The shop
========
Cactus Sports is a very special climbing and outdoor shop dedicated to mountain lovers as well as high performing outdoor athletes. It is known to have the higher density of equipment per square meter. Technicians will find there most of the climbing specialties, along with all the essentials. The entire staff is climbing, trekking and skiing and will take care of your needs with a solid background.
a little piece of history
==================
Cactus is born in a garage in 1986, in the Geneva suburb Petit-Lancy. An old sewing machine bought from Lotus Sports, some rolls of fabric,EB’s climbing shoes and Simond carabiners : the story begins!
A short time later Cactus moves to the Rue Farel, next the Cathedral. A blank door, steep staircases and a discrete door opening to a small workshop, low ceiling, filled up with equipment and home made clothes.
1er janvier 1989, Cactus moved to Carouge, rue du Pont Neuf 4, this time with a window and sun coming in. Bigger, kind off simple, a butane heater, no running water and the same mess as usual hanging everywhere. One some days, a small hamoc was swinging above the sawing machine with Cactus daughter sleeping in it.
January 1999, Cactus moves from the 4th to the 6th rue du Pont Neuf. More room, higher, home made cupboard with a wood ladder continuousely moved left and right allow us to manage a huge quantity of equipment in a restricted space. Enough room to place some randonnée skis on display.
November 2008, going tight again, Cactus extend next door in the old historic place, this time with toilets an a confortable heating.
End 2019, Cactus bought a robot from the bankrupted « passe montagne » shop and is now able to take care of the skis with Fred as chief operator. One year later the machine is moved to Vernier and the skis carried on a bicycle trailer every wednesday
Mid 2021, Tristan become the new owner of the shop, Bernard is going back to the sawing machine to fix all these destroyed jackets, packs and pants.
The team
========
Nouveau capitaine à la barre de Cactus, Tristan est multifonctions. Grimpeur, alpiniste, snowboarder et navigateur, il saura garder le cap en toutes circonstances.
Fondateur et capitaine de la barque Cactus. Il a navigué à vue pendant 35 ans sur une mer de matériel, de chaussures et d’habits. Une quantité incalculable d’habits et de sacs à dos ont vu leur existence prolongée grâce à lui et sa machine à coudre, de quoi satisfaire sa vision économe et écologique du commerce.
The new leader of the shop, Tristan will have an eye on the compas to keep Cactus in the right direction.
Autant à l’aise dans les airs ou sur une falaise que dans les multiples recoins du magasin, Ludovic saura trouver une réponse à presque toutes vos questions en une fraction de seconde…
Accompagnatrice en moyenne montagne, Silvana est l’élément social de l’équipe. Elle a une écoute attentive et toujours une bonne histoire à raconter pendant que vous essayez un nouveau pantalon ou une paire de chaussures.
Founder of Cactus Sports, Bernard has made so many trousers, jackets and packs that on some years almost every climber was wearing a Cactus piece of clothing. Concentrating now on fixing gear, he has brought back to life thousands of garments, according to his enviro engagement.
Alpiniste, grimpeur, skieur, il sait vous faire partager ses passions avec franchise et humour.
The flying man. Ludovic is an essential part of the team, knowing all the secrets of the shop, and an active hangglider, snowboarder and climber.
Lorenzo les doigts d’acier, aussi tenace sur les gouttes d’eau du Verdon que sur les cordes de sa guitare. C’est le grimpeur de l’équipe et sa passion est contagieuse.
Les skis n’ont plus de secret pour Fred, qui manipule avec aisance les énormes machines pour faire leurs services. Heureux avec un tournevis à la main, il donne d’excellents conseils pour choisir des skis. Quand il n’est pas à l’atelier, il donne des cours d’escalade.
Silvana is the social element of the team. She always has a good story to tell and will excel in finding the right piece of equipment for you.
La passion contagieuse du ski. Les couloirs vertigineux de Haute-Savoie n’ont plus de secrets pour lui.
He never stops! When not in the shop, he is running up and down all the best routes in the Alps, or further.
The soft power of the shop. Antony is a skier, alpinist and climber and he will give you the best advices for your equipment or your week-end projects.