Jon Holmes

B&P’s “Born On Date” August 1993 

Born in Dearborn but raised in Suttons Bay I’ve called Michigan home for all but 4 years of my life.  Growing up on West Grand Traverse Bay was a privilege that wasn’t wasted on me.  Fishing, swimming, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing were almost daily activities.  This might explain my love of sea kayaking which has become an integral part of my life.  Through the American Canoe Association, I’ve become an instructor and am part owner of Adventures on the Grand, which is a kayaking school. 

Three of the four years away from Michigan were spent ski bumming on the slopes of Big Sky, MT.  It was here that I became addicted to soft snow and skiing away from the lifts.  Having grown up racing the slopes of Sugar Loaf, Crystal, and Hickory Hills around Traverse City, powder skiing offered a quiet freedom that’s hard to find other places in life.  This love affair eventually led me to learn how to telemark ski and for the last 13 years the free heel culture has dominated my fun on the slopes. 

Moving back to GR in 1992 I stumbled upon this awesome little outdoor store called Bill & Paul’s, hung around so much they ended up offering me a job, and I have had the fortune to make a career out of the outdoor industry because of this. 

I now have a family who I try to corrupt as much as possible with this lifestyle, as well as a couple of great dogs who love to play and who hate me when I go paddling (no room for them in the kayak).  Through my job I’ve had the opportunity to travel both nationally and internationally to ski and paddle some amazing places.  My favorite ski destination would be Zermatt, SUI and I would love to go back to the Fort Meyers, FL region with my kayak.