Bryce skis Mt. Ashland
1987
His uncle Jack covers his first day’s lift ticket and rentals, igniting Bryce’s life obsession for the mountains.
This is evo.
OUR STORY
People often asked when and why I started evo. The reality is that the inspiration for evo existed long before I launched evogear.com out of my garage while living between Whistler and Seattle in 2001.
My Uncle Jack introduced me to skiing in Oregon at Mt. Ashland in the 5th grade. He paid for rentals and lift ticket, a huge sum of money at that time, right around $40. After that first day, I was forever inspired to figure out how to spend as much time possible on the mountain and outside throughout the the rest of my life.
Baseball cards and whatever else I could buy low and sell high, eventually turned into gear. This provided me with the means to buy lift tickets as a kid, eventually leading me to chase winters, trails, surfing and what is today, evo. My love for the outdoors has opened my eyes to a world of sport and culture that I could have never imagined back in grade 5.
Central to my/evo’s story is that I grew up in a small, blue-collar town, Roseburg, Oregon, and had close friends that experienced a very different childhood than my own. My eyes were opened to abuse, addiction and homelessness at the age of seven. I started to wrestle with how, by chance, I was dealt such a different hand than kids that I was close to. These experiences planted the early seeds that have evolved into our commitment to give back through volunteer-work and philanthropy, positively changing the trajectory of kids’ lives.
Over twenty years in, the desire has never been stronger to share our love for the sport and culture, bringing people together and helping provide the inspiration that we know makes life better. We are doing that through our global offering of evo stores in the US and Whistler, evo.com, Rhythm Japan, our evo Hotels, The Callaghan outside of Whistler, evoTrip, Rhythm Rides and All Together Skateparks in Seattle and SLC —and, we are just getting started.
We are endlessly thankful for your support. Not only has this amazing journey provide opportunities for our 1,000+ global team member, but it also has enabled us to invest our communities, volunteering tens of thousands of hours and providing millions of dollars in funding with a focus on organizations that work to get under-served kids into the outdoors, providing the life-changing inspiration that I felt as a child.
Again, thank you all!
Bryce
Bryce moves to Whistler
1997
After season one, he starts buying used skis and snowboard in Whistler, selling them on eBay and popping up on the sides of roads to support the lifestyle.
Launched evogear.com
2001
First website. Once again, style on point. Featuring ski, snowboard, and wake.
evo Garage
2001
Our first Distribution Center and HQ in Seattle, WA
Niseko Garage
2005
Matt Hampton opens the first Rhythm Japan rental shop out of a garage in Niseko.
First retail location in Seattle, WA
2005
One part gallery, music venue, event space, community center and retail.
Launched volunteer paid time off program
2006
Every employee receives 40 paid hours per year to volunteer in the community.
First evoTrip to Japan & Bali
2009
We launch travel, a reflection of our love of adventure, experiencing cultures and connecting with amazing people around the world.
We become evo.com
2010
Coming out of the 2008 economic crash, we get a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy evo.com!
New Seattle location with All Together Skatepark (ATS)
2012
Further integrating art, music, events, food and community we move into “The Fremont Collective”.
Second store opens in Portland, OR
2014
We breathe new life into the historic Salvation Army Building built in 1890.
Third store opens in Denver, CO
2016
Located at 860 Broadway, in a 1925 auto row building, Edgeworks and Bicycle Doctor become “evo”.
Whistler Village Sports joins evo
2018
evo acquires a business that Bryce bought used skis from in the late 90’s ‑ full circle.
The Callaghan joins our evo family.
2022
Whistler-based backcountry lodge (Journeyman) and 17,000 acres of premier, backcountry terrain become part of evo.
Campus Salt Lake City opens
2022
Combining evo Hotel, Bouldering Project, evo and L9 retail, bar, coffee shop, and a second All Together Skatepark, we open 100,0000 square foot Campus in The Granary District.
Satellite store opens on Snoqualmie Pass, WA
2022
Offering a curated assortment, rentals & service - all in the renovated historic Firehouse, a new fixture in The Pass Community.
evo Joins forces with Rhythm Japan
2022
A world-class rental, retail, guiding and instruction (Rhythm Rides) in Hakuba, Niseko and Furano, we come together to deliver experiences around the world like no other.
Acquisition of Bergland Hotel in Hakuba, Japan
2023
Soon to be evo Hotel Hakuba, we find a diamond in the rough opportunity in the Happo district, minutes from world class skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.
New volunteer record set!
2023
evo team members volunteer 7,464 hours with a multitude of non-profit organizations, many of which work to empower underserved kids.
Our Purpose
To make life better by building community & igniting the adventurous spirit that lives within us all.
Investing in Our Communities
At the heart of everything we do is our mission to leave a positive impact on communities, by bringing financial and volunteer support to non-profit organizations dedicated to getting kids outdoors. We believe all young people deserve the opportunity to discover their passions and achieve their full potential. In addition to our non-profit partnerships, to support this work, we have All Together Skateparks where kids and their families’ lives are positively impacted in an inspiring and inclusive space.
Our Family of Brands
We are a global outdoor experiences company.
Our family of brands span retail, rental, gear, travel & hospitality, recreation, guiding and instruction. We call this the ‘evo ecosystem’. Across our ecosystem, we connect with our community through a shared love of sport, culture, and the outdoors
Rhythm Japan
Japan is an extraordinary place to ski, snowboard, mountain bike and experience the culture and connect with amazing humans from around the world. We are proud of Rhythm Japan and our seven locations in Hakuba, Niseko and Furano. Together, Rhythm and evo provide global access to a unique suite of experiences focused on sport, culture, the outdoors. Established in 2005, Rhythm Japan provides rental, retail, lesson/guiding, and travel services in Japan’s top mountain resorts. With a commitment to the mountain lifestyle, Rhythm Japan’s passionate employees offer everything visitors and the local community need to live the ultimate mountain experience. Our extensive on-site facilities feature world-renowned brands, tuning workshops, boot-fitting services, and vibrant cafes. The flagship store in Niseko serves as a community activity hub in summer, featuring pump tracks, bouldering walls, trampolines, and more.
Travel
We take skiers, snowboarders, and mountain bikers to iconic destinations around the world via evoTrip, our group, and private travel business. In addition to Journeyman Lodge at The Callaghan, (20 minutes from Whistler), adventure-minded travelers can stay with us at evo Hotel in Salt Lake. Opening soon, we can’t wait to host you at our new hotels in Tahoe City (Winter 2024/2025) and Hakuba (Winter 2024/2025)!
Our Stores
evo stores are designed to be gathering places for the community as well as your one-stop destination for all the things you need to elevate your mountain experience including technical service, boot fitting, gear and beyond. All evo crew members are passionate enthusiasts, on hand to help you with your needs in snowboarding, skiing, and mountain biking. We have 11 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In January 2022, Rhythm Japan the leading retail, rental, and experience company with seven stores located in Japan’s mountain resorts became part of evo. In partnership with a group of complementary businesses, we opened Campus Salt Lake City. Campus Salt Lake includes an evo store, All Together Skatepark, Salt Lake Bouldering Project, Level 9 Sports, and evo’s first evo Hotel. Stay tuned for our next locations, coming soon.
Join the evo Crew
evo is a family where we push each other to achieve at high levels and support each other in times of need. We also know how important it is for our team to have time for their passions, from powder days to family time to volunteering for the cause they care about most. We want to make evo the very best place to work.