millionaire for a Day - Win a $500 Fontana Sports Gift Card!

Win a $500 Fontana Sports Gift Card! Plus a bunch of other awesome prizes in Magic 98's Millionaire for a Day contest! Check out all the awesome Fontana Sports stuff you could buy with $500!

"Aahhh ... the life of a Millionaire: shopping, primping, galavanting about. You'll do it all when you’re the next Magic 98 Millionaire for a Day! Your limo will whisk you off to the Magic 98 Morning Show with Pat & Bob to pick up some cash - one day’s interest on a million dollars! You'll then enjoy a shopping spree to Fontana Sports Specialties and Pandora Jewelry!

Afterwards, your chauffeur will merge onto I-90 to drop you off for a 2-night stay at Sundara Inn & Spa in Wisconsin Dells. You’ll indulge in relaxation, gourmet food, luxury spa services and anything else your Millionaire heart desires. Dinner? That’s covered, too, with casual fine dining at The Del-Bar.

Oh - and while you're gone - we'll have a professional maid service clean your house. Now that's living!"

Who wouldn't want to be a Millionaire for a Day?! Visit here to sign up to win and good luck!

Get signed up with the Early Bird Discount for the WI Fall Colors Run!

The courses are set and its going to be beautiful scenery for our Wisconsin Fall Colors Run! We have 2, 4 and 8 mile courses so something for everyone!
Visit http://www.fontanasports.com/misc_content/wisconsin-fall-colors-run for more information.

Sign up now and get the early bird discount! $10 from each fee goes directly to the Ice Age Trail Alliance. Please join us!