The Third Annual Backcountry Base Camp promises to be the best yet, with new exhibitors, more attendees, a streamlined registration process, and easier transportation than in years past. Many of the same events that were well-received will continue this year, and the team at Outdoor Retailer has worked to tweak and improve all of the processes to make the experience better for retailers and exhibitors alike. While the event is designed primarily with hardgoods exhibitors in mind, more softgoods and pack companies are now finding value in the event as well.
As of press time, the event, which will take place on Friday, January 27, boasts ten new exhibitors, bringing the total to 55 this year. BOSS spoke with Outdoor Retailers show director, Andy Tompkins, who said that they are expecting a larger crowd of retailers and buyers this year as well. He is estimating roughly 800 retailers will be in attendance.
The past two Backcountry Base Camps have been overwhelming success stories, with most vendors realizing some real benefits from their investments. Previously, similar events have been marred by crowds of questionable quality looking for a free ski day, but for the most part, this has been eliminated.
Justin Morini, Alpina Sports program director for Alpine, Telemark, AT, and Trekking, told BOSS that even though there will always be the occasional “bro-deal” attendee, the quality of the Backcountry Base Camp participants has been exceptional. “We want to allow retailer to have ample opportunity to try out our new product and with dealers scattered all over the country, sometimes it is difficult to get them in one place,” Morini said. “The Base Camp has been an exceptional venue to accomplish this.”
Karhus president, Charlie Lozner, agrees that ORs staff has worked hard to ensure that the Base Camp does not turn into a free ski day for non-buying attendees. “Last year wasnt bad at all. OR has given us all the tools we need to control the demo,” he said. “Its great to have one day on the slopes where everyone can kick the tires and try the new gear. Its really turned into a mini trade show on the mountain. Its become more than a demo.”
Black Diamonds ski product manager, Thomas Laakso, also agrees with this assessment. “It was great attendance last year and I expect more of the same this year,” he said. “We had to turn a few people away because we had legitimate buyers waiting for gear, but this has improved considerably over the past two years.”
Tompkins concedes that before the Backcountry Base Camp, there were problems with attendees at similar events, but he emphasized that this is a thing of the past. “We really listened to our exhibitors feedback and worked to target the key buyers in the industry,” he said. “We have also tried to make the experience easier and more streamlined for retailers by enhancing the retailer services and pre-qualifying key attendees.”
This year, OR worked together with the Brighton Resort to provide easier access to the Nordic track. This should be a key improvement for many of the cross-country and touring companies this year. Last year the event was dominated by downhill product, but the improved access should help give equal footing to all of the Snow Sports categories. Morini told BOSS that Alpina will be taking advantage of this improvement with the launch of two new backcountry touring skis and boots for both telemark and XC bindings.
Karhu is also ramping up their presence this year on the Nordic and touring side of the aisle. Lozner told BOSS that he realizes it is next to impossible to create a completely seamless event that caters equally to the Nordic and the downhill crowd, but he is looking forward to the improvements. One step the company has taken to make access even easier is to book two booths, a larger one close to the lifts and a smaller presence close to the Nordic track.
All exhibitors agree that the downhill portion of the event gives retailers ample opportunity to test the new gear. With several new telemark and AT bindings being launched this year, as well as several new boots and skis, the attendees will have more than their fair share of gear to demo.
Karhus Lozner told BOSS, “It is a pretty downhill focused venue, but we will be placing a focus on getting more people onto our backcountry touring skis as well as the more down-hill oriented product.”
BDEs Laakso agreed. “Product is really king over here and when launching something new, talk and pictures only go so far, you need to get out there and get on the new gear. This really provides a perfect opportunity to do that. It is difficult to get out and go on a four hour tour when were trying to cycle product through, but everyone needs to get a chance to get on the mountain.”
Black Diamond is also expanding their presence with twice the square footage compared to last year. This increased footprint is coming in spite of the amicable split between BDE and Scarpa, who will also be in attendance with their own, separate booth at the Base Camp.
With more exhibitors, bigger booths, easier access, and a high-quality crowd of buyers and media, this years Backcountry Base Camp is certainly becoming a must-attend event for nearly every hardgoods company, as well as a growing number of soft-goods vendors. With an improved Backcountry bash after the demo, everyone should leave Brighton exhausted and happy.
