About The Mountain Air
The Mountain Air is a family-owned, specialty outdoor retail store located on the Central Coast of California. Since 1975, we’ve been helping all people at all skill levels explore and enjoy the outdoors. We also offer a full service ski and snowboard repair and rental shop.
In 2023, we opened our sister store, The Switchback, where we buy and sell used gear in addition to offering discounted new products from outdoor brands.
You can count on us for:
- Innovative, reliable products from both established and emerging brands
- Customer-focused service that doesn’t end when you leave the store
- Knowledgeable, experienced team members
- Philanthropic efforts that support our community and promote outdoor issues, advocacy and access
Established in 1975 by Cal Poly student Wayne Patterson, The Mountain Air has been locally owned and operated ever since. In January 2020, after 45 years, hundreds of employees, thousands of customer adventures, and immeasurable impact in the outdoor industry and his community, Wayne retired and sold the business to longtime employee Josh Haring and his wife Lindsey. They are grateful to call the Central Coast home with their three sons.
The Mountain Air is committed to being more than a retail store. We are committed to providing an exceptional customer experience, getting more people outside, supporting community, and protecting the outdoor spaces we love.
