Photo: Louis Arévalo

Industry News

News and information from the winter outdoor community

Nick’s Notes – September 2017

September 13, 2017

Welcome back from summer! I hope you all had an enjoyable time during these hot summer months! I just returned from an exploratory trip to China as a guest of the World Winter Sports Expo. As you may have heard, the Chinese government has declared they will have 300,000,000 skiers/snowboarders by 2022. Even if they […]

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Eastern Rep Groups Complete Their Merger

September 13, 2017

It is common knowledge that over the past several years, the Eastern Outdoor Reps Association and New England Sports Reps have studied the pros and cons of merging both organizations into a new entity, and in January 2017, both memberships voted to execute the merger. Last week on August 7, the bylaws for the new […]

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The Snowball Effect: Why certain women’s models sell so well

September 12, 2017

By Kimberly Beekman for SKI Magazine’s September 2017 issue In the glorious 1970s, when mustaches were unironic and tight pants actually looked good on dudes, the male-dominated ski industry tried to entice more women into the sport by broadcasting the message that ski slopes were ripe with “eligible bachelors,” says Kelly Davis, director of research […]

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NPD Group Details What Sports Retail Can Learn from Fast Fashion

September 12, 2017

According to NPD Sports Industry Analyst Matt Powell, given the current malaise in the U.S. sports business, it is important for the industry to look across the retail landscape for ideas on how to improve its current condition: The world of fast fashion may offer some clues. While the social costs of fast fashion are […]

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Paddlesports Retailer Announces New Location for 2018

September 11, 2017

Paddlesports Retailer, the official tradeshow for the paddlesports industry that broke away from Outdoor Retailer last year, said it will move to Oklahoma City in 2018, after its first edition in Madison, Wisconsin earlier this summer. The new location was chosen for its commitment to creating a world-class urban paddlesports venue on the Oklahoma River. Over […]

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REI Force of Nature Grants Complete $1M Investment in Nonprofits That Connect Women Outdoors

September 11, 2017

As part of its commitment “to create access to the outdoors for all,” REI has invested $1 million in organizations across the country creating opportunities to connect women and girls to nature. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create […]

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Spark R&D Says Stoke is High for 17/18 Season with Pillow Line Straps, Crossbar Clips and Canted Pucks

September 11, 2017

Based out of Bozeman, Montana, Spark R&D is a rider owned and operated snowboarding brand dedicated to pushing innovation in splitboarding since 2006. With a view of the Bridger Mountains from its shop, they design and build splitboard bindings and accessories by putting backcountry performance first. The local brand unveiled its latest innovations and improvements […]

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A Season of Change in Snow Sports – a SIA | Research Update

August 31, 2017

SIA’s Director of Research Kelly Davis is beginning to dig deep into the upcoming winter season. As the excitement builds, Davis taps into her decades of expertise in the industry to help divine what we have to look forward to. Impacts from remarkable changes across the snow sports industry over the past six months will […]

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Echo Mountain Joins Colorado Ski Country USA

August 31, 2017

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced that Echo Mountain in Idaho Springs will join the association effective immediately as its 23rd member resort. Echo Mountain, which is only 50 minutes away from downtown Denver and offers night skiing six nights a week, becomes the 23rd member of CSCUSA. The ski area will join Colorado Ski Country […]

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Is This the First Truly Carbon Balanced Brand in the Snowsports Industry?

August 29, 2017

Nikwax — global leader in aftercare products for outdoor performance gear and apparel — celebrated its 40th anniversay by carbon balancing the entirety of its operations, dating back to 1977. Since 2007, the brand has been working with World Land Trust to offset its yearly emissions, as well as going back and offsetting each year […]

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