The X Games have helped define action sports for an entire generation of Americans, and over the past two decades the summer and wintertime events have helped launch聽athletes like Shaun White, Lindsey Jacobellis, and Travis Pastrana to mainstream fame. Last week, the X Games announced major news: broadcast giant in the event to a New York City private equity firm MSP Capital. The firm appointed a new CEO, Steve Fliser, who joined the group from Twitch, the streaming platform for video games. Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is joining as a brand steward.

Under its new ownership, the X Games will continue with ESPN as a television broadcast partner, but it will seek a new partner for online streaming.

Mergers and acquisitions like this have an outsize role in the sports we follow, but actually understanding how an ownership change will impact an event or team isn鈥檛 always easy. Executives tend to speak in jargon-filled language, and their plans for growth and change are sometimes buried in paragraphs of platitudes. We recently spoke with Fliser about his plans for the X Games, who was very open about his short-term plans. We鈥檝e done some translating and adding of perspective to frame Fliser鈥檚 vision in the requisite context.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

OUTSIDE:听When you look at the X Games right now, where do you see the most opportunity for growth?
STEVE FLISER: Beyond the anchor ESPN television broadcast, we want to deliver the content to a much wider audience. In talking with a lot of people at skate shops and around towns鈥攅ven friends and professional colleagues鈥攅veryone asks, 鈥淲here can I find it? Is it still on?鈥� I think that鈥檚 the opportunity for us to really get that distribution and drive awareness. That is the first part of the equation. And then the second one is really to create and expand the schedule. The X Games over the years has done an incredible number of events, both the big tentpoles鈥攖he Winter and Summer X Games鈥攁nd also a lot of other smaller events. We want to build out that schedule to operate events locally and across other regions around the globe. I could see us leaning more into events that are about culture and not just competition.

Why this matters: A of Americans under the age of 50 actually pay for cable TV anymore, and the coveted 18-to-34-year-old demographic is comprised who only watch streaming services like Netflix or Disney+. This is a huge hurdle for the X Games, which is currently broadcast on ESPN2, ABC, and the broadcaster鈥檚 streaming service ESPN+, which has fewer than 30 million subscribers (for comparison, YouTube has 2.1 billion daily users). In retaining the digital rights, MSP Capital can find a new online streaming partner for the X Games, and our guess is they are looking for a company that is more relevant to young viewers.

What would a culture-driven event look like?
There鈥檚 always going to be some level of competition, but these events might not have as much on the line. Having worked in video games and e-sports for the last few years, there are events that are more 鈥渃asual competitive鈥� that we could follow. How do we build out a community event that鈥檚 almost a throw-down in a local community or city? It鈥檚 probably not going to happen in a stadium, but more like at a skate park or at the local mountain, and it鈥檚 more of a pickup basketball-type event. There鈥檚 competition and there are stakes, but we surround it a little bit more with kind of that swagger, and we do it in an organic way for the community.

Why this matters:听鈥淐ommunity cultivation鈥� is a buzzword in sports and media right now, as event organizers (and even magazines) realize that you can鈥檛 just slap your product on TV or the internet and expect new fans to discover and like it. Instead, fans are more likely to patronize your event and content鈥攁nd share it on social media鈥攊f they have some type of personal connection to it, through an athlete they know, a location they recognize, or some other affinity.

You are retaining ESPN as your linear TV broadcast partner, but searching for a new streaming broadcast partner. What are you looking for in a streaming platform?
The big thing for me, especially fresh out at Twitch, is interactivity, especially with a digitally native audience that will likely be part of our core. We want fans to feel like they鈥檙e not just watching a one-way broadcast, but feel like they are part of the broadcast. And both Twitch and YouTube have entire teams dedicated to thinking about how people interact during live experiences. Both have live chat rooms; they have interactive features; there鈥檚 plenty more to unlock to make an engaging viewing experience, which is really exciting. So that鈥檚 first and foremost; the second one is going to be just really wide, wide reach.

Use the open area to your advantage to catch the tarantula!!

— PKMNcast (@pkmncast)

Why this matters: As Fliser indicates, Twitch has revolutionized broadcast in some important鈥攁nd probably permanent鈥攚ays. Fans tune in to watch someone play a video game, and then join a community chat room where they can offer gaming advice to the player in real time, or just critique the play and have conversations about what鈥檚 happening on the screen. These communities can compete with each other for perks or even cash, and each community is a goldmine for advertisers. With action sports attracting a younger demographic, the X Games could be a compelling test case for interactive broadcasts, where fans communicate with each other in real time during an event. Imagine some fan telling Tony Hawk that he did a trick wrong. But there are other challenges to this鈥攂ecause of the interactivity, Twitch and others deal with a lot of complex technical challenges that old-school broadcasters don鈥檛, such as moderating hate speech and protecting minors.

How important is community interactivity compared to a rights fee when assessing a streaming service?
We talk about this a lot. There鈥檚 such a wide group of people that we want to get to, and we want to stretch the word 鈥渂roadcast鈥� so we can get the most exposure. In the short-term it鈥檚 about the widest distribution, and after that we鈥檒l iterate forward in terms of what is the right commercial relationship.

Why this matters:听The streaming wars between Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Amazon, and other major services has boosted the value of sports, since competitions are some of the only things that people will still tune in to watch live. Amazon recently paid $1 billion to broadcast Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. The X Games could simply choose whichever streaming partner is willing to pay the biggest rights fee鈥攅ven one like Peacock or Apple+, which have smaller subscriber numbers. From the sound of Fliser鈥檚 answer, MSP Capital is willing to sacrifice the immediate payday and instead choose a streaming service with a bigger audience and more innovative features.

A lot of readers might have a negative reaction to the term 鈥減rivate equity鈥� in terms of ownership, and associate it with consolidation and budget cuts to create profit. How do you respond to that?
While MSP Sports Capital is characterized as private equity, I see these guys as sports investors in a positive sense. I think that everything we鈥檝e indicated in the last few days will hopefully prove out in the coming months, which is that we鈥檙e here to invest and help grow the X Games. It is a business, and we have to make money. Ideally we can invest it right back into the property.

Why this matters: Private equity firms borrow cash from institutional investors like pension funds and then buy a property (in this case the X Games), at which point they try as best they can to make it profitable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn鈥檛. When things go south, private equity-run companies often see layoffs and consolidation, as the parent company must make debt payments on the borrowed cash. Time will tell whether MSP Sports Capital鈥檚 acquisition unlocks the true value of the X Games, but from the sound of it, Fliser believes the firm is committed to growth.

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As an outdoor customer, have you ever wanted to attend an industry trade show to get sneak peeks at all the gear coming out next season? Soon, you鈥檒l be able to. The (BGS), the exclusive hardgoods-only event created in 2020, is attempting to reinvent and revitalize the outdoor trade show model by inviting the public next June.

Moving from its former open-air location in Park City, Utah, to the Convention Center in downtown Denver, Colorado, the June 8-11 show will include two days of events for industry buyers and vetted outdoor media, and two days of a 鈥渇irst-of-its-kind鈥� consumer festival, where anyone is invited to get an up-close look at new gear coming to market.

The consumer portion will not involve sales, but rather an 鈥渆ducational and experiential opportunity for those looking to learn and try before they buy,鈥� according to the BGS website. Consumers have not been released yet, but show director Kenji Haroutunian said they鈥檒l go on sale in early 2023.

BGS is calling the event 鈥渂usiness-to-business-to-consumer.鈥� Said Haroutunian, 鈥淥ur ethos has always been to embrace both retailers and consumers, and we feel like now is the time to bring our industry to where the people are.鈥�

Haroutunian said that when his team developed the show in 2020, they envisioned it taking place in an accessible city center like downtown Denver. The pandemic necessitated moving it outdoors and staging it in an open-air format without consumers, but now, with Utah in the rearview, the show is poised to become what its creators had in mind all along.

In addition to the move, BGS is also joining forces with its sister event, , an e-bike trade show, to better serve buyers and consumers reluctant to fill their calendars with multiple events that require travel.

At last year鈥檚 Big Gear Show in Park City, one point was repeated by many attendees: it was well run and enjoyable, but too few buyers showed up to make it worthwhile for many sellers. It wasn鈥檛 entirely an unexpected challenge. During the pandemic, outdoor gear manufacturers and wholesale buyers learned to do business remotely, signing deals and creating new partnerships without hassle, time, and money spent attending trade shows.

Despite the new way of doing business, however, shows are still relevant for in-person camaraderie and a celebration of outdoor culture, according to Haroutunian. By inviting consumers to BGS, he hopes to re-inject some value into a decidedly old-school style of event.

鈥淪o much buying has moved to digital, and brands have added studios and other measures to present their products to buyers remotely,鈥� Haroutunian said. 鈥淭hat said, nothing can replace a face-to-face interaction, especially in an industry that鈥檚 as close as the outdoor industry. We don鈥檛 want to lose that, and by inviting consumers to experience these interactions now add new dynamics for everyone.鈥�

Moving the show to Denver will also make it accessible to a larger audience. The Denver metro area is home to nearly three million people, and represents one of the most active outdoor populations in the country. The new show will be especially impactful after Outdoor Retailer moves from Denver back to its original home in Salt Lake City next year.

鈥淭he outdoor industry is a big part of our thriving economy, creating good-paying jobs, supporting our small businesses across the state, and connecting people to our world-class outdoors,鈥� Colorado governor Jared Polis said after the news was announced. 鈥淎s a businessperson, I am excited about the opportunity that the Big Gear Show presents for our entrepreneurs and for our state.鈥�

As for attendance, Haroutunian is optimistic. June is a prime buying window for retailers. For that reason alone, more buyers are expected at the 2023 BGS than attended last year鈥檚 late-August staging, when many season orders were already placed.

鈥淲e recognize early June is a busy time for the industry,鈥� Haroutunian said. 鈥淏ut we feel there is no better time than June to gather and kick off the summer recreation season.鈥�

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To kick off the next winter season, pro skiers and , alongside snowboarders Fanny Avril and Leanne Pelosi, are launching a new women’s-only ski event: Sister Summit. DuPont鈥檚 time digging at Redbull Formation, a progression session in southern Utah for female freeride mountain bikers, inspired the new offering. Part peer-judged competition, part networking event, Sister Summit is a unique opportunity for female skiing, filling a long-overlooked gap.

鈥淭hat format鈥攈elping each other build and choose lines, getting women together, having it be collaborative instead of a true contest鈥攚as so inspiring,” duPont said. “I immediately was like, 鈥榃ow, we need this for skiing.'” DuPont said she feels the ski world, especially the female ski world, is missing a solid sense of community that she noticed in other sports. 鈥淓ven with snowboarding, I was noticing that they have all these events throughout the winter where everyone gets together; aside from the [Freeride World] Tour, X-Games, and , we don鈥檛 have that.鈥�

Twenty athletes鈥攖en skiers and ten snowboarders鈥攚ill be invited to gather at Mustang Powder Lodge in Revelstoke from November 24 through December 1 with female photographers, filmmakers, and guest speakers. Women will split into groups daily to ride, stacking footage for a full-length film highlighting the whole process. In the evenings, they鈥檒l have guest speakers, including female CEOs, nutritionists, avalanche safety experts, and female producers, and participate in mindfulness and breath-work sessions. DuPont says the event will livestream the speaker series in the evenings so folks can tune in and listen to some of the discussions.

Who鈥檚 Going?

DuPont says they haven鈥檛 put together the roster yet鈥攁 hard task, since they know so many women they want to include. 鈥淚 think this year we have to hand-select who鈥檚 going to come, because if we just open up registration at some time, it鈥檚 not going to be very fair,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want to incorporate more diversity but want to avoid tokenizing. We have ten invites out to women of color so far, hoping to create an event where all women feel welcome.鈥�

For the inaugural event, duPont says they want to keep it centered around community-building and progression. Women will have the chance to ski and ride with others from different disciplines, emphasizing collaboration instead of competition. 鈥淴-Games girls will get the chance to work on backcountry skills, and the freeride athletes who aren鈥檛 as used to air time might want to practice hitting booters,鈥� said duPont. 鈥淪eeing all these ladies push themselves, like at Formation, we鈥檙e getting a different view of what鈥檚 possible, and that鈥檚 how we hope to push women鈥檚 skiing and snowboarding forward.鈥�

Skill-building will be a big focus, but the goal of the first Sister Summit isn鈥檛 solely to ski and ride the most enormous, challenging terrain. DuPont, Avril, Wessel, and Pelosi hope to grow each year with more sponsor backing, creating a safe and welcoming space where women can take giant leaps in their sports.聽

鈥淲hen we launched Sister Summit, all four of us were thinking, 鈥楬ow can we make this a better environment for both future and existing athletes?鈥欌�� duPont said. 鈥淭he opportunities are endless when you start to put women together.鈥澛�

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Last week鈥檚 in Park City, Utah, saw more than presenting both new and tried-and-true gear to retailers, media, and each other over two (mostly) sunny days at the base of Deer Valley Resort. The festive open-air show was heavy on e-bikes, paddlesports, and vehicle camping, reflecting strong market trends in those areas. While we didn鈥檛 necessarily come across any industry-changing gear at the show this time, it was rewarding to witness lots of stoke among industry members as the show circuit gets back to normal and brands continue to innovate in whatever ways they can amid high inflation and supply-chain challenges.

Here are a few聽products big and small that grabbed our attention this year.

Thule Approach Tent ($2,799)

further refines its successful rooftop tent line with its Approach Tent, releasing in mid-September. Touting increased interior sizes with a new design that allows for straight walls, windows, and skylights for stargazing, Thule says this three-person tent can be set up in just a few minutes, weighs 128 pounds, and will be available in gray, olive green, and dark slate.

Uncharted Wolf Pack Dog First Aid Kit ($89)

Uncharted has made a name creating well thought out first aid kits for people, and now has a kit for your four-legged adventure buddy. The is a first aid kit designed to treat cuts, bites, stings, and other injuries that your doggo might suffer while adventuring. With a weather-proof pouch and 1.5-inch-wide collar that uses Uncharted鈥檚 secure and quick Fidlock attachment system, this lightweight collar is both functional and easy to use.

Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol (Price TBA)

leans into the vehicle-camping space with its new Yawn Patrol sleeping bags that will release in Spring 2023. These 15- and 30-degree down bags have side and feet zippers that allow users to wake up and wear the bags like ponchos around camp

Yakima MajorShady 270 ($949)

Building on its popular vehicle awning, Yakima will release the even-larger MajorShady in Spring 2023. The 270-degree shade wing folds down compactly, just like the SlimShady, and extends over the driver or passenger side and rear of your vehicle without the need for poles (though included poles and tie-downs do help when the wind picks up). The 420-denier ripstop shade provides 80 square feet of coverage and attaches to vehicles via any L-bracket and T-slot system. MajorShady Single Wall kits will be sold separately, allowing users to create an enclosed room under the awning.

Isle Switch 2 in 1 Inflatable Kayak & Paddle Board ($995)

This 11-foot-six-inch weighs 19 pounds and comes in a backpack case for easy transport. The top surface is coated in a soft, grippy finish designed for yoga, dogs, and multiple people. Attach the inflatable seat and fabric backrest to convert the SUP into a hybrid kayak, or use the Isle-Link connection system to attach other accessories including footrests.

PurTrek Water Purifier + Hiking Pole ($190)

Combining a hiking pole with a two-stage water filtration system, filters two liters of water per minute. Just put the end of the pole into water, pump the handle, and clean water comes out of the attachable hose. Designed to be functional when not filtering, the PurTrek weighs 19 ounces and comes with a 19-ounce companion pole.

Jack Rabbit Micro eBike ($1,000)

Delivering plenty of smiles per miles to test riders at The Big Gear Show, the was one of the most zippy, fun bikes we hopped onto during the event. Weighing 24 pounds, with a top speed of 20 m.p.h, this diminutive e-bike gets 10 miles on a two-hour charge. It doesn鈥檛 have pedals, so it may technically count as more of a scooter than a bicycle, but for zipping around established campsites or commuting to work, the JackRabbit seems poised to be a leader in micromobility.聽

GSI 2 Can Cooler Stack ($30)

The tubular keeps two 12 oz. canned beverages cold for at least 18 hours, even in direct sun. The double-walled insulated tube with screw top weighs in at just under a pound, and three tubes can be strapped together for the very thirstiest adventurers. Potentially light enough to justify toting along on some backpacking trips, the GSI 2 Can Cooler is a great luxury item for celebrating summits and other successes.

Red Paddle Co. Pro Change Robe Evo ($249)

Windproof, waterproof, and made from recycled materials, the is a snuggly, fleece-lined changing robe perfect for drying off and keeping warm when coming in from the water. Fleece-lined pockets, an adjustable hood, and chunky zippers make this cozy piece really shine, while zippered interior pockets provide the finishing touch, keeping phones and other valuables dry in any conditions. The robe is also baggy enough to make changing out of wet gear a breeze.

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As booths break down and drinks come out at the second annual in Park City, Utah, reflecting on the two-day outdoor event largely called it a success, even if it wasn鈥檛 what they were expecting. While many exhibitors said they didn鈥檛 see the wholesale buyer traffic they wanted, what the show lacked in numbers it made up for in quality of interactions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good show in that I could spend a lot of time with the retailers that did come by, but we needed three times the number of people who did come by to make this worthwhile,鈥� said Tom Hathaway, director of North American sales at . 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 the economy, the way things are now after the pandemic, or what other factors played into that.鈥�

Final numbers provided by The Big Gear Show for August 2 and 3 were 442 attendees from 37 states representing 773 retail outlets; 174 exhibit booths representing 255 brands; and 54 vetted journalists.

鈥淭he second-ever TBGS show was a bigger gathering than our launch last year, proving the concept of our unique event platform for the greater outdoor industry,鈥� said Kenji Haroutunian, BGS鈥檚 show director. 鈥淲e continued positive momentum despite significant headwinds with travel costs, supply chain challenges, and the ongoing pandemic effects. Quality of interaction was the name of the game at BGS 2022, and the cast is set for measured growth into the future.鈥�

A Show to Meet the Moment

It takes guts in this persistently pandemic-challenged world to launch a new outdoor industry trade show, and the second year of The Big Gear Show enters an arena that was challenging even before COVID. BGS sees itself as a boutique outdoor hardgoods show鈥攂ikes and kayaks more the focus than lifestyle apparel and accessories鈥攁nd has claimed the first week of August on the annual show calendar as its staging window. But BGS comes on the heels of June鈥檚 Outdoor Retailer in Denver and OutDoor by ISPO in Munich, and just before other similar events including the Outdoors for All Expo in Cincinnati and ANME in Las Vegas later this month. Some exhibitors said that while they don鈥檛 want to miss out on any shows, they are beginning to consider more carefully which shows they鈥檒l attend.

鈥淭rade shows are becoming more regional,鈥� said Ryan Flynn, director of global sales at . 鈥淓ven ISPO seemed more like a German regional show than a huge international show. We鈥檝e made some great industry contacts here [at BGS], but we鈥檙e not seeing a lot of retailers. I think more and more wholesale is being done directly online and by our sales reps. With the complications of travel, it鈥檚 making us think about what shows we attend and why.鈥�

For Nick Lucivero, national sales manager at , however, BGS was an unequivocal success. He says he was able to make inroads through casual meetings and at Black Diamond鈥檚 happy hour the first day.

鈥淥ur Windsun Hat does really well in the sailing world, and this has been great for getting it in front of more reps from the outdoor industry,鈥� he said, adding that having a booth by the paddle sports section at Deer Lake was a major advantage鈥攕omething impossible to replicate at indoor trade shows. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made some good contacts and sales from this show.鈥�

Many exhibitors cite being outside as a big upside of BGS. It made testing the many e-bikes easy, and Deer Lake was perfect for taking canoes, kayaks, and SUPs out for a spin. Rain on the first day was even viewed by some as an advantage for testing鈥攐r proving鈥攖he durability and weatherproofing of gear.

At the beginning of the second day, exhibitors sounded upbeat and happy to be at the event, even if relatively few orders were being written. The thumps and cheers of corn hole games were more frequent than huddled sales-order negotiations. Exhibitors were able to visit neighboring booths and commiserate over supply chain issues, discuss industry trends, and talk shop about outdoor recreation in general.

Christina Redman, a buyer with , said that the show felt relaxed and allowed her time to make deeper connections with potential suppliers.

鈥淭he timing works because I鈥檓 in between the rush of fall and spring orders, so I have more time to try out products and really get to know people in the industry,鈥� she said, adding that being in Asheville, North Carolina, it can be difficult for her to establish relationships with suppliers who are based in the West. 鈥淚鈥檓 also able to really get to know the products we buy. We carry Kokopelli [pack rafts], and I was able to take one out on the lake and experience how good it is firsthand.鈥�

Organizers Left Happy

鈥淚 think it went well,鈥� said Yoon Kim, BGS鈥檚 marketing director. 鈥淲hat I’m hearing is there are places where we can improve, for sure, and I think it’s mostly about timing and the number of retailers at the show.鈥�

Kim said BGS carefully vets applications for the show, including people registering as retailers and media. That selection process keeps numbers at BGS low by design鈥攖he caveat being that, although the show has fewer attendees than competing events, it allows for higher-quality interactions. 鈥淲ith a lot of shows, you get big numbers and are constantly busy, but there鈥檚 a lot of people essentially wasting exhibitors鈥� time,鈥� Kim added. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e trying to sell the sellers something. Some people registering as media are there for the swag and don鈥檛 have legitimate outlets.鈥�

Kim said he believes the conventional outdoor trade show model has changed and exhibitors and attendees want a different experience. 鈥淓xhibitors don’t want to be nickled and dimed under fluorescent lights; they want to have fun outside and have their products demoed. In that sense, I feel like we’ve captured that heart and spirit [of the industry], and you can see how stoked the people who come out are.鈥�

And, while there was talk of the show鈥檚 current site being developed by Deer Valley and unavailable next year, Kim said he doesn鈥檛 believe the proposed project will happen in time to impact next year鈥檚 staging.

鈥淚f it does happen, it鈥檚 a lot easier to find another outdoor venue than an indoor one,鈥� he said.

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The first day of the second annual Big Gear Show started with a drizzle and ended in full sun, and so did some attendees鈥� moods.聽

Some participants said that, while attendance seemed thin at first, the value of interactions on the first day of the Park City event was high.

鈥淎t [Outdoor Retailer] this year, we had a lot more people coming by our booth to sell us things or to try to get us to use their manufacturing processes,鈥� said Jordan Curet of Red Paddle Co., a company based in the U.K. that has a strong North American presence. 鈥淗ere there are fewer people coming by, but I think it鈥檚 been a lot more productive in making contacts with wholesalers.鈥�

Curet was displaying Red Paddle鈥檚 8-foot, 10-inch compact stand-up paddle board that releases in January 2023, the configurable SUP All Terrain Backpack that will be sold as a stand-alone item next year, and touting Red Paddle鈥檚 partnership with on a SUPing safety app that includes tidal and weather information.

Bikes and paddlesports seem to dominate the event this year; e-bikes whizzed silently along the makeshift boulevards of Deer Valley’s parking lot all day, while paddlers plied nearby Deer Pond, demoing almost a dozen SUP, canoe, kayak, and pack rafting companies鈥� products.

鈥淚鈥檓 stoked that everyone else is stoked,鈥� said Big Gear Show marketing director Yoon Kim. 鈥淧utting on an event is always like that dream where you鈥檙e speaking in public and you realize you鈥檙e naked, so I鈥檓 relieved to hear it鈥檚 been a solid first day for our participants. Maybe it鈥檚 not shoulder to shoulder like some other events, but every conversation is worthwhile.鈥�

Kim said 2,000 event badges were printed this year, with an expected attendance of 1,800.

Big Gear Show caters to outdoor hardgood companies, and the show dates were chosen to benefit those retailers, said Kenji Haroutunian, the event鈥檚 director.

鈥淪ome events have moved to earlier in the year to benefit more outdoor lifestyle brands that are ordering apparel,鈥� Haroutunian said. 鈥淎pparel takes a lot longer to receive, and the order numbers have to be much higher. Here, a lot of our retailers coming to the show are midway through their summer season, and they have a sense of trends and products they should be carrying. Maybe they鈥檒l order one e-bike to see how it does, whereas an apparel seller has to order much farther in advance and at a much higher quantity.聽

E-bike companies all reported a surge in sales following the pandemic, and 鈥渕icro-transportation鈥� is a term the industry will be using more. In contrast to beefy bikes from Rambo and Fission Cycles that can tackle trail, hunting, and bikepacking, 24-pound were ubiquitous, with grinning riders enjoying their 20 m.p.h. top speeds throughout the event.聽

鈥淓-bikes have been great for our businesses,鈥� said Weston Hein of Seattle-based Swift Industries, a company that makes bike-packing bags. 鈥淥utdoor Retailer was really good on the production side; this has been really good on the wholesale side.鈥�

鈥淭his feels like a cross between OR and Interbike, said Bruce Majors,鈥� co-owner of Grand Trunk, a hammock and travel gear company. 鈥淲e鈥檙e based in Salt Lake City, so this is a lot easier for us. I like that it鈥檚 outside, I鈥檇 rather be surrounded by mountains than stuck in a building for two days.鈥�

The post The Second Year of The Big Gear Show Is Underway appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The event scene for the outdoor industry is changing rapidly. Consumer shows, regional buying opportunities, and hyper-focused conferences are becoming an increasingly important part of any outdoor brand鈥檚 strategy. In this new world, Outdoor Media Summit (OMS)鈥攐ne of the nation鈥檚 top education conferences for media and marketers in the outdoor space鈥攊s a must-attend event.聽

Here are five reasons your marketing team should head to beautiful Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe at the end of October for OMS.

OMS Predicts the Future for You

One of the show鈥檚 mission statements is to look beyond the horizon and identify what鈥檚 next in digital media and marketing. Each year, a steering committee made up of top outdoor brands and media highlight the hottest trends in the digital space. Then, the OMS team recruits the leading minds in those spaces as speakers.

Whether you鈥檙e a marketer at a brand, editor of a media outlet or creator, staying on top of trends is critical for your success as a professional. This year, some of those trends include vertical-format video, engaging with podcasters, and category SEO for Amazon and Google.

But knowing the trends is just one piece of the puzzle. OMS focuses on teaching attendees how to execute on them. Every one of the show鈥檚 breakout sessions includes a how-to component so that when you walk out, you’ll be armed with tactical execution strategies to do business better.

What OMS attendees say:

“Outdoor Media Summit is the best media event in the outdoor industry. It’s as simple as that.” 鈥擲ean McCoy, editorial director of GearJunkie

OMS Has a Unique Formula for Breakout Sessions

Outdoor Media Summit first built its reputation as a conference through breakout sessions. The show opts for a mini-presentation format (as opposed to the traditional 鈥渟tools and moderator鈥� style) where three speakers present on a topic for roughly ten minutes each. After each speaker wraps up, a Q&A session follows. OMS organizers find that this format leads to the highest engagement and greatest benefit to audiences.

The breakout sessions are guaranteed to be high value, because they鈥檙e based around one central rule: share secrets. Before speakers are allowed to present, they have to sign an agreement that says, 鈥淚 promise to give up my secrets on the topic vs. speaking at a high level, speaking in vagaries, or making a sales pitch.鈥� Without agreeing to those terms, speakers can鈥檛 make it onto the docket.

OMS Brings Fresh Media Faces

Each year, OMS scans the outdoor media landscape to identify the biggest personalities and invites them to speak or attend the show. Many of these folks aren鈥檛 your typical trade show regulars. Some are non-endemic; others are rising stars. Not only does this give an opportunity for brands to interact with fresh faces, it gives brands the chance to cross-pollinate with new media outlets that don鈥檛 show up to other industry events.聽

In 2021, OMS聽 brought in staff editors from Wired, the New York Times, Women鈥檚 Health, Business Insider, and more. This year the show will expand its non-endemic publications list even further. It will welcome trending TikTokers like Nelson Holland, Jeffrey Binney, and Bonjour Becky, YouTubers like Miranda Webster and Noah Kane, and other top Instagrammers, podcasters, and vloggers.

The Programming Is Top Notch

Destination marketing organizations host dozens of conferences every year, so when a team member from one describes OMS as 鈥渙ne of the most organized conferences鈥� they鈥檝e been to (see below), that鈥檚 some seriously high praise.

At OMS, thanks to the extensive planning of organizers, you won鈥檛 have to worry about things like how to get from point A to point B, what to eat, or even how to start a conversation. All you need to do is show up with your favorite note-taking device and you鈥檒l walk out with inspiration for tackling tough marketing challenges. (You may even make a friend or two along the way.)

What OMS attendees say:

“Everything is so organized. I love the way the program flows.鈥� 鈥擜aron Mullin, director of communications and marketing at Visit Bentonville

鈥淥ne of the most organized conferences I’ve been to.鈥� 鈥擟arrie Cousins, director of digital marketing for Roanoke Regional Partnership

ROI, ROI, ROI

The issue of 鈥渞eturn on events鈥� is a growing concern, and for good reason. Brands are becoming more discerning with their spending and even more cautious about their environmental footprint. Outdoor Media Summit adheres to a zero-waste philosophy by offsetting carbon produced by travel and working closely with hotels to eliminate single-use plastic.

The event is also incredibly affordable compared to other shows. At a conventional trade show鈥攆actoring in booth pricing, labor, travel, lodging, and food鈥攂rands can easily spend five figures to attend. At Outdoor Media Summit, a Conference + Hotel Ticket (which includes two nights of lodging at a Four Diamond resort, six meals, three happy hours, and shuttles back and forth from the airport) costs less than $1,200.

OMS is able to offer this rock-bottom pricing thanks to the amazing support of its destination sponsors, including this year鈥檚: the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau.

What OMS attendees say:

“A lot of bang for the buck for sure.鈥� 鈥擲eyl Park, marketing manager at SylvanSport

鈥淚 went to four press events this year and OMS was, hands down, the best. The seminars were the best, the scavenger hunt was the best. The other events weren鈥檛 catered to people like me. At the end of OMS, we had more interaction than at any other event,鈥� 鈥擱yan Spinks, director of brand development at QuietKat

Meaningful Connections in an Authentic Setting

True connections are hard to make through Zoom meetings, conference calls, or half-hour appointments at busy trade shows. The real deal is cultivated when peers can spend quality time in small group settings (being outdoors in beautiful mountain towns also doesn鈥檛 hurt). That鈥檚 why OMS coordinates fun, small-group activities like scavenger hunts at the event.

When you fill a room with hundreds of the best marketers and media pros in the outdoor industry, magic tends to happen. That鈥檚 the core philosophy behind the OMS model.

What OMS attendees say:

鈥淚t was awesome to be in person with like-minded individuals in my field. I loved learning from experienced marketers and influencers while getting to explore a beautiful area.鈥� 鈥擬eaghan Ruby, marketing manager at Minus33

Convinced you need to attend? Interested in learning more? Schedule a call and see if a hyper-focused media event like Outdoor Media Summit might be right for you. Email yoon@outdoormediasummit.com or kenji@outdoormediasummit.com to connect.

More questions? OMS can probably answer them . Ready to nail it down? .

The post 5 Reasons Your Brand Should Attend Outdoor Media Summit appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As the clock ticks down to Outdoor Retailer鈥檚 40th anniversary show, it鈥檚 tough to zero in on a single emotion. OR has been doing its thing in Denver for five years鈥擟OVID gaps notwithstanding鈥攁nd for many, there was a sense of rightness about it that鈥檚 difficult to articulate. Yes, there鈥檚 the economic boon. Yes, there鈥檚 the central location. But at the heart of it all, OR鈥檚 Colorado residency fit the people here. The show, some would argue, was a reflection of the values and passions that make Colorado such a renowned ambassador for outdoor recreation and stewardship.

The next time this crowd gathers in early 2023, it will be back on the show鈥檚 old Utah stomping grounds. As attendees strolled the floor one last time or zipped by trying to hit that one booth they鈥檇 missed, it all seemed more final than usual. Colorado played host to a mere sliver of Outdoor Retailer鈥檚 74 shows over the years, but it鈥檚 been a meaningful, if transitional, run. Some would say the 鈥渞etailer鈥� part has lost a bit of luster over time as the show has slowly shifted its focus to other areas鈥攁dvocacy and consumer-focused elements chief among them. Will the Salt Lake City redux restore the OR of a bygone era, when big brands were king and deals were inked on the spot? Unlikely. Still, the specific nature of OR鈥檚 next chapter remains to be seen.

In the meantime, here鈥檚 our final roundup of new brands, neat gear, and deep thoughts from Outdoor Retailer Summer 2022.

Notable New Exhibitors

Performance wear with fishing roots: It might be its first time at OR, but the family-owned, Florida-based has been in the biz of outdoor wear for more than 25 years, expanding from early graphic tees to its current sporty and colorful lines of high-tech cooling and sun-protective apparel. In fact, most of Reel Legends鈥� fabrics have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation for sun protection. Moisture wicking, quick-drying, and heat-activated cooling features make these garments suitable for just about anything you鈥檙e doing outside. 鈥淔ishing is our DNA,鈥� said Roselle Thomas, Reel Legends deputy vice president of wholesale and ESG. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how we started. But we see people wearing this brand everywhere: on the boat, in water, and all over the golf course.鈥澛�

For keeping your (other) cheeks toasty: File this one under 鈥渢hings we never knew we always wanted.鈥� Developed in Maine in 2021 as a direct response to restaurants that were forced to launch all-season outdoor dining during COVID, heated seat cushions are battery-operated for up to ten hours of coziness, and portable鈥攕traps let you toss it one over your shoulder like a backpack. Water-resistant, easy to wipe down, and boasting three temperature settings, these cushions have grown beyond their restaurant beginnings to become an outdoor luxury for anything from camping to catching an outdoor show at an amphitheater. Imagine the seat warmers in your car鈥攂ut better鈥攑ackaged in a backpack you can take anywhere. 鈥淚t allows you to enjoy the outdoors for a longer period of time,鈥� said CEO Jocelyn Olsen.

The wagon that does it all:聽 Another Florida brand, , is hoping to expand its reach from beachgoers to a more camping-oriented clientele with a go at Outdoor Retailer. These hefty, no-nonsense wagons are your answer to getting from A to B when you鈥檝e got a lot of stuff to schlep鈥攁nd they鈥檙e surprisingly maneuverable. Manufactured entirely in the United States from commercial-grade, rust-proof aluminum, the wagons come in various sizes with a plethora of accessory options鈥攂ike attachment, trailer hitch, kayak holder, table top, cutting board鈥攖hat attach via two fishing rod holders on the end of the wagon. And if you want to bring your beach hauler to the woods? No problem. Just change out the wheels鈥攖hey sell a conversion kit. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super heavy-duty but also lightweight,鈥� said Kahuna Wagons president Jennifer Knoebel. 鈥淚t鈥檚 meant to be the last wagon you ever have to buy.鈥�

Cool New Products

Shoes that support the fight against breast cancer: Adidas Terrex and Adidas Five Ten have teamed up to launch a collaboration that not only looks sharp, but also sends proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Choose from the trail running, biking, or hiking versions, all of which boast a gorgeous pink color scheme in support of breast cancer awareness, with accompanying custom artwork. 鈥淭his is the first time Five Ten and Terrex have come together,鈥� said Whitney DeBree, senior manager of communications, who points out that Five Ten鈥檚 Luke Hontz was inspired to give back by his mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. He tapped bike athlete Vero Sandler to help design. 鈥淲e were really excited about this because it鈥檚 proof of how Adidas is tapping into an amazing network of athletes and using some of their incredible [leverage] to give back.鈥� The shoes will go live at the end of September, just in time for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

The easiest clean water in the world: There鈥檚 lots of love in the corner at this show (the water filtration company was a finalist in this year鈥檚 Inspiration Awards) but we鈥檝e gotta hand out one more plug for the newest addition to the lineup: the one-and-done 24-ounce Bottle Water Filtration System. Going on a day hike? Traveling to a place with questionable water? Bring this bottle. Fill it with water. Drink. Repeat. No extra containers or mechanisms required. 鈥淭his is the highest level of filtration in the industry and it鈥檚 highly portable,鈥� said Sawyer communications director Andrew Glen. 鈥淲hereas before you would need a reservoir pack and a bottle, this one is all in one.鈥� It鈥檚 good for 100,000 gallons versus 1,000 liters in other products. Plus: Sawyer鈥檚 proceeds help millions of people across the world gain access to clean water.

Training wheels for skateboards: It鈥檚 almost too simple. How do young kids learn to ride bikes? Training wheels that come off when they have the skills and confidence to make it in the two-wheeled world. And so it is with , whose first-of-its-kind Wheele Pro skateboard training wheel lets little skaters rock on their boards with the added support of an extra wheel. Once they鈥檝e mastered it, just rip off the sticky pad, and voila: ready to hit the park. 鈥淪kate smart鈥攖hat鈥檚 my mantra,鈥� said founder Kuba Sitak. If you teach kids [that], then they can become who they want and build their character through skateboarding.鈥�

Hot Takes from the Show Floor

Reunited and it feels so good: 鈥淔or the last two-and-a-half years, we had to do everything by Zoom calls. It鈥檚 hard to do a proper technical briefing on a Zoom call. Quite frankly, I think people are all Zoomed out. Being back in Denver is amazing just because we are able to be face to face with our clients and reestablish relationships that had sort of been put on hold for the last two-plus years. It鈥檚 nice to see people鈥檚 smiling faces, hear what they鈥檝e been up to, hear how they鈥檝e coped with COVID, and get back into innovating products for our brand partners. Because that鈥檚 what we do. We create innovation.鈥� 鈥擳imothy Skedzuhn, HeiQ / Global Brandforce

Next time, can we save some trees? 鈥淚鈥檝e made a lot of connections. A lot of the events on Wednesday night really helped get my feet wet. A lot of the seminars have been super helpful. 鈥楧iversifying the Outdoors鈥� was probably my favorite. A couple of things that could be changed: I saw a lot of paper. Like printed paper. What the heck? That was our team鈥檚 major [qualm]鈥攑eople outside kept giving us paper.鈥� 鈥擥racie Villanueva, Gossamer Gear

The post OR Has Wrapped. Here’s What Happened on the Last Day. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Coming off of last night鈥檚 Inspiration Awards and Outdoor Retailer鈥檚 40th anniversary party, the morning of day two felt, well, inspired. The annual celebration of the people, retailers, nonprofits, manufacturers, and emerging leaders culminated in the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Larry Harrison, whose sales-focused outdoor industry career is profound, covering more than five decades and brands including JanSport, Eagle Creek, Yeti, Sierra Designs, and Adidas, to name a few, not to mention roles with Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Retailer. Other winners: Gloria Hwang of Thousand; Mercy M鈥檉on Shammah of Wild Diversity, Goal Zero, National Forest Foundation, and Pack Rat Outdoor Center.聽

As retailers, exhibitors, nonprofit staff, buyers, sales reps, and outdoor stewards milled around the convention center today鈥攎aking introductions, reconnecting with friends, exploring new ideas鈥擧arrison鈥檚 parting words in his acceptance speech lingered: 鈥�This is really about people. It鈥檚 about the 鈥榞reat us.鈥� I鈥檝e always liked that concept of 鈥榰s.鈥� People committed to one another are stronger, just like we are here, today. So you see, this award is not about me at all. But about each of you and the community that we鈥檝e created. We inspire others to find joy in the outdoors and preserve wildlands for future generations. It鈥檚 about us. Good on us.鈥澛�

With that, we bring you today鈥檚 rundown of brands, gear, and thoughts from the floor.

Notable New Exhibitors

Everyone鈥檚 favorite Western wear goes all-terrain. A stroll by the Wrangler display stopped us in our tracks when we spotted a stack of colorful tights that fit squarely in the 鈥榓thleisure鈥� realm. Wrangler showed up for its OR debut with a whole new line of apparel鈥�鈥攖hat skews less hunting, fishing, and ranchwear, more versatile outdoor garb. Think yoga pants, compression shorts, puffies, windbreakers, and trail joggers at affordable prices. 鈥淲ith people 鈥榝inding鈥� the outdoors the past couple of years, they also found that everything in this industry is expensive,鈥� said Aaron Mason, sales manager for ATG by Wrangler. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we found the gap. We鈥檝e got fresh innovation and the technology, but the average consumer can afford the product.鈥� Amen.

Sunnies with built-in bluetooth tunes. introduced its sleek line of polarized audio shades to the OR crowd this year, and we鈥檙e intrigued (especially at the $150 price point). They pair with your phone via bluetooth to play your favorite jams鈥攁nd, via two subtle buttons, can even take and make phone calls, adjust volume, and skip tracks while you鈥檙e wearing them, whether you鈥檙e running or riding, on the trail, on the boat, or鈥herever. It鈥檚 open-ear technology that makes your run safer because you can hear external sound in addition to your music. 鈥淣obody鈥檚 done it like us with some of the patented technology we have,鈥� said Lucyd sales director Ken Strominger. 鈥淚t takes away your reliance on the phone because everything鈥檚 done through the glasses. And it takes ear buds out of the equation completely. It鈥檚 one less thing that鈥檚 hanging out of your ears or around your neck.鈥澛�

Molded foam shoes for鈥verything. They鈥檙e boat shoes. They鈥檙e street shoes. They鈥檙e water kicks. They鈥檙e loafers. They鈥檙e . This casual, moldable, EVA foam shoe in a loafer silhouette is about as versatile as you can get in a summer shoe, once you get past the unconventional look. Tucked into a dazzling enclosed modern booth, this OR first-timer brought a dizzying array of shoes in almost every color imaginable, including a scented kids鈥� Crayola line (yes, they smell delightfully like coconut and grape!) and fun prints like the Baja Llama and Robert Stock collections. What sets them apart from other foam footwear is the rubber outsole, which affords slip-resistant, scuff-proof, boat-deck-friendly wearability. Plus, they have side holes for breathability and drainability, a utility hole for easy hanging via carabiner (just clip to your backpack), and massage pods on the inside for extra comfort. 鈥淲e want to be modern, disruptive, and unexpected,鈥� said president and CEO Larry Paparo. Mission accomplished.聽

Cool New Products

Running tights with a built-in knee brace: Injury-prone athletes, these are for you. 鈥檚 K-Line tights鈥攖here are three versions with varying ventilation features and lengths鈥攁re referred to as 鈥渟upportive apparel.鈥� Each pair is a full lower-body compression system that the wearer can adjust to their comfort via minimalist dials on the back waistband. Each twist of the dial cinches cables in the tights that are mapped to the muscles on your body, but still allow for unfettered activity. 鈥淩igid braces don鈥檛 allow that much movement,鈥� said Stoko strategy specialist Kirsten Geyer. Pull on a pair of these tights, and 鈥測ou can go through the full range of motion without restriction, and if your knee goes into an injury-compromised position, that鈥檚 where the cables pull tight to correct it.鈥� Prepare to pony up: thanks to the proprietary Embrace System technology, these tights ring in at $298.

A must-have kit for wilderness survival: If you ever find yourself lost, stranded, or evacuating in the woods, mountains, desert, or water for any extended amount of time, you鈥檒l wish you had one of 鈥檚 Forever Endure Go-Bags along for the ride. You may have thought many times about what you would need to make it through a few days marooned in the wilderness鈥攐r even attempted to create an emergency survival kit yourself. Chances are, you missed something. Which could be critical. The beauty of these survival bundles is that experts have prepped and packaged it all for聽 you. The Ultimate Bug Out Bag ($260) is the most comprehensive (though the waterproof marine kit might be the best to stash on a boat), with all your basic needs鈥攚ater, shelter, first aid, food, lighting, communication, and more鈥攃overed. With almost every tool and supply you can imagine, 鈥測ou could survive off these bags for three to five days if you were to go out in the woods,鈥� said Brittany Bettonville, director of marketing for Quake Kare鈥檚 parent company, Lighthouse for the Blind. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to sell to someone who is an outdoorsperson and a camper鈥攕omeone who can start a fire by hand.鈥�

An 101-level e-bike in happy colorways: 鈥檚 snazzy lineup is the prettiest set of electric bicycles we stumbled across at this show. 鈥淲e like to target entry-level customers who are new to e-biking, maybe haven鈥檛 had enough courage to try them,鈥� said Xprit product specialist Philip Hu. 鈥淪o we design with that in mind. Color is one of our big design factors. We put a lot of effort into our colorways.鈥� That translates to fun, retro color blocking (we liked the Beach Cruiser [$1,300] in Watermelon) that reads approachable and laid back. But if your speed is more forest trail than beach path, the fat-tired Hunter ($2,400) in Grand Prairie is a solid choice; it鈥檚 rugged enough to tow a trailer. Bonus: the bikes ship 95 percent assembled.

Hot Takes from the Show Floor

Slow but not boring: 鈥�The show looks great. It seems a little slow. It鈥檚 not as packed as I expected it to be. But I don鈥檛 know. Maybe it builds up. It hasn鈥檛 been boring at all. We鈥檝e been interacting with a great amount of people, making connections. We鈥檙e excited to be here.鈥� 鈥擜iyesha Christian, Nomad Trail Mix

Nonprofits need more visibility: 鈥�We teach rock climbing, backpacking, camping, kayaking, and everything that goes along with it at Title I, lower-income schools. We鈥檙e just trying to get our name out there, make partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits. It鈥檚 worth us being here, I think, since we鈥檙e such a new nonprofit. I just wish [nonprofits] had more of a presence [here] instead of being just pushed off in the corner, so to speak. I feel like maybe if we were out in the hallways, or lined up in front of the entryway or something, where we鈥檙e more visible, [it] might be nice. A lot of the retailers, once they see 鈥榥onprofit鈥� on your badge, they kind of give you less attention.鈥� 鈥擜ndrew Hartman, New Treks

Work to do on DEI: 鈥淲hat鈥檚 been really helpful for me as a first-time attendee are the Outdoor Industry Association trainings and support. I think an area of improvement, for the outdoor industry or just this show in general, is diversity鈥攊n terms of representation and other audiences. I think that鈥檚 a definite area of growth. But I鈥檓 excited to be part of the industry and to be here. Denver is a beautiful city. It鈥檚 been amazing to see all the different brands. We all have to work together to support getting people outside.鈥� 鈥擲ana Jafri, BabyGami, first cohort of REI鈥檚 Path Ahead Ventures

Lesson of the Day

There was a packed house at this morning’s NPD Group briefing on retail and consumer trends in the outdoor marketplace, keynoted by sports industry analyst Dirk Sorenson.聽

Statistics and graphs aplenty provided a thorough picture of what, when, and why consumers are buying this year. Bottom line: the core outdoor industry鈥攁pparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories鈥攈as raked in $28.3 billion in retail sales in the 12 months ending in March 2022. That鈥檚 a growth of $6.8 billion over 2020. That鈥檚 significant. Ultimately, Sorenson encouraged retailers to keep a close eye on demographics and to whom they鈥檙e marketing, as it鈥檚 a moving target鈥攁nd to think deeply about how to keep consumers engaged once you get them on board.聽

Here, a sampling of the (many) takeaways:听

• The outdoor industry will continue to be a bright spot in retail鈥攂ut focus will lean toward backyard lifestyle.
• Men are spending more on outdoor stuff. Coming off of the pandemic, they鈥檙e reevaluating their lifestyle and acting on it more than women.
• Consumers are learning from their outdoor and fitness splurges. Big equipment purchases are not necessarily one-and-done. Once newcomers master the basics, they want to augment their enjoyment of the activity. Retailers need to take note and figure out how to retain those people.
• Brick-and-mortar is back (up more than 27 percent from last year) while e-commerce is down more than 4 percent.
• Lifestyle goods are surging in sales, while equipment sales are declining.聽
• Backpacks and luggage are hot, hot, hot.
• Paddling sales are down (though SUP sales are up), and climbing gear is rebounding as people have gotten back to indoor gyms after a pandemic hiatus.
• E-bikes are now selling better than both road and mountain bikes.
• Top outdoor gear sellers in the past year include: water bottles, camp chairs, coolers, sleeping bags, and optics (i.e. binoculars).聽
• Spending at Recreation.gov, where you book camping sites at national parks and federal lands, is up 1 percent in Q1 of 2022 compared to 2021.

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As the opening day of Outdoor Retailer Summer 2022 comes to a close, it feels bittersweet for those who鈥檝e grown to love the show鈥檚 home in downtown Denver. This is the last iteration (for now) in Colorado before the show . OR will call Utah home at least through the end of 2025鈥攁 move that was met with surprise and consternation from those troubled by Utah鈥檚 disregard for policies that protect public lands.聽

While Denver鈥檚 five-year contract was mired in pandemic challenges, some might also call it a transformational period for the very essence of Outdoor Retailer. Take this summer鈥檚 floor lineup: nearly 30 percent of the roster is composed of new exhibitors. A sign of more inclusivity and expanding reach in the outdoor industry? Probably. An indicator that the show has become more startup incubator than facilitator for heavy-hitting outdoor businesses? Jury鈥檚 out. Regardless, the positive feedback was flowing in the early hours. Here鈥檚 a snapshot.

Notable New Exhibitors

Surf stuff and artsy maps: Need a gadget for your surf life? This is the place. From wetsuit driers and waterproof seat covers to bike racks for your board and car door handle lock boxes to store your keys when the waves are calling, had an enthusiastic presence at its OR debut. Ricky Judalena, current Toyota USA Surfing Longboard Champion, is all in as the owner of 7 Seas, Inc., the parent company of Surflogic USA (and sister brand Awesome Maps鈥攈and-illustrated frameable world art maps with themes such as 鈥渂ucket list鈥� and 鈥渇ishing鈥�). 鈥淚t took 47 years of experience to start this at a late age,鈥� he said. Age aside, anyone in need of a few extras for their surf kit should start here.

Where to take a wild ride: In an impressively simple yet dazzling display, brings the stoke of eFoil (electric hydrofoil) to OR. For the uninitiated, eFoil is a hydrosport carried out on a board propelled by electric marine power. In other words, a surfboard-like piece of gear that鈥檚 propelled by a motor as opposed to a sail. The adrenaline-fueled sport is, said the Fliteboard crew, easy enough to pick up in 20 mins (the $13,000 price tag notwithstanding). 鈥淪o many people love this idea of surfing, but they think they don鈥檛 have time or that it鈥檚 too hard,鈥� said Jimmy Trask, Fliteboard west coast sales representative. 鈥淩eally, it鈥檚 pretty user friendly.鈥� Ben Miller, team lead in customer experience, agreed: 鈥淚f you go out by yourself, it鈥檚 very accessible. You don鈥檛 need another person to drive the boat or a big vehicle to tow it. They鈥檙e a blast.鈥� At 60 to 70 pounds apiece, the eFoils can be dismantled into four components, complete with bags and cases, for transport. With a charge time of two hours, you get 90 minutes zipping over the water, whether it鈥檚 ocean, lake, or bay鈥攁ny body of water will do. Now about that sticker shock鈥�

For the sun worshippers among us: We know, we know, sunscreen isn鈥檛 the jazziest item on the floor鈥攂ut it鈥檚 probably one of the most important. skincare line made its first appearance at OR at the perfect time to talk up its necessity for epic days on the water or the trail. The sunscreen line is 鈥渕eant to address all the pain points that keep men from wearing sunscreen,鈥� said brand manager Annie Gianakos. In other words, the white tinge that sits on face stubble, the greasy finish, and the anti-travel size are nowhere to be found in these products. Take your pick from spray, lotion, and the crowd favorite uber-portable Go Stick Clear ($6 to $22). No excuses.

Cool New Products

Tent camping for one: The latest addition to the ultralight Maxfield tent series by 聽is a solo backpacker鈥檚 dream. Weighing in at 2.5 pounds, the Maxfield 1 ($320) has unique super-short tent poles that make folding it up and packing it a dream, even with the built-in vestibule. The roomy overall footprint and 42-inch height make for a comfy, totally sit-able respite for taller folks. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our most comfortable style tent in terms of keeping your gear safe and the usability of the inside space,鈥� said product developer Kyle Hill. Solo getaway to the backcountry coming right up.

The coziest hammock ever: It鈥檚 like your fluffy down sleeping bag and your super chill hammock had a baby. 鈥檚 Evolution 20 Down Hammock ($299), made with RDS-certified down, might be the next must-have for car camping. 鈥淭here are a couple problems with normal hammocks,鈥� said Grand Trunk chief marketing officer Paul Asay. 鈥淥ne: You get cold. Two: There are too many extra attaching quilts if you do, and they don鈥檛 stay in place. We are solving a problem that鈥檚 been around for years.鈥� Tip: Grand Trunk鈥檚 Siesta Hammock Pillow is a clutch accessory. When you adjust in the hammock, it doesn鈥檛 slide down because it hooks into the hammock鈥檚 carabiner. Brilliant.

USB-chargeable batteries that never die: If you have ever camped or trekked with a headlamp that flickers out in the middle of the darkness, you know the pain of batteries that don鈥檛 hold up to sustained device use. Who wants to carry around extra bagfuls of鈥nything? Especially alkaline batteries that get tossed in landfills at alarming rates. Enter: 鈥檚 USB Rechargeable Smart Batteries, newly reimagined in an Artist Series that makes the batteries, well, pretty. More importantly, the partnership helps the artists鈥攐r whoever Pale Blue Earth partners with in the future鈥攑ursue their own sustainability goals as part of 鈥渁n ecosystem of businesses trying to do the right thing,鈥� said Pale Blue Earth CEO Tom Bishop. 鈥淎nd from a marketing perspective, it鈥檚 a way to help move the needle.鈥� At $30 for a four-pack of AAs鈥攃ompared to $5 for four Duracells鈥攖he ROI is outstanding, given that six uses pays them off, and it would take 1,000 full uses before they burned down to 80 percent of original capacity.

Hot Takes from the Show Floor

Wowed by the selection: 鈥�It鈥檚 amazing to see all of the different products and necessities for the outdoors. You have certain activities outdoors, but when you go around here at the exhibit, it鈥檚 just like, wow, I鈥檇 never have thought that I鈥檇 need this or that this could support my activities and endeavors. I think it鈥檚 a very good presentation. The traffic has been very good. It鈥檚 been flowy. Especially in the morning.鈥� 鈥擝arry Jackson, Adidas Eyewear

鈥淚t鈥檚 different in a good way. Just walking around, I see things you鈥檇 never think you鈥檇 need or never think existed, and you鈥檙e like, wow, I need that. I walked over to a booth and it was sleeping bag ponchos. I thought that was so cool. There鈥檚 a plethora of things from A to Z that I feel like I need to bring back to New York.鈥� 鈥擱yan Medina, Adidas Eyewear

Turnkey, one-stop shopping: 鈥�We call Oregon the Silicon Valley of the outdoor industry. This show is really important for our small- and medium-sized companies. Oregon and Idaho combine together to have this booth, the Northwest Pavilion. We kind of pay [the cost] up front with a federal fund. We help companies get grants, provide travel costs, food, setup, everything, with a 75 percent reimbursement for their costs. We try to do that every year. I鈥檓 so glad to be kind of a sponsor for these companies because they really need it. And we want to help them. A lot of people have been impressed because this [Northwest Pavilion] is kind of one-stop-shopping. We don鈥檛 have any duplicates.鈥� 鈥擲haron Kim, Business Oregon

鈥淚鈥檓 really liking the reception we鈥檙e getting from everyone coming through. Sometimes you see these big pavilions and people don鈥檛 walk into them鈥nd they are! I鈥檓 so happy that we kept a gap in the middle [of the layout]. A lot of times, the bigger vendors鈥攖hat aren鈥檛 really at the show this year鈥攖heir booths are very closed off and it鈥檚 like this secret entrance kind of thing. You walk by those and it鈥檚 like, can I go into those? So I worried a little bit about our scenario here, but traffic really seems to be flowing through. A lot of the buyers are liking that we have 22 companies, especially if they鈥檙e looking for a wide variety of products. Doing turnkey pavilions was new; we had to do some customization. Thank goodness they worked with me! I think we created a great product.鈥� 鈥擳ina Salisbury, Idaho Commerce

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