Outdoor Retailer has decreased the duration of its 2009 Summer Market Open Air Demo from two days to one day. This year's Open Air Demo will take place at Pineview Reservoir (near Odgen, Utah) on Monday, July 20, 2009, prior to OR Summer Market's indoor expo, July 21-24, 2009.
As a one day event, OR is extending Open Air Demo hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This extension provides exhibitors ample time with buyers and retailers with a full day of product and accessory demos, ending early enough to allow exhibitors time to set up for the following day's indoor exposition at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
“After much discussion with exhibitors and attendees, expanding the hours and moving to one full day made the most business sense,” said Marisa Nicholson, Outdoor Retailer national sales manager. “Packing more hours into one demo day eases the logistics of overnight lodging and expenses of an extra travel day for both exhibitors and retailers. Since the overall mood of retail business has everyone evaluating every dollar spent, we feel it's the right decision for 2009.”
The Open Air Demo events and demonstrations that attendees enjoy, and have come to rely on as they make crucial buying decisions, will continue as usual. A few events and perks to look forward to include:
Climbing Demo
Jeff Lowe and Ogden Climbing Parks, in cooperation with Snowbasin Mountain Guides, will provide multi-pitch and sport climbing venues at Open Air Demo. Beginners and expert climbers alike will be shuttled to Snowbasin, where they will ride the gondola up to the Needles Lodge and enjoy four pitches of moderate (5.5) high country quartzite slabs.
Wasatch Whitewater Chute-Out
The 2nd annual Wasatch Whitewater Chute-Out, lead by race director Lee Hart of Brand Amp, will take place on the Ogden River, down river from the Open Air Demo at Pineview Reservoir. An adrenaline-infused showdown between dealers and pandle sports pros, consists of heats of four racers paddling down a two-mile section of the Ogden River while spoilers attempt to thwart race progress from various sections along the course.
Free (and Green) Transportation to Open Air Demo
All Outdoor Retailer show participants (with show badge) are invited to take the new FrontRunner train from the Salt Lake station to the Odgen station for free. Complimentary shuttles will run between the Ogden station and Open Air Demo between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2009.
“This year's Open Air Demo will truly be the multi-sport festival we envisioned years ago, centered around paddlesports but inclusive of all the adventure categories where field testing is of great value,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “Whether retailers are honing their geocaching skills, or testing a new hull design in the whitewater, they can get a lot done in one day before the start of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009.”
The hardgoods, apparel and accessories available for testing at the 2009 Outdoor Retailer Open Air Demo represent products from the following outdoor segments: paddlesports, running, climbing, camping, geocashing and natural products. Open Air Demo will be held at last year's successful location within Pineview Reservoir (Port Ramp Property) in Eden, Utah, east of Ogden and convenient to downtown Salt Lake City.
