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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Mike Miscavage wasn&#8217;t aware his business, Top of the Slope, had been named Best Ski Shop in the 2016 Times Leader&#8217;s Readers&#8217; Choice Awards.</p><p>But Miscavage has a good excuse for not being aware of the honor: business has been brisk.</p><p>&#8220;You get doing so many things, you don&#8217;t always notice,&#8221; Miscavage said. &#8220;I&#8217;m certainly happy about it.&#8221;</p><p>Busy days are nothing new for the Wilkes-Barre shop, which has been in business since 1972. The shop was opened by Miscavage&#8217;s father, Edward, and Mike took it over in the late 1980s. The reason for its longevity, Miscavage said, is attributable to a simple business philosophy.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re good guys, we&#8217;re local, honest and we don&#8217;t price gouge,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Miscavage never planned to take over the family business. He was always around it and it was just a natural progression, he said. Still, he admitted selling skis, snowboards and outdoor gear is a good fit.</p><p>&#8220;I love being outside and away from the computer,&#8221; Miscavage said. &#8220;When you&#8217;re skiing, you&#8217;re not thinking about everyday life. It&#8217;s good therapy.&#8221;</p><p>Snow drives business at Top of the Slope, which caters to skiers and snowboarders. The business also focuses on the summer outdoor enthusiast and stocks sleeping bags, tents, hiking boots and rock climbing equipment - a facet Miscavage said is becoming increasingly popular.</p><p>To tap into that interest, Miscavage opened a rock climbing gym next door to Top of the Slope.</p><p>&#8220;I sell a lot of ropes, harnesses and carabiners,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Climbers buy them and even a lot of roofers.&#8221;</p><p>But the main draw is winter, and that&#8217;s why Top of the Slope is packed with skis, snowboards and plenty of winter apparel. Catering to skiers and snowboarders, however, means the business is dependent on winter weather. The last few winters have been good, Miscavage said, even though this year was a bit challenging.</p><p>&#8220;It didn&#8217;t snow. The average person doesn&#8217;t see snow on the ground, then they think there&#8217;s no skiing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;When that happens, you don&#8217;t get the new people to the sport.&#8221;</p><p>Over the years, Miscavage has seen plenty of trends come and go in the world of outdoor recreation. He used to sell kayaks when they were popular and even taught wind sailing on the side.</p><p>Things have changed with winter sports, as well. It wasn&#8217;t that long ago many skiers were switching to snowboarding, but now the reverse is happening.</p><p>&#8220;Snowboarders are starting to ski now,&#8221; Miscavage said. &#8220;It&#8217;s leveling off.&#8221;</p><p>No matter what trend develops or how many changes take place, Top of the Slope is prepared to cater to the ever-evolving interests of its customers.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been here a long time and it&#8217;s about sticking to what you know and what we&#8217;ve been doing for customers,&#8221; Miscavage said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mike Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope, took over the family business in the late 1980s. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL32616bestskishop1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mike Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope, took over the family business in the late 1980s. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL32616bestskishop2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Top of the Slope not only carries skis, but every accessory a skier needs for a day in the snow. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_TTL32616bestskishop2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Top of the Slope not only carries skis, but every accessory a skier needs for a day in the snow. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Top of the Slope has catered to skiers and snowboarders for more than 40 years</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @tltomvenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>