The sale of Backdoor Sports became official this week and Gretchen Van De Carr said her late husband would have been happy to see the new owners take the helm.

“Pete would just be absolutely thrilled,” Gretchen said. “There were other folks interested— some of the other folks were into the river part, but not into the skiing; and then some others were into the ski shop and climbing, but these guys are just into all of it.”

Gretchen said their family established the shop, located at 841 Yampa St., in 1986. The Van De Carrs were working to sell the business prior to Pete’s death earlier this year. Pete died from trauma-related injuries he suffered in a skiing accident that occurred Feb. 18.

Steamboat Springs residents Chris and Dominique Welch, and Chris’ brother Mike Welch, (who recently moved to Steamboat Springs from Salt Lake City), purchased the property last week and signed a lease for the building this week.

“We want to keep the same kind of values that Pete had, as far as you know, helping people get outside and enjoy the outdoors,” said Chris, who is also a captain with Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue.

“We are not Pete, and we are not going to try to be Pete. When you come in here, we’re going to be just as excited as you are that you’re going out to do whatever it is you’re doing. We’re going to help you get there, and if that’s anything from a little bit of information, answering questions or finding whatever gear you might need we want to be the ones that help get you where you’re going, and make sure you have a good time,” he added.

This past week the new owners moved everything out of store and applied a fresh coat of paint and are in the process of ramping up the business prior to this week’s Yampa River Festival, which begins Thursday.

Backdoor is now open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week and will remain a full-service river shop in the summer and a full-service ski shop in the winter.

Chris said in the summer, customers will find everything from NRS (Northwest River Supply) straps, paddles and personal flotation devices to boats, frames and full setups. The owners said Backdoor will continue tubing operations and will also offer guided raft trips and may consider renting kayaks, spuds and duckies.

“In the winter, customers can still come in here and get anything they need to travel in the back country,” Mike said. “We’ll definitely have all the different types of skis, and we will definitely be in the Alpine touring market as well as the Alpine market, and we’ll have some version of Telemark gear here as well.”

The owners said customers can also buy or rent avalanche beacons and bags, and all the outdoor gear they need for the weather conditions found in northwest Colorado.

“We want to get people out there and get people out there safely — however we can facilitate that.”

Chris has been with Steamboat Fire Rescue for 16 years, is a member of Steamboat Resort’s ski patrol, has experience as a river guide and has been teaching swift water rescue courses for more than a decade.

“I was a river guide in central Idaho and spent a lot of my time on the middle fork of the Salmon. I was a sweep boat driver over there, and guided a little bit on the main salmon, and down in Hells Canyon, and so most of my time has been on rafts,” Chris said. “In the past 10 years or so, most of my time on the river has been teaching swift water rescue courses. I’ve been able to teach classes in Australia and Alaska, and some special forces groups. (I worked with) some Green Berets, and did a cool class a little while ago in Wyoming.”

Dominique, who is married to Chris, is a nurse and works in the maternity ward at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center and is also a member of the ski patrol at the resort.

Chris’ brother, Mike, recently moved to Steamboat Springs from Salt Lake City and brings a business background along with his passion for the outdoors.

“I was in private aviation, and have managed (Fixed Base Operations) in Denver, Hartford, Connecticut and Salt Lake. The past 18 years I’ve been immersed in the business world of general aviation and private aviation. I grew up being outdoors, camping and hiking,” said Mike, who also worked as a wildland firefighter when he was in college.

Together the owners hope to carry on the tradition Peter Van De Carr created by making Backdoor Sports a place that welcomes visitors, provides top-of-the-line outdoor gear and is a place the community will continue to embrace.

Gretchen has sold the business but will continue to own the property that has long been a second home to the Van De Carr family. She is thrilled to pass the business Pete Van De Carr built for the next generation of those who share his passion for the outdoors, and love of Steamboat Springs.

“It’s super bittersweet because on the business side of things I’m really psyched because there’s no way I could maintain that business — and I don’t want and I wouldn’t be good at it,” said Gretchen.

On the other hand, she said Backdoor Sports has been the family’s downtown base. It has been a place that is hard to walk away from — she could keep her bike, meet friends and hang out.

“Backdoor Sports has been, forever, our home downtown,” Gretchen said. “I told the buyer, ‘you know I’m going miss that.’ They said: ‘This is still your home, and we want you to feel comfortable just coming in and hanging out anytime’ — that is just huge for me.”