If you’ve stepped foot in the Board Bin in Ketchum in any of the 34 years its been open, chances are good that you’ve seen long-time employee and now co-owner and manager David Kelso (though, to be fair, he didn’t start working there until 1993). One of the founding fathers of board culture in Ketchum alongside original Board Bin owner Jim Slanetz, Dave took over the shop with local Quinn Baser in the fall of 2018. A skateboard afficianado first and snowboarder second, Dave grew up in Idaho Falls and moved to Ketchum in 1991. He’s been in the Valley ever since and lives with his wife, Erin, and 12-year-old son, JackHenry, out Warm Springs with their dog. When not on a board of some kind, Dave gets into fly tying and fishing, hiking, and camping.
How does your ideal morning start?
Dave: I make coffee at home and then walk our dog Josie, a Border Collie/Aussie Shephard/Whippet rescue from Mountain Humane. I take the dog to the river and stand in the river meditating for a few minutes while she runs around. I always do the New York Times crossword puzzle and Wordle and various other games. Then I make breakfast, either oatmeal with blueberries or toaster waffles with pb and jelly.
Then where are you off to?
Dave: In January, I’m getting ready for snowboarding. On the way, I’d stop at Maude’s for a handpie or a gluten-free donut, then head to the mountain. My favorite run is doing Broadway top to bottom as fast as possible, which isn’t always possible since it’s a slow run. When the Cold Springs chutes are open, I like those.
What’s for lunch?
Dave: After the hill, I grab a quick lunch from Johnny G’s; I get the Dave’s Veggie Burger (veggie patty, pepper jack cheese, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle, mushroom) and add bacon and chipotle mayo. Or I’ll go to Wrapcity and get an Idahoan wrap.
What’s your afternoon like?
Dave: I’ll grab JackHenry and take him to the mountain to snowboard together. He likes riding Broadway face or Kaitlyn’s Bowl next door.
What’s for dinner?
Dave: After the mountain, we’d come home and get ready to go out to dinner, either at Despo’s where I like to get the Mahi burrito or Rickshaw where I get their Chang Mai noodles.
Any activities after dinner?
Dave: Then we’d all watch Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings.