Archives: Press Releases

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 24, 2023) – Beginning in late October, SCARPA, maker of high-performance footwear for mountain sports, will offer outdoor fans in the Colorado Front Range a more curated brand experience and deeper dive into its winter product line through a seasonal “shop-in-shop” partnership with Full Cycle, a well-respected bicycle shop in Boulder. 

The format will allow SCARPA to showcase its entire backcountry and freeride ski boot lineup, along with a selection of winter running, mountaineering and cold-weather hiking shoes, while also offering consumers a more experiential look into what drives the Italian footwear manufacturer as a brand. The shop will open with a kickoff event on Thursday, Oct  26, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase at this link. 

SCARPA is one of a handful of winter-sports brands involved in the Full Cycle ‘shop-in-shop.’ Others include Hestra, Ortovox, DPS, Dynafit and Pomoca. 

The concept offers Full Cycle the opportunity to grow awareness among its bike-centric customer base with regard to other winter fitness activities. SCARPA and the other brands involved will be able to highlight a larger selection of their products than is typically the case in specialty outdoor retail shops. They also will be able to do so in a way that puts more focus on their individual brands. 

 

“What we’re trying to do here is really get to that true brand experience and cross-pollinate between different kinds of people who enjoy outdoor endurance sports,” said Russ Chandler, owner and general manager of Full Cycle. 

 

A big focus of the ‘shop-in-shop’ concept is a high level of training for Full Cycle staff so that they fully understand the brands and products, and how they translate to different kinds of endurance athletes. 

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America 

Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

Oct, 23, 2023 (Gardena, Calif.) – Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) and 686 Technical Apparel are joining forces during this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a collaboration product, the “Camille” jacket. This jacket pays homage to a loving friend of B4BC and 686 and breast cancer thriver, Camille Herrera. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the product will benefit a breast cancer survivor’s attendance at B4BC’s Chasing Sunshine Mountain Wellness Retreat in 2024.

“This collaborative project hits home. My friend Camille recently passed from breast cancer, and she represented the purest form of positivity and perseverance,” said Michael Akira West, 686 Founder & CEO. “Camille was a proud supporter of B4BC and the wonderful team there provided resources to help her along her journey. Living life outside and being one with nature is what Camille and I shared. I’m honored to be a part of this personal project and thankful for B4BC and the Herrera Family for all the love and support.”

The “Camille” jacket comes available in a vivid pink colorway, a nod to the shining and bright spirit of Camille as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It has different embellishments throughout, such as a pink ribbon and the B4BC and 686 logos. Pictured above is Camille’s sister, Bianca, beautifully modeling the “Camille” jacket.

B4BC’s Chasing Sunshine Retreats are part of the organization’s survivorship programs. It’s designed to meet the needs of young women who have been affected by breast cancer with activities and workshops promoting health and wellness, opportunities for connection with other survivors and thrivers and support for their journey to lifelong wellness. Camille herself joined B4BC on multiple retreats, her presence bright and powerful and it was special to her. B4BC and 686 are proud to honor Camille’s memory and impact by supporting another woman’s attendance at a retreat through the proceeds of her jacket.

“The Camille I know and met was so open to her path, as scary as it was for her. Open to being vulnerable yet tough to find her way, and most certainly open to seeing her life as an adventure to never be taken for granted. She loved being in nature and thrived in the outdoors which was one of the reasons she and I connected so closely, her spirit aligns with what B4BC stands for,” said Megan Pischke, B4BC Wellness Director and Marketing Manager.

“I proudly carry with me her huge smile. She is a reason I do what I do to support and serve others on this daunting journey. She lights a path for so many of us in so many ways.  We had so much fun and realness with her on our Chasing Sunshine Wellness Retreats, and I am so grateful to her family for sharing her with us. B4BC is honored to receive the funds from this 686 Limited Edition Camille jacket – 100 percent of these proceeds go to support another young woman managing the path of breast cancer in joining us on a Chasing Sunshine Mountain Wellness Retreat in 2024.  We love and miss her dearly – her mountain adventure spirit soars on with us!”

B4BC would like to thank 686 for its unwavering support and kindness along with the Herrera family for sharing Camille’s love and story.

Hear more about Camille’s story and connection to B4BC and 686 from family and friends at B4BC’s Mammoth Love Your Peaks event here.

Learn more about B4BC’s Mountain and Ocean Wellness Retreats here.

Learn more about 686 here.

About B4BC
Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that advocates for early detection and a healthy, active, and conscious lifestyle as the best means of breast cancer prevention. Founded in 1996, B4BC empowers young people to make positive choices that promote lifelong wellness through grassroots events, educational outreach, sustainability, and survivorship support programs. Visit b4bc.org for more information.

About 686

Born in the city and raised in the mountains, 686 is a direct product of a thirst for innovation combined with an open mind constantly searching for a way to alter the outcome of the future. Everything we do is based around people, passion and purpose with the goal to build the best performance products for our active-minded community. 686 is an independent, minority owned and Climate Neutral Certified technical apparel brand with deep roots in Snowboarding and Skiing for over 30 years. Discover & follow —@686

 

 

 

 

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 23, 2023) — DPS Skis, the U.S.-based ski manufacturer pairing aerospace carbon technology with groundbreaking shapes, and PHANTOM Glide, a permanent, waxless base glide treatment, will be available from October 2023 to March 2024 at Full Cycle in Boulder, Colorado.

Full Cycle, Boulder’s oldest award-winning bike shop, unveils a ski touring-focused ‘shop-in-shop’ concept aimed at meeting the needs of Boulder’s multi-faced endurance athletes. The full collection of DPS Skis and PHANTOM Glide will be shoppable alongside notable ski touring brands, including Dynafit, Pomoca, Scarpa, ORTOVOX and Hestra. With ski touring continuing to gain popularity among summer endurance athletes, Full Cycle is well positioned to connect its customer base with top brands in the ski touring space.

“DPS is excited to participate in the Full Cycle ski shop concept and introduce the Boulder community to the brand’s complete line of skis, bindings, skins and PHANTOM Glide,” says Steve Kropf, senior vice president of DPS. “Skiing and cycling have a significant participant overlap and we believe working with Full Cycle’s team and the other brands is a unique opportunity to bring more people into the sport of backcountry skiing.”

In celebration of the grand opening of Full Cycle’s ski shop, Full Cycle is hosting a winter kickoff party on Thursday, October 26. Tickets are available online here. Each $10 ticket will include a free pint of beer from Upslope Brewing Company and a chance to win prizes from participating brands. Notable prizes include a pair of DPS skis, a Phantom Glide Waxless Base Glide application, a pair of Scarpa boots, an ORTOVOX beacon, a pair of Dynafit bindings and a pair of Hestra gloves. All proceeds from the night will go to Friends of CAIC and Protect Our Winters. 

If you are media interested in attending the kickoff party or would like more information on DPS or PHANTOM Glide, please contact account manager Ryan Silven at ryan.silven@rygr.us.

About DPS Skis: Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah, DPS designs the world’s most advanced ski products by fusing space-age carbon technology with groundbreaking shapes. DPS is responsible for the world’s first and only pure pre-impregnated carbon fiber sandwich ski, the first 120mm-waisted powder pintail, the first rockered ski with sidecut, and PHANTOM, a paradigm-shifting permanent, one-time application base-coating that forever eliminates the need for waxing skis and snowboards. DPS products are sold on five continents and are the trusted brand of choice for serious skiers worldwide. www.dpsskis.com

About PHANTOM Glide:

Developed by a team of expert chemists and material science engineers, PHANTOM Glide’s patent-pending formula creates a hydrophobic environment that offers three undeniable benefits. First, unlike topical wax, PHANTOM Glide is only applied once and permanently alters the chemistry of ski and board bases to improve baseline glide for the life of the product. Second, PHANTOM Glide offers consistently fast on-snow gliding performance across a broad range of conditions and temperatures. Third, and most importantly, PHANTOM Glide is made up of non-reactive chemical functional groups that are both inert to the environment and safe to those applying it. For more on PHANTOM Glide visit dpsskis.com/phantom.

 

 

Newfields, N.H. and Aars, DK – October 23, 2023 – Glerups, producers of Danish-designed natural wool slippers and boots, is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary by announcing its Project Zero Waste Initiative as well as  the introduction of three new hues to its color palette inspired by nature of the Scandinavian landscape.

The brand developed the Project Zero Waste initiative to reuse excess materials from the production process. The initiative enables Glerups to upcycle leftover wool and leather in new pairs of slippers and accessories to ultimately reduce as much waste as possible. Additionally, the brand is working with fellow Danish brands, Lübech Living, to create fine interior elements for the home as well as Mæglerhuset to make Quietzy, a wool felted Yatzy set. These projects represent the brands shared goal to reduce waste and care for the environment. All Project Zero Waste products will be manufactured in the Glerups’ factory in Poland.

“We work purposefully to use all bits and pieces from our carefully selected production materials,” said Allan Timm, director of sales & marketing and Glerups partner. “This has always been Glerups’ founders Ove and Nanny’s philosophy and is now deeply integrated into our DNA at Glerups. Our entire value chain is built with respect for people, animal, and nature. We are constantly working to streamline and upgrade our production and products – the journey never stops, and we never compromise with our DNA.”

From a color perspective, Glerups takes its time developing new colors and is pleased to release Sand, North Sea, and White for the Fall 2023 season and in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Both Sand and North Sea colors will be available in slip on, shoe, and boot in the leather or natural rubber soles (MSRP $100 – $155) while White will be available in the three models with leather sole (MSRP $100 – $130).

The original pairs of Glerups were handcrafted by Nanny at a rate of two pairs per day and with increased popularity, the production grew to include a factory which was built from the ground up by the brand to expand distribution while maintaining direct control over quality. Today, Glerups slippers and boots are sold all over the world – from Japan and Europe to New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. Over the years, the brand has perfected its wool mix by blending Gotland wool from Denmark with soft quality wool from New Zealand farmers, all of which lives up to the highest standards for consistent quality and humane animal welfare. Glerups works with its farmers every step of the way.

“I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since we founded Glerups – what a journey – from my hobby project to a global brand,” said Nanny Glerup, founder of Glerups. “I am very grateful for all the people who have supported us throughout these years. We owe a huge thanks to all our loyal fans – thank you! I am looking forward to the next 30 years.”

To see the brand’s entire product line or for more information about its Project Zero Waste initiative, visit Glerups.com.

Founded in 1993, Glerups has evolved from a modest cottage industry into a globally renowned brand celebrated for its premium wool felt slippers. Headquartered in Denmark, we are committed to crafting the finest woolen footwear in the world, while upholding strict environmental and ethical standards. Our journey began with the heartfelt dedication of Danish mother Nanny Glerup, who handcrafted her first pair of slippers using the natural wool from her own beloved Gotland sheep. The overwhelmingly positive reception from family and friends prompted the transformation of Nanny’s hobby into a small-scale production, initially yielding just two pairs a day. Today, Glerups “addicts” around the world indulge in the daily luxury of 100% pure, natural wool, which continues to be crafted with the same love and care, from the sheep to your feet. For more information visit www.Glerups.com.

WOOSTER, Ohio and CARRBORO, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2023) — Fleet Feet, the largest franchisor of specialty run stores, today announced the grand opening of its new location in Wooster, Ohio, which started welcoming customers in late July. The store is owned and operated by Jeff Henderson, along with his business partner Mike Farris and minority owners Kaila Westbrook and Aaron Olbur, who own three other Ohio Fleet Feets, and acquired this location – formerly Vertical Running Wooster – from longtime friends Brian and Tammy Polen. Located at 148 W Liberty Street, the store is in the heart of downtown Wooster and is housed in a historic building that has been home solely to footwear retailers since its inception in the 1880s.

The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, and has a number of exciting activities planned for the day along with special giveaways for all attendees.

“As a runner who grew up in Columbus, I’ve been dedicated to making Central Ohio a healthier, more active place to live,” said Henderson. “For years, I’ve watched and admired Brian and Tammy, and I’m extremely proud to carry on their legacy. It truly is a privilege to serve the vibrant Wooster community.”

Henderson began coaching high school track and field in 2004, around the same time Fleet Feet Lewis Center opened. He began visiting Fleet Feet with his team to purchase shoes and eventually started volunteering at Fleet Feet managed races. Henderson formed a relationship with the previous owner of the Lewis Center location while working at these sponsored events and was later brought onto the Fleet Feet team, eventually becoming the owner.

An involved member in his community, Henderson serves as a board member for Girls on the Run of Central Ohio, which impacts over 3,000 girls and has raised over $30,000 for the program. Henderson is also the Executive Director for Rocks and Roots Trail Runners Association, a non-profit that builds and maintains running and hiking trails in Ohio State Parks.

“We are excited to see Jeff continue expanding Fleet Feet’s footprint into northeast Ohio,” said John Moloznik, vice president of retail development at Fleet Feet. “The new location will help to support the thriving running community in Wooster and the surrounding area. As technology giants such as Intel continue to extend their presence between Wooster and Columbus, this store is perfectly situated to serve the growing area.”

Fleet Feet Wooster currently offers weekly track workouts, trail runs and fun runs for the community. In 2024, the new location will also offer a beginner 5k training program, a trail running group, and marathon training programs.

Fleet Feet Wooster operates with the brand’s exclusive outfitting experience, fit id®, which includes pressure plates and 3D foot scanning technology that allows the brand to accurately assess the size and shape of customers’ feet and how each foot moves through the gait cycle. This personalized, expert-led approach allows outfitters to offer the right fitting footwear and accessories for each customer.

For more than 47 years, Fleet Feet owners, operating partners and employees have created welcoming environments that allow runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts of all abilities to conquer their goals at every level, on every surface, at every distance with personalized solutions, knowledge and empowerment.  Fleet Feet’s nationwide network of community-based retail stores are a place of inspiration, showing people how Running Changes Everything®.  Visit the Fleet Feet Wooster website to learn more about the new location and grand opening activities.

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About Fleet Feet

Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet is the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated run specialty stores. With more than 260 locations in 40 states and a national headquarters in Carrboro, N.C., Fleet Feet is committed to providing runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts with outfitting expertise, robust training programs, community support and rewards. Fleet Feet believes that RUNNING CHANGES EVERYTHING® and has been recognized on Fast Company’s Brands That Matter List, Inc.’s Best in Business List and PRWeek’s Purpose Awards. Stay inspired, motivated and connected at Fleet Feet.

 

 

 

Bentonville, Ark., (Saturday, October 21, 2023) – Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda took place in Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri today with a field of more than 1,900 riders. Participants represented 36 states and 11 countries and ranged in age from 14 to 79. The event offered two signature distances: the marquee 100-mile course with challenging roads through the Ozarks with approximately 7,000 feet of elevation gain and a 50-mile course, which served up a similarly challenging and equally picturesque ride through remote highs and hollows.

Big Sugar was the final event in the seven-race Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda. Keegan Swenson and Sofia Gomez Villafane won the overall series to close out its second year – each taking home $25,000 – with the other top nine men and women finishers awarded portions of the overall Life Time prize purse of $250,000.

“We are always thrilled to end our off-road season in Bentonville,” said Kimo Seymour, President of Life Time Events and Media. “This week has been a blast for our team and the bike community, and I’m very proud of all the athletes who competed and rode hard this season. We are equally grateful for our supportive brand partners, athletes, and the cities of Bentonville and Bella Vista.”

The women’s race began with overall champion Sofia Gomez Villafane breaking away from the pack with UCI gravel world champion, Kasia Niewiadoma. However, the duo took a wrong turn, ceding the lead to a pack of women including 2022 Big Sugar Gravel champ Paige Onweller, Jenna Rinehart and Sarah Sturm. Gomez Villafane and Niewiedoma rejoined the lead group, and Niewiadoma launched a solo attack shortly after, gaining nearly two and a half minutes on the chasers. Ultimately Niewiadoma won solo with more than a 9-minute advantage over Lauren De Crescenzo.

“I feel like hearing about gravel beforehand I was like oh, sweet we’ll just ride for long and then relax and have fun but it’s insanely hard,” she said. “I feel like every single roadie should know that because I know at some points we were like oh, gravel is for people who don’t want to really race, but it might be the opposite.”

The men’s race also began with early breakaway action. Norwegian Jonas Orset made an early move and was joined by John Borstelmann before being caught by the lead group of heavy hitters including overall champion Keegan Swenson. Borstelmann made another solo move with more than 25 miles to go, gaining a minute and a half on Swenson, Lachlan Morton, Cole Paton, and other chasers. A group of about five riders came to the line for the sprint and under-the-radar Torbjørn Røed outkicked Brendan Johnston and Alexey Vermeulen.

“It feels pretty awesome,” he said after the finish. “I’ve wanted this for a while and feel like I’ve had the legs to do it and it’s awesome to put it together.”

Women’s Big Sugar Gravel 100 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Katarzyna Niewiadoma	Girona, Spain	29	5:35:14
Lauren de Cresenzo	Atlanta, Colo.	33	5:44:01
Anna Hicks	Placerville, Cali.	23	5:45:08

 

Men’s Big Sugar Gravel 100 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Torbjørn Andre Røed	Grand Junction, Colo.	26	4:53:38
Brendan Johnston	Coombs, Australia	31	4:53:38
Alexey Vermeulen	Pinckney, Mich.	28	4:53:39

 

Non-Binary Big Sugar 100 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Bonnie Branson	Edmond, OK	46	7:20:53
Jode Legacy	Morristown, VT	44	9:05:53

 

Para Women Big Sugar 100 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Meg Fisher	Missoula, Mont.	40	8:11:58

 

Women’s Big Sugar 50 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Morgan Chaffin	Omaha, Neb.	40	2:57:10
Landrie Mclain	Bella Vista, Ark.	15	3:02:52
Emily Flynn	Elk River, Minn.	42	3:07:33

 

Men’s Big Sugar 50 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Javier Hidalgo	Miami, Fla.	44	2:44:48
Joel LaFrance	Plymouth, Minn.	42	2:44:58
Michael Painter	Bentonville, Ark.	25	2:45:03

 

Para Men Big Sugar 50 Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Michael Hamm	Memphis, Tenn.	42	4:28:07
Jacob Schulte	Sherwood, Ariz.	43	4:57:17

To view all finisher results, please visit Athlinks.

A next-day highlights video of the race, including amazing live footage shot from a helicopter combined with on-the-ground footage from Cold Collaborative, the same team behind the Call of a Life Time series, will be posted on the Life Time Grand Prix YouTube channel. The video provides a true, long-form video update with commentators discussing how the race day unfolded with front-of-the-pack race day action. Life Time created a similar recap video after the Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB in August.

2023 Life Time Grand Prix Final Results

Sofia Gomez Villafane began the season strong with a win at the Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL, trailed by Alexis Skarda. Despite finishing second at Unbound Gravel, she was the highest-placing Grand Prix rider, earning maximum points. Subsequent wins at Crusher in the Tushar and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, and a third at Chequamegon MTB Festival, locked in her overall win ahead of The Rad Dirt Fest and Big Sugar Gravel. The race for the top five remained tight between Skarda, last year’s overall winner, Haley Smith, Sarah Sturm, Lauren de Crescenzo, and Crystal Anthony.

No rider in the men’s field was as dominant as Keegan Swenson. Prior to this weekend’s Big Sugar Classic, he had won the first four races, only faltering at Chequamegon MTB Festival where he placed second in a sprint finish. The results secured his overall victory ahead of The Rad Dirt Fest, which he used as a drop race. The rest of the men’s field was as competitive as ever, with Alexey Vermeulen, Cole Paton, Russell Finsterwald, and Lachlan Morton remaining in the race for the overall podium.

Women’s Top 10 Finishers

1. Sofia Gomez Villafane, 30, of Heber City, Utah with 173 points
2. Alexis Skarda, 34, of Grand Junction, Colo. with 167 points
3. Haley Smith, 29, of Waterloo, Canada with 160 points
4. Sarah Sturm, 33, of Durango, Colo. with 157 points
5. Lauren De Crescenzo, 33, of Atlanta, Ga. with 156 points
6. Jenna Rinehart, 39, of Mankato, Minn. with 149 points
7. Paige Onweller, 34, of Belleville, Mich. with 148 points
8. Crystal Anthony, 42, of Bentonville, Ark. with 142 points
9. Hannah Otto, 28, of Salt Lake City, Utah with 136 points
10. Deanna Mayles, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo. with 133 points

Men’s Top 10 Finishers

1. Keegan Swenson, 29, of Heber City, Utah with 174 points
2. Alexey Vermeulen, 28, of Pinckney, Mich. with 165 points
3. Cole Paton, 25, of Cashmere, Wash. with 161 points
4. Russell Finsterwald, 32, of Colorado Springs, Colo. with 154 points
5. Lachlan Morton, 31, of Boulder, Colo. with 153 points
6. Peter Stetina, 36, of Santa Rosa, Calif. with 146 points
7. Brendan Johnston, 31 of Coombs, Australia with 144 points
8. Alex Howes, 35, of Nederland, Colo. with 135 points
9. Howard Grotts, 30, of Durango, Colo. with 132 points
10. Konny Looser, 34, of Hinwil, Switzerland with 128 points

Throughout the race series, athletes completed a total of over 680 miles and more than 59,000 feet of elevation gain, traversing dynamic and cross-discipline courses at the 2023 Sea Otter Classic Fuego XC, Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, Crusher in the Tushar, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, The Rad Dirt Fest, Chequamegon MTB Festival and Big Sugar Gravel. The 2024 Life Time Grand Prix application is now open through Oct. 25. Selections for the third edition of the Life Time Grand Prix series will be announced on Nov. 7.

The final event on Life Time’s 2023 off-road calendar is the Austin Rattler MTB, a Leadville Trail 100 MTB qualifier, on Nov. 5.

For more information, please visit leadvilleraceseries.com/little-sugar-mtb. To view all Life Time athletic events, visit my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.

About Life Time^®

Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of 170 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The Company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging, and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 37,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events, and comprehensive digital platform.

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SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 19, 2023) –  Moosejaw, a leading online and brick and mortar retailer specializing in outdoor gear and apparel, today announced it will open a new retail store in Salt Lake City near the trendy 9th and 9th neighborhood. Opening Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 470 South 900 East. It  will be the retailer’s first location in Utah. A portion of Moosejaw brand sales from opening weekend will benefit Trails Foundation of Northern Utah (TFNU), which promotes, preserves and protects public pathways and trails throughout Northern Utah.

The 8,200 sq. foot store will offer gear, apparel and footwear for outdoor activities ranging from camping and climbing to skiing and biking, featuring leading brands like Arc’teryx, Black Diamond, Fjallraven, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Patagonia and The North Face. Moosejaw Gear Wizards will provide guidance for choosing the correct apparel and gear, advice on planning outdoor adventures, and full technical service for bikes, snowsports and more.

“The Salt Lake area is a uniquely active community with amazing access to the outdoors,” said Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford. “We are excited to be part of this community of enthusiasts that share our passion. Our Grand Opening Fair will be full of outdoor fun and activities and we look forward to a busy weekend.”

“Salt Lakers have an unrelenting passion for the outdoors and the new Moosejaw location could not be more perfectly situated for our community,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “This addition to our outdoor retail sector continues building upon a legacy of equipping outdoor enthusiasts.”

Weekend Festivities include:

• Grand Opening Fair on Saturday, October 21 will run from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Festivities will include morning coffee and donuts, fair games, gifts and raffle prizes from top brands, karaoke, a DJ, and custom Nalgene water bottles with free mystery gift cards for the first 100 customers. Guests can enjoy a photo booth from Utah Jive, along with brand activations and giveaways from Black Diamond, Fjallraven, Icebreaker, KEEN, Mammut, Mountain Hardwear, NEMO, Norrona, The North Face, Rab, Salomon, and Smartwool. The day will also feature trail etiquette education from Trails Foundation of Northern Utah.
• Self-Care Sunday on Sunday, October 22 will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and feature free yoga classes and health foods.

Beginning today, Moosejaw will also kick off a partnership and coat drive with One Warm Coat lasting through December 31, 2023. Customers can bring in a gently used, clean coat to the store and receive 20% off a new coat of their choice.

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About Moosejaw: Founded in 1992, Moosejaw is a leading online active outdoor retailer with a large web presence as well as physical stores in Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Utah.  It carries more than 600 brands, including Patagonia, The North Face, Arc’teryx, Fjallraven, and Prana and includes an extensive assortment of apparel and gear for climbing, hiking, camping, snow sports, yoga, water sports and biking.

JUPITER, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2023) – Focused on conservation and driven by its community-based ethos, Costa Sunglasses is announcing the Marlin Fly Project, the first recorded billfish research mission solely using fly tackle. In partnership with the locals of San Carlos, Mexico, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the Marlin Fly Project team successfully deployed 15 satellite tags in two days to better understand and protect this understudied billfish species.

The project, which took place in Southwestern Baja, Mexico, December 2022, stands as the ultimate culmination of community and conservation. Led by Costa, it brought together Costa Pros (professional anglers and fishing guides), leading billfish scientists, conservation organizations, and community partners to pursue this mission in tandem with local captains, guides and the San Carlos community.

“The epic fishing tales coming out of Magdalena “Mag” Bay alone attracted us to the region in 2021, but what we found there was an authentic community, rich with culture, built alongside an untamed ecosystem,” said Jed Larkin, Brand Director for Costa Sunglasses. “That trip sparked a trailblazing idea – what if we brought our global community of scientists, partners and pros together with the local community of San Carlos to research and protect this special resource? And that’s how Marlin Fly was born. Rooted in both community and conservation, this project is everything we stand for as a brand.”

An eight minute documentary on the Marlin Fly Project can be seen HERE.

“There’s no place on earth with an ecosystem quite like Mag Bay. Every year anglers from around the world travel to this unique destination to experience one of the most incredible billfish fisheries on the planet,” said Dr. Bruce Pohlot, IGFA Conservation Director. “But the reality is, there has not been a lot of scientific research done on this population of Striped Marlin in the Eastern Pacific. That’s why the IGFA was happy to jump on board with our longtime partners at Costa when they started asking questions about what can be done to protect this magnificent resource.”

Of the 15 short and long term satellite tags that were deployed during the project, Costa resourced three tags to support IGFA’s Great Marlin Race, and seven were donated by TBF. The tags will track post release survivability, migrational patterns, swimming depth, and water temperature. An additional 20 spaghetti tags were deployed, which will provide important ongoing recapture data. The discoveries from Costa’s Marlin Fly Project will help fill crucial data gaps and aid in global and local efforts to conserve this highly migratory species (HMS).

Scientists from The Billfish Foundation, International Game Fish Association, and the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Fisheries Research & Development, vetted all landed fish to make sure they were viable candidates prior to tagging. All landed and tagged fish were healthy and swam off strong.

“Through this collaboration, Costa’s Marlin Fly Project is set to collect unparalleled data about Striped Marlin that will help play a pivotal role in supporting conservation and enhancing fisheries management efforts,”  said Peter Chaibongsai, Director of Conservation Programs at The Billfish Foundation. “We’re honored to be a part of such a unique project that puts community at the forefront. The strong bond forged with the locals not only enables them, but also fosters a sense of advocacy. This ensures that the project’s impact extends far beyond scientific research – it creates a network of passionate advocates dedicated to conserving this resource for years to come.”

Costa has spent the past four decades carrying out its ‘higher calling’ to protect the waters we love, connect those who come to life on the water, and to conserve the life within. The Marlin Fly Project is an extension of that commitment. In addition to the history-making, field-science study, the project served the local community through the following initiatives.

Community-first nonprofit and original Costa-born project, Indifly, joined the mission to meet with the community of San Carlos and assess a potential social impact project. Inspired by both the people and operation, Indifly plans to collaborate with San Carlos, the Marlin Fly Project, and Los Locos to innovate ways for this vital community to write their own future.

Costa partnered with Los Locos Mag Bay, a unique fly-fishing operation that employs and works directly with the locals of San Carlos, Mexico to support this one-of-a-kind community through angling tourism.

Building on Costa’s One Coast initiative for emergency preparedness, partner Finns West outfitted the Los Locos operation and guideboats with safety equipment and medical training.

Costa partnered with Travel Creel, who hosted cooking classes in the community, and sourced produce, meats and seafood from local fisherman and farmers to prepare dinners each night to feed the crew.

The Marlin Fly team participated in organized clean ups along San Carlos’ coastline, and on the final night hosted local guide families for a celebration, in gratitude for their hospitality and guidance.

The Marlin Fly Project will continue its mission to create advocates for the Striped Marlin fishery, both locally and globally, by fostering dynamic relationships and supporting this ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

In honor of its 40th Anniversary, Costa Sunglasses will release its Second Edition: Protect Purpose Report next month. Led by the success of the Marlin Fly Project, The Protect Report highlights Costa’s commitment to conservation, community and sustainability in 2021-2022.

For more information on Costa’s ongoing work to ‘protect what’s out there,’ as well as its complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.

About Costa Sunglasses

As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best-performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable and water-friendly materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and meaningful partnerships with mission-aligned organizations, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.