Glens Falls Business Journal
By Ann Donnelly
Inside Edge and Reliable Racing represent a business legacy spanning more than half a century in the Glens Falls area. The enterprise evolved from a small family ski shop established by Tom and Marilyn Jacobs at West Mountain in 1963 into an international supplier of ski racing equipment. Former owner John Jacobs, their son, reflects on that success as the result of the family’s blend of retail experience and product innovation.
The family moved to Glens Falls in 1958 so Tom Jacobs could take a job at Finch Pruyn & Co. The retail operation soon followed, originally operating as the West Mountain Ski Shop and managing ski rentals, the ski school and race programs for the mountain. By 1968, the family relocated the business to Bay Road in Glens Falls, and Tom and Marilyn committed to the enterprise full time.
A near-miss airplane disaster soon became a defining moment. Tom Jacobs missed a Mohawk Airlines flight from New York City to Warren County Airport at the last minute. The plane later crashed into Pilot Knob Mountain near Lake George, killing all aboard. The next day, Jacobs left his job at Finch and dedicated himself entirely to the shop, which became known as The Inside Edge.
Reliable Racing Supply launched in 1969 after a Bromley ski club requested race bibs. Jacobs produced 100 in his basement. When a customer remarked on the company’s dependability while writing a check, the name Reliable Racing Supply was born. The B2B operation quickly expanded, leading to catalog sales and the formation of distinct retail and wholesale divisions.
Inside Edge entered the cycling market in 1968 as the first Peugeot dealer north of New York City. The opportunity arose after Jeff Jacobs observed the French ski team training on Peugeot road bikes in Aspen. An initial order of three bikes soon grew after a shipping error delivered 200 bicycles. All were sold through Jacobs’ network of New England ski coaches, firmly establishing the shop in the cycling market.
John Jacobs formally joined the business in 1980, later taking ownership in 2000. He led the company’s product development efforts, creating specialty items for Reliable Racing, including Rollski roller skis. Under his leadership, the company also developed safety materials and automatic race timing systems.
The company’s breakaway slalom pole became a major innovation in alpine ski racing. First used in a World Cup event in 1980 at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, it later became the official slalom pole for the 1998 Nagano Olympics. The pole was temporarily banned from the 1983 Sarajevo Olympics following protests from European teams.
Today, Reliable Racing supplies equipment for ski racing, golf courses, parks and recreation departments, equestrian training and rodeo sports. The company continues adapting its original breakaway technology for new applications, including barrel racing and pole bending.
John Jacobs sold both companies in 2017 to Steve Kvinlaug, a former employee. Since retiring, Jacobs has remained active in the industry as technical adviser and equipment director for the World Pro Ski Tour. He continues to serve on the board of the Ski Areas of New York trade association and remains a resource for customers and industry contacts.
For more information, visit insideedgeskiandbike.com and reliableracing.com.