By Shari Young | April 2025
A Childhood Passion for Sailing
Spencer Griscom developed a love for sailing at just seven years old while spending summers with his grandfather on a North Carolina lake. Nearly every day, he zipped around the water on a Laser, setting the course for a lifelong passion. As a middle schooler, he bought his first sailboat at a garage sale for about $100—a small wooden-masted boat that he and his dad would haul in the back of an old Toyota Tacoma to sail at Lexington Reservoir. Though his dad wasn’t a sailing enthusiast, he fully supported Spencer’s love of the sport. Eventually, the boat broke and was sold at another garage sale for around $50. His next purchase? A Tornado 16’ with a spinnaker, which he acquired while still in high school.
From Snowboarding to South Lake Tahoe
Spencer spent his early high school years in Grass Valley before transferring to Los Gatos for his senior year. It was during a “Career Day” event there that he discovered snowboarding, thanks to representatives from Boreal Ski Resort. At the time, he drove a 1980 Volvo sedan—when it wasn’t in the repair shop—and spent his weekends working, snowboarding, and unwinding with his ski crew in Soda Springs.
In the fall of 2002, he followed the ski industry to South Lake Tahoe, enrolling at Lake Tahoe Community College and living in a Tahoe Keys condo. This was his first introduction to SLTWYC. He docked his Santa Cruz 27’ near longtime member Diane Martin, attended White Sands Yacht Club events, raced in a few Beer Can races, and, of course, spent plenty of time at Steamer’s Bar & Grill.
A Career in Firefighting and Entrepreneurship
Making ends meet on seasonal ski industry wages was tough, so Spencer looked into firefighting. He learned that a $300 investment in work boots could lead to $1,000 paychecks with the U.S. Forest Service Fire Division. Over 17 years, he worked in various roles, including as a hotshot and smokejumper, traveling across the country for fire season. It was on the job that he met Amy—his crew supervisor—sparking a connection that led to a beautiful partnership and two daughters.
As the years passed, he found himself questioning whether the American Dream was still attainable. Seeking financial stability, he invested in rental properties and started a snow removal business. Within four years, he grew his client base from 25 to 125, running two plow trucks and a tractor blower. While the first few years were smooth, a particularly heavy snowfall season pushed both his equipment and endurance to the limit. He pivoted to shovel work only, focusing on short-term rental properties, and soon after, he bought a coin-operated laundromat on Ski Run Boulevard.
Growing a Business Empire
At the height of his snow removal business, he covered 250 properties from Meyers to Zephyr Cove. But when snowfall patterns changed, he shifted his focus to the growing laundromat business. Following a tip from a former USFS coworker, he began investing in rental properties in Wisconsin. He later purchased a second laundromat in Carnelian Bay, though the venture didn’t go as planned—the profits had been misrepresented, and he faced hurdles with city regulations, staffing shortages, and contractor conflicts. After three years of perseverance, the laundromat turned around, and business thrived.
Spencer deepened his business knowledge through conferences and courses, studying systems development, software programs, and logistics. A pivotal moment came when he read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which helped him refine his investment strategies. Applying these principles, he saw a 70% increase in business profits in both 2023 and 2024 and now plans to purchase a fourth laundromat in 2025. Looking back on his early doubts about the American Dream, he now has a resounding answer: Yes, it’s still possible!
A Future with SLTWYC
On the water, Spencer originally joined SLTWYC in 2022 with an 11-meter (33’) boat, which he later sold in 2024 to purchase a Melges 24. He met his crew members, Amy and Rex—who became club members in December 2024—at the White Sands Yacht Club’s Tuesday Clinics.
When asked about the club’s future, he expressed concerns about the longevity of the sport but sees a solid foundation for growth. He believes SLTWYC has an opportunity to increase awareness through branding and marketing, particularly by forming collaborative partnerships within the community. With a rich history of Beer Can races, Spencer hopes to highlight the club’s role behind them and strengthen its presence for years to come.
