An all-star industry panel will convene at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City next week to discuss whether and how the backcountry ski and snowboard industry should prepare for greater regulation.

 
Moderated by Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, founder and CEO of Verde Brand Communications and Kenji Haroutunian, Vice President at Emerald Exposition, and OR show director the panel discussion takes place Jan. 24 at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City.
 
The panel includes Black Diamond’s Brand President, Ryan Gellert; Kim Miller, CEO of SCARPA North America; Bruce Tremper, Utah Avalanche Forecaster; Mike Hattrup, Global Director of K2’s Adventure Category; Hud Knight, Backcountry.com, Director of Merchandising/GMM Hardgoods & Footwear; and Dave DeSeelhorst, Owner/GM at Solitude Mountain Resort
 
 
“The number of consumers going into the backcountry has significantly increased in the last few years,” said Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, Verde founder and CEO. “Given this increased risk and interest, Emerald Expositions and Verde felt it would be timely to explore the subject in more detail, with a panel of experts who will speak to the various sections of our business – from retailers to manufactures, media and sales reps.”
 
 
Date: Jan. 24th, 2014
Location: New Product Zone, Outdoor Retailer, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am

Contact: Kelly@verdepr.com

“Outdoor Retailer Winter Market was formed in 1990 out of a need to focus the market’s energy on issues and innovation relevant to the core activities of Backcountry wintersports on public lands. This panel is an important evolution in the show, delivering value to the industry as it deals with growing pains along with fun, healthy exploration of the winter wilderness. There is a ton of wisdom and experience on this panel, and I’m positive anyone involved in the business of off-piste recreation will want to be there,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Vice President at Emerald Exposition, and OR show director.

 
Those scheduled to participate in the panel include: 
 
 
  • Ryan Gellert, president of Black Diamond Equipment, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of technical equipment for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. In this role, he is responsible for Black Diamond’s global product, sales and marketing strategies. Previously, Gellert served as the Managing Director of Black Diamond Equipment Asia in Zhuhai, China from 2005-2010 and as the Vice President of Supply Chain Management in 2011. Gellert is an avid backcountry snowboarder and an active climber for over 15 years, having climbed in Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, the Middle East and South Africa.
  • Kim Miller, CEO of SCARPA North America, the North American arm of the global SCARPA brand. With more than three decades of experience in the outdoor industry, Miller has worked on all sides of the business – in-house in various management, sales and R+D posts at major outdoor brands, as the founder of independent sales representative agency, and as an outdoor retail shop owner. Miller currently serves on the board of Snowsports Industries America, the member-owned trade association representing the snowsports industry. His love for the industry stems from his passion for the sports. Miller is an accomplished alpinist, climber, skier and all-around outdoorsman.
  • Bruce Temper, director of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center since 1986 and learned the basics of avalanches at the age of 10. After a successful 15-year ski racing career, he did avalanche control at Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Montana, earned a Masters Degree in Geology from Montana State University, studying under the well-known avalanche scientists Dr. John Montagne and Dr. Bob Brown. He then took over as the Director of Avalanche Control at Big Sky Ski Area in Montana and worked as a backcountry avalanche forecaster for the Alaska Avalanche Center. Temper has been featured in a number of national and international television documentaries about avalanches including those produced by National Geographic, Discovery Channel and PBS as well as appearing on a number of national network news programs. Temper wrote the book “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain,” published by Mountaineers Books, now in its second edition.
  • Hud Knight began working in the industry as a teenager in the mid 80’s and has been skiing for 35 years now. He worked at White Pine Touring, which is a specialty outdoor store and guide service in Park City. Knight then shifted gears and worked for Surefoot and now currently works as the Director/GMM of all the HG Divisions at Backcountry.com.
  • Mike Hattrup, brand director for the K2 Sports Backside category. Harttrup has 24 years of sales, marketing and product development experience in the ski and outdoor industries. He is a brand consultant for Outdoor Research and a Ski Mountaineering Guide leading trips in both North America and Europe. Hattrup is a certified AMGA Ski Mountaineering guide and was on the 1987 Mogul U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. He has been recognized by the industry and entered into the 2008 Backcountry Magazine Hall of Fame, 2006 Powder Magazine “48 Most Influential Skiers of our Time,” and the 1998 Powder Magazine “50 Best Skier in North America.”
  • Dave DeSeelhorst, Owner and GM at Solitude Mountain Resort. Since 1990, DeSeelhorst has been at the resort and has actively participated in many industry and governmental boards and numerous governmental studies. DeSeelhorts has a BSBA from Northern Arizona University and is a Captain, Aviation, and U.S. Army.