Monods: Skiing, Hiking and the Mountain Lifestyle

Although Monod Sports has become a diversified outdoor sporting goods store based in Banff National Park (with a retail store and online store based in Banff), every major theme can be traced back to the family’s history of skiing, mountaineering and love of the outdoors. John Monod, founder of Monod Sports, never came to Canada from Switzerland with the intention of being a retailer. He was an adventurer, a mountaineer and a young man looking for a new start in a new country. Above all else, Johnny Monod was a skier.

John arrived in Banff in 1947 where he hooked up with his only contact, fellow Suisse Bruno Engler. John quickly realized he lacked two things: money and a command of the English language. The money part was relatively easy: his only valued possessions were his skis and his watch, and since he could not teach skiing without skis, John sold his watch to prominent Banff businessman Jack Hayes (Brewster Transport Company) so he could stay in Banff long enough to establish himself and learn the language of his new country.

By 1949, John had set up Monod Sports at Sunshine Lodge (now known as Sunshine Village), making it one of the first ski shops in Western Canada. During the day, he took skiers on tours and in the evening, he sold items from his shop. After a fire totally destroyed his business at Sunshine in 1956, John reopened Monod Sports, from scratch, in Banff where it has continued since.

John’s sons, Peter, Nick and Phillip, and John's step-daughter, Stephanie Townsend, all grew up in the tradition of skiing. Stephanie, Phillip and Peter were members of the Canadian National Ski Team and raced on the World Cup Circuit. Phillip was Canadian Junior Champion and Peter was seven-time Canadian Champion and one-time U.S. Champion. Likewise, Nick spent a number of years ski racing at both national and international levels.

In the 1980's, the brothers purchased Monod Sports from their father and constructed the current main store at 129 Banff Avenue. Monod Sports is Banff's PREMIER outdoor sporting goods shop, made up of a ski shop, a hiking and camping shop, an online store, a climbing and mountain shop, a fly fishing shop, a mens and women's sportswear shop, a footwear store and an information area!

Today, the Monod brothers carry on their father's tradition of providing superior products from around the globe while maintaining the spirit of excellent customer service at Monod Sports. The technical knowledge developed through the brothers' years of ski racing has earned Monod Sports an exceptional reputation in the ski industry.


Tatum Monod, age 18, rippin' it up!  (photo courtesy of Malcolm Carmichael, 2009)

Matt Monod, age 12, ski racing February 2008 (photo courtesy of Dan Ronsky)

In addition to their love of hiking, mountaineering, ski touring, camping, fly fishing and the outdoor lifestyle, the brothers' passion and continuing devotion to the sport of Canadian ski racing drive them to work one-on-one with up and coming junior racers. During their free time on winter weekends, the brothers can be found on the ski slopes, encouraging their next generation of skiers, or in the backcountry, making tracks in fresh snow. For the Monod family, it all comes back to the love of the outdoors -- and, of course -- SKIING.

Cody Monody tearing it up at Mt. Norquay, February 2008 (photo courtesy of Lisa Thomson)