NCAA Survey Unveils Areas of Concern for Student Athletes
While a new survey from NCAA Research showed college sports had an overwhelmingly positive impact on student-athletes, one area of concern was found to be youth sports specialization. The study found that many NCAA student-athletes began specializing in their sports “at what experts consider a very early age (e.g., before age 12),” especially in sports […]
2016 PGA Merchandise Show Tees Off With New Apparel, Wearables
The 2016 PGA Merchandise show teed off January 27 in Orlando, FL, and despite some difficult headwinds, including declining play and participation, show organizers are expecting a 15-percent bump in attendance over previous years. A projected 42,000 to 45,000 attendees will walk the 10 miles of aisles at the show over the next three days. The show […]
Austin Canoe & Kayak and Summit Sports Merge
Two specialty outdoor retail shops are now one. Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK) in Texas and Summit Sports in Michigan announced a merger deal, Jan. 26, that brings together their retail expertise in snow, paddle, and other outdoor adventure sports. The combined business, backed by Digital Fuel Capital, consists of five stores in Texas, four in […]
Great Outdoor Store Redefines the Brick-and-Mortar Experience
DeAnn Echols, owner of the single-location South Dakota specialty retail store, shares the secrets of what separates a good retailer from a great one. By Jahla Seppanen Great Outdoor Store in Sioux Falls, SD, has been around since the spandex-wearing days of 1980s. Tom Ashworth, a Sioux local, founded the store, seeing it through almost […]
What Not to Miss at SIA 2016
It’s SIA Snow Show week! And as the snowsports industry gets ready to hit the show floor in Denver, we’re taking a look at the top news, trends and events not to miss at the show. First Off, How Are Snowsports Sales Looking? The 2015/16 snowsports season for retailers and resorts will likely go down as […]
Track & Field’s David vs. Goliath
A lawsuit filed last week challenging U.S. Track & Field and U.S. Olympic exclusive sponsorships raises the question of whether big brands are helping or hurting the sport. Nick Symmonds, who won the 800-meter qualifying event at the U.S. Championship says he was dropped from Team USA for refusing to sign a document instructing him […]
PeopleForBikes Awards Eight Community Grants
PeopleForBikes announced the recipients of its most recent cycle of Community Grants, with eight awards totaling $51,750. In total, the Community Grants Program has funded more than 350 advocacy and infrastructure initiatives since 1999, including bike lanes, paths, parks, and advocacy programs. With this round of grants, PeopleForBikes has now funded at least one project […]
ORWM 2016 Attendance … Slightly Down on Lower Weekend Traffic
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market officials said attendance at the 2016 show “was down slightly over last year,” largely due to less traffic over the weekend days of the event. Store-count attendance remained consistent year-over-year. The figures are preliminary and show operator Emerald Expositions is still working to complete its post-show report, including a survey of […]
Retreat! The State of Independent Retail
As e-commerce margins plunge, some savvy independent retailers are shifting their online strategies toward supporting their brick-and-mortar stores. By Charlie Lunan Independent outdoor specialty retailers who led the charge into cyberspace two decades ago are now leading a retreat. Faced with rapid deterioration in online margins, independent specialty retailers are shifting resources back toward supporting […]
Former Twitter CEO Starts Buzz on New Fitness Platform
They don’t call it the cult of CrossFit for nothing… After leaving Twitter as CEO in July 2015, Dick Costolo hit up the fitness scene, joking that when he started CrossFit, he couldn’t do one pull-up. Now, he said he’s up to 152. His passion for fitness went a step further on Jan. 19, when Costolo […]
Rally Health to Sponsor Circuit Sport Cycling Team
Working to reimagine health engagement, Rally Health offers simple ways for individuals to navigate the complex healthcare system, get access to care, and achieve their health and wellness goals. The team will be known as Rally Cycling from 2016 moving forward. “We are inspired by these athletes, and know their stories will help motivate Rally […]
SealSkinz Fall/Winter ’16 Line Broadens Tech and Accessories
Despite what many are calling a warm winter, sales of accessories from SealSkinz USA continue to outpace company projections. Shawn Pritchett, U.S. sales and operations director, is optimistic that this positive trend will continue thanks to upgrades, new technologies, and broadened offerings in its Autumn/Winter 2016 line. SealSkinz is a British endurance accessories manufacturer known […]
Atlas Snowshoes Become Summit-Ready
On the heels of its 25th Anniversary, Atlas Snow-Shoe Co. is introducing the Atlas Peak Series with three models for men and women, built to tackle advanced terrain and deliver optimal traction, flotation and precision, the company said. “Our goal with the Peak Series is to present a unique line of snowshoes with precision suspension, […]
Film Highlights Ultrarunner Rob Krar and Grand Canyon Conservation
A new four-minute film is the story about rising ultrarunning star Rob Krar while simultaneously highlighting the Grand Canyon watershed and the importance of its protection. Titled Chasing the Distance, the short was premiered by Tandem Stills and Motion, Inc., one of the world’s prominent image providers representing more than 1,000 photographers worldwide. Krar’s recent […]
Duckworth’s U.S. Journey
Two Former Duofold Execs and a Montana Sheep Rancher keep American-Made Wool Stateside. By David Clucas Going back to his days at baselayer brands Duofold and I/O Bio, Robert Bernthal always thought the wool supply chain was “clumsy and volatile.” The natural fiber from sheep was sourced from around the world, washed and processed in […]
