By Colleen_Obrien. Published Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

The Spokane area is home to a master ski-tuner known as Cowboy Fred. When the snow starts falling, he keeps busy keeping you on the slopes.

Fred Nowland’s life has revolved around skis since he graduated from Ferris High School in 1986, so it’s no surprise that the place where he grinds out, hot waxes and base welds skis and snowboards is just a few blocks from high Alma Mater.

He loves his work at the Spokane Alpine Haus.

“You get go meet a lot of neat people and everybody has a great story to tell because they are going out to do something fun,” Nowland said. “So everybody always come in and they are always happy.”

Nowland is the area’s only certified master ski-tuner and just because he leaves the shop doesn’t mean he won’t notice his work getting damaged…again.

“They are stepping on the back of their skis and you’re going aww I put all those base-welds back there… you are wrecking them again,” Nowland said.

So back they come to Nowland at the Alpine Haus, more at certain times than others.

“There’s snow on Mt. Spokane, you better plan on being early to work that day,” Nowland said.

Early to work and late to leave, just so people can get out a play. That’s fine by Nowland.

“Why would I want to leave the basement? No light, poor ventilation, give up all this for fresh air and people?” Nowland said.