New Manager Says Outdoor Store Will Offer Products, Workshops, and Associates that Represent the ‘Real Alaska’
OutdoorHub 04.21.14
Pat Nolde, the new general manager of the Anchorage Bass Pro Shops, said customers and visitors to the new store will find the ‘real Alaska’ represented.
“The Bass Pro Shops Alaskan Outpost team has worked very hard at making the store’s product assortment match Alaska’s unique fishery and outdoor challenges,” said Pat Nolde. “In addition, customers and visitors to the new Bass Pro Shops Outpost store will find an authentic Alaska represented through store design, outdoor skill workshops, and experienced local associates.”
The new Bass Pro Shops Outpost in Anchorage is located at 3046 Mountain View Drive, adjacent to Merrill Field Airport, the primary airport serving Alaska’s back country. Northbound vehicular traffic to northern Alaska including Wasilla, Denali, Fairbanks, and Eagle River will pass directly by the Bass Pro Shops store location.
The store will feature an indoor boat showroom displaying a full line of Tracker and Thunderjet boats. In addition to providing service for all brands of boats, the Bass Pro Shops Power Pros service center is certified to work on Mercury outboards and Mercruiser sterndrives. A complete line of parts and accessories rounds out the experience.
Nolde, who has lived in Alaska for eight years, said he is living the dream by hunting and fishing Alaska and managing the new Bass Pro Shops Alaskan Outpost.
“I absolutely love it and the independent spirit of Alaskans,” Nolde said. “Now I fish in Seward for halibut, rock fish and silvers; in addition to fishing the Nushagak River when the kings are running. And, yes, I am one of those guys that will make a quick run to the Russian River to catch reds when they are in.”
Nolde said the outdoors has always been a part of his life. He grew up in rural Nebraska and honed his outdoor skills by hunting pheasants along his grandfather’s fencerows and fishing small streams in Nebraska and Colorado for trout, bass, and walleye.
His passion for Alaska was stirred as a kid when he saw an advertisement in the back of Outdoor Life showing three bears from successful hunters who were guided by Talifson and Pinnell on Kodiak Island. Later, he read their book, “The Last of the Great Bear Men,” which inspired him to pursue his own Alaskan bear hunting adventure.
“In 2008, I drew a coveted Frazier Lake brown bear tag on Kodiak Island and harvested a 10-foot brown bear– right where Talifson and Pinnell guided hunters many years ago,” said Nolde. “It was the highlight of my hunting career.”
Nolde will combine that rich outdoor background with more than 20 years of experience in specialty outdoor retail to fulfill gear and clothing needs for others so they can pursue their own outdoor adventures.
“Our goal is to inspire each person to try the many recreational activities that Alaska has to offer, as there is no better place to learn,” said Nolde. “For those that aspire to take their passion to a new level, Bass Pro Shops provides the gear and expertise to help them succeed. We will offer weekly interactive outdoor skills workshops, seminars and events related to the Alaskan outdoors and assist in passing along the great Alaskan experience to the residents as well as the newcomers to the state.”
As a former board member of the Alaska Chapter of Safari Club International, Nolde is very proud of the efforts put forth for conservation in the state. With three grown children and a granddaughter, Nolde is excited about introducing her to the outdoors. As new store manager for the Bass Pro Shops Outpost, his desire is to pass along the outdoor heritage to the next generation in addition to teaching them the importance of upholding our hunting and fishing traditions.
Bass Pro Shops is widely recognized for its support of conservation and outdoor education, and its Anchorage store will partner with local and regional conservation groups to help manage natural resources and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, the store’s mid-summer grand opening gets underway with a special Evening for Conservation event that is free and open to the public. More details about this event, which provides fund raising opportunities on behalf of conservation, will be available in the upcoming months.
The Bass Pro Shops Alaska Outpost has hired approximately 200 associates from the area who have a passion for and expert knowledge in the outdoors.
“These new team members are dedicated to bringing the Bass Pro Shops culture of world class customer service to Anchorage,” said Nolde. “The tremendous energy surrounding our newest store opening is contagious.”
For more information about the Bass Pro Shops Alaskan Outpost, visit http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&appID=94&storeID=84&tab=3
