BOISE, IDAHO — For almost 60 years, a Treasure Valley business has employed hundreds of residents while making Idaho's recreation areas just a little more fun to get out in.
Dirt bike riders and snowmobilers, if you're serious about your recreational passion in the outdoors, chances are you're either wearing something from this nearby company or are using some form of their equipment. Today, we're taking you inside of Boise's own, Western Power Sports!
"Western Power Sports...it's an awesome place!" said Western Power Sports VP of Sales, Terry Baisley.
Western Power Sports is a wholesale distributor of power sports products to local dealers across the Treasure Valley, and now, across the entire world. So, you might be wondering, what exactly are power sports?
"Dirt bikes and street bikes and adventure touring bikes and ATV's and now the side by sides and the jet skis and snowmobiles and BMX bikes and mountain bikes. We cater to that industry,"said Baisley.
But if you're looking to buy some of their products, don't go to their main warehouse site in Boise.
"We are very, very true to the founding culture of our company that we sell to our dealers and we support our dealers 100% to take care of the public with our products. That has maintained over all the decades since 1960,"said Baisley.
And it was that year, 1960, that Western Power Sports was founded by Boise-native Ray Brandt who introduced the western part of the United States to the snowmobile after discovering them on a trip to Minnesota. Nearly 60 years and three generations of the same family owners later, the company has evolved by leaps and bounds, including creating several household name-brands right here in the Treasure Valley.
"Today we have brands such as Fly Racing which has become globally known and we're one of the major sponsors of super cross and outdoor motocross and a lot of different series' around the world with X-games and all of that,"said Baisley.
Fly Racing might be their biggest brand to come out of Western Power Sports, but others created in their Boise lab include Shinko Tires, G-Max, and Sedona Tires, just to name a few. And with those expansions came a lot more warehouses and a lot more workers.
"Today we're, were pushing closer to 900 employees and so, it's pretty exciting,"said Baisley.
And what power sports company would be complete without a dirt bike track in their backyard? That's just one of the many perks that Western Power Sports employees find from being headquartered in the Treasure Valley.
"We're lucky, we get to be here and work hard and play hard. Everybody here rides, fishes, hunts, all of that, and to be able to do what we love and to be here. We can be on a plane to the east coast, to Asia, wherever we want right from the Boise Airport and come back here to get away from all that craziness? It's awesome...it's really awesome,"said Baisley.
Western Power Sports may have warehouses and distribution centers all over the country, but it's headquarters will stay in Boise for good reason.
"We love Idaho and Idaho loves us it's part of what we do,"said Baisley.
