Archives: Press Releases

Bentonville/Bella Vista, Ark., (Oct. 15, 2023) – Northwest Arkansas saw a stacked field of the world’s top mountain bike racers at the Life Time  Little Sugar MTB, in which Haley Batten of Santa Cruz, Calif. and Keegan Swenson of Heber City, Utah took first in the elite 100K races. Life Time and OZ Brands awarded a $65,000 prize purse equally split between the top five women and top five men finishers, the largest single-day prize purse in US mountain biking. The inaugural race had more than 1,000 participants, with riders aged 12 to 70 years old from 46 states and eight countries.

Racers had three course distances to choose from, including a 100K with 7,000 feet of elevation gain, a 50K course with 3,700 feet of elevation gain, and a 20K course with 1,250 feet of elevation gain. Riders traversed through grinding climbs, rolling descents, and rough and rocky limestone, with views of caves, waterfalls, and iconic ledges on the trails of Bella Vista and Bentonville. The courses featured a point-to-point format, starting at the Homestead in Coler MTB Preserve with a finish in Bentonville Downtown at the Square.

After 40 miles of solo riding, Batten was victorious for the elite women, finishing eleven minutes ahead of her closest competitor. When asked about the course, Haley commented, “It’s fantastic, it keeps you on your toes for sure. I had a blast riding the trails all week and checking out the course. It’s hard racing, it’s pretty relentless. I thought [going into the race] there’s not much climbing, it’s pretty rolling, but when you’re out there it’s relentless.”

The elite men’s race was closer throughout the day. After almost four and a half hours, the race came down to a sprint finish, with Swenson taking the win over South African Matt Beers, and Cole Paton just nineteen seconds back, finishing third. Olympic Gold medalist and pre-race favorite, Tom Pidcock, suffered a flat tire and rolled in for a 25th-place finish.

“A huge thank you to Bentonville and Bella Vista for hosting us on these world-class mountain bike trails for the inaugural Life Time Little Sugar MTB!,” said race director Ben Sachs. “The Northwest Arkansas community showed up in full force today to deliver an exceptional experience, including our incredible volunteers, emergency services teams, and the Trailblazers, who aided in our course setup. We are thrilled with year one of the event and are looking forward to continuing this momentum into next week at the Life Time Big Sugar Classic presented by Mazda.”

Women’s 100K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Haley Batten	Santa Cruz, Calif.	25	4:53:22
Savilia Blunk	Inverness, Calif.	24	5:04:34
Sofia Gomez Villafane	Heber City, Utah	29	5:09:28
Katerina Nash	Truckee, Calif.	45	5:17:45
Crystal Anthony	Bentonville, Ark.	42	5:19:33

 

Men’s 100K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Keegan Swenson	Heber City, Utah	29	4:25:16
Matthew Beers	Cape Town, RSA	29	4:25:16
Cole Paton	Cashmere, Wash.	25	4:25:35
Bradyn Lange	La Center, Wash.	24	4:30:10
Sean Fincham	Squamish, Canada	25	4:30:35

 

Women’s 50K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Landrie Mclain	Bella Vista, Ark.	15	2:53:31
Harper Moore	Bentonville, Ark.	16	2:59:20
Emily Flynn	Elk River, Minn.	42	3:11:38

 

Men’s 50K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Will Stoffel	Bentonville, Ark.	41	2:29:18
Preston Ronck	Rogers, Ark.	14	2:30:32
Brian Gordon	Soquel, Calif.	33	2:33:41

 

Women’s 20K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Bella Fish	Bentonville, Ark.	13	1:05:32
Elise Edman	Chesterfield, Mo.	37	1:07:26
Jessica Rosado	San Antonio, Fla.	46	1:07:47

 

Men’s 20K Race Results

Name	City	Age	Time
Aaron Anderson	Springdale, Ark.	16	53:22
Cody Lang	Bentonville, Ark.	15	54:15
Gwilym Stevens	Bentonville, Ark.	13	54:15

 

To view full Life Time Little Sugar MTB  race results, please visit Athlinks. To see how the race unfolded check out the Big Sugar Classic Instagram channel.

Life Time Little Sugar MTB kicked off the Life Time Big Sugar Classic week, which will culminate with the Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda in Bentonville, Ark. on October 21. Check out the full festival week schedule here. The final off-road cycling event of the year is the Stages Cycling Austin Rattler MTB on Nov. 4.

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 35,000 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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SEATTLE – National specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op started fulfillment from its new state-of-the-art distribution center in Lebanon, Tennessee supporting its steady growth in the Midwest and Southeast. The new distribution center will serve more than 60 stores and 5.6 million REI members in the area. The facility’s design and operations prioritize the employee experience while setting a new standard to fight the climate crisis.

“We believe the climate crisis is the greatest threat to our business and the future of our planet. REI is leveraging its values and cooperative model to minimize our environmental footprint while serving the outdoor community,” says Sylvia Wilks, REI chief supply chain officer. “Our new Lebanon distribution center allows us to improve our delivery speed to customers and stores, increase our throughput capacity and agility, and lower costs all while achieving new sustainable building standards.”

Employee experience

The facility provides a productive and healthy environment for employees through design features that support work, rest, and a connection to nature. Highlights include ample daylight through 90 skylights over regularly occupied spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, exceptional air quality, ergonomic workspaces, and a gym.

The design focuses on enhancing the employee connection to nature with “trails” worn into the concrete floors for wayfinding, wood siding from a decommissioned barn installed in the atrium and furniture, and handrails repurposed from trees removed from the property prior to construction. The co-op is completing a habitat restoration project across the 41-acre property, which will feature a trail for walking and biking.

REI’s Lebanon distribution center employs more than 230 part- and full-time staff. Since joining the co-op in mid-summer, the Lebanon team has volunteered alongside Tennessee State Parks for trail maintenance and more. As the co-op’s business grows, staff may increase to 350 employees.

Carbon life cycle

The distribution center addresses carbon impacts by using 100% renewable, 100% electric energy through an onsite solar array and renewable energy from a soon-to-be-built solar array in eastern Tennessee as part of REI’s partnership with Clearloop, a leading carbon solutions provider. Electric forklifts transport goods in the 400,000 square-foot facility while electric chargers are available for staff vehicles. Concrete and steel building materials have upwards of 30% less embodied carbon than typical material specifications.

The building will use 30% less energy than required by code, primarily due to energy efficient lighting and HVAC building systems. This focus on energy savings extends to all building systems. For example, there is widespread use of conveyor belt sensors that pause when product is not moving that also supports acoustic comfort for employees.

Waste

REI Lebanon diverted over 90% of its construction waste from landfill and produces almost no waste by diverting over 90% of operational waste from landfill, which the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) defines as “zero-waste.” The facility also participates in an enterprise-wide partnership with Trex to recycle all thin-film plastic into durable, plastic decking. The co-op will pursue zero-waste certification after a year of operation though the USGBC TRUE zero waste certification program, joining its fleet of distribution centers as certified facilities.

The facility is also highly water efficient, designed to use 50% less water in its operations and landscaping than required by industry baseline. A cistern captures rainwater for non-potable uses within the building while efficient fixtures reduce overall demand. Native and drought-tolerant landscaping further reduce the site’s water needs.

REI is targeting a platinum certification via USGBC’s LEED v4 BD+C (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Building Design and Construction) rating system. The LEED v4 rating system is widely regarded as the international standard for high-performance structures that account for measurable results in a facility’s lifecycle.

The Lebanon facility complements REI’s three existing distribution centers in Bedford, Pennsylvania; Goodyear, Arizona; and Sumner, Washington to serve 185 stores in 42 states as well as online order fulfillment for customers across the country and globe. Notably, REI’s Bedford and Goodyear locations are also recognized by the USGBC’s green building certification.

Every year REI publishes an Impact Report to share its progress against enterprise-wide goals and actions to have a positive impact on employees, members, society, and business. Examples include investing in the employee experience, conveying a network of advocates to connect people to the power of the outdoors and fight to protect it, building an inclusive outdoor community, and implementing product impact standards with 1000+ brand partners to set expectations of their partnership to fight climate change, advance inclusion in the outdoors and manage chemicals.

About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 185 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national https://public.cloud-dam.rei.com/api/public/content/rei-dc-lebanon-tn—credit-to-al-neyer_web_lg.jpeg nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.

• Contact — Include Name, Company, Email, Phone. Use Shift+Enter for single line breaks.:

  Megan Behrbaum, REI, mbehrba@rei.com

• Location: Seattle

Bentonville, Ark., (Oct. 12, 2023) – Concluding an epic year of off-road racing across the country, Life Time (NYSE: LTH) is set to host more than 3,200 mountain and gravel bikers for a week of fun, fast dirt in Northwest Arkansas October 14-21. The eight-day celebration includes bike events, industry gatherings, sponsor activations, an expo, and first-ever Gravel Rave. The full event schedule is available here.

The week kicks off with Life Time’s newest event, Little Sugar MTB, on Sunday, October 15, offering 100k, 50k, or 20k race distances, starting from the Coler MTB Preserve and traversing the legendary terrain in Bella Vista with a finish in downtown Bentonville. The flagship 100k distance will pass through the Little Sugar, Back 40, and Slaughter Pen trails before heading back to town. Riders will face grinding climbs that alternate with fast-rolling descents, while being greeted by the area’s stunning landscape, featuring unique bluff lines, caves, waterfalls, and the iconic Ledges. A $65,000 prize purse is up for grabs for the top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Life Time also is partnering with the Women of OZ for a women-led group ride leaving from the Ledger at 3:00 p.m. on October 15. Later that day, an After Party will be hosted at the Ledger Bentonville, the first-ever bikeable building with six stories of exterior switchbacks that lead to incredible views of Downtown Bentonville. Cyclists and their loved ones are welcome to enjoy an open bar, food by Chef Biju Thomas, and music from DJ Raquel.

Throughout the week, additional bike industry events will take place, including the People for Bike Shift conference from Oct. 16-18,  and Outerbike Bentonville from Oct. 20-22. In addition to the racers, more than 5,000 non-racer attendees are expected across the week along with 400 cycling industry members.

On Thursday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Big Sugar Gravel Expo will kick off in Bentonville City Square and feature talks and panels from gravel favorites, including Kristi Mohn and Abi Robbins, as well as Grand Prix athletes such as fifth-place Gravel World Championships finisher, Keegan Swenson. At 7 p.m., Bike Rack Brewing will host a Social Hour for race participants.

Shakeout rides will take place on Oct. 20 with Ventum Racing, Chamois Butt’r, All Bodies on Bikes, Kodiak Cakes, and Pirelli Tires, in partnership with Life Time and People for Bikes for a “Schoolhouse Rock” ride. As part of this afternoon ride, riders will have the opportunity to visit a remodeled schoolhouse for drinks, food, and a pre-race party along the route. There will also be panels throughout the day on the Expo Stage from fan-favorite gravel cyclists.

Now in its third year, Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21, and mark the final race in the 2023 Life Time Grand Prix Series. The gravel event offers two distances including the marquee 100-mile distance, and a 50-mile option, with both courses made up of challenging, picturesque roads through the highs and hollows of Northwest Arkansas and Southern Missouri. The evening will be capped by honoring the top ten male and female Grand Prix athletes, who will walk away with their earnings from a season-long battle for the $250,000 prize purse.

Athletes looking for an even bigger challenge may experience Bentonville’s mountain bike trails and gravel roads in the Sweet Tooth or Semi-Sweet Tooth Challenge, racing the Little Sugar MTB event on Sunday, followed by the Big Sugar Gravel event six days later.

Bringing an end to the unprecedented week is the first-ever Gravel Rave, a night where the world of gravel cycling will collide with electrifying beats, awards, gourmet food, and spirited attire. The event is for everyone – whether you’re coming for the beats, the bites, or the brews, including:

• Gourmet Delights: Savor delectable bites and glowing treats, curated by the renowned Chef Biji (@bijuthechef).
• Electrifying Beats: Dance to the rhythm of former World Tour pro cyclist turned DJ sensation, Taylor Phinney, with a guest set from Life Time Grand Prix athlete and DJ Alexis Skarda.
• Hip Hop Violinist: Groove to the contemporary beats of EZINMA (@ezinma) our sensational self-proclaimed “Classical Bae” violinist.
• Grand Prix Awards Ceremony: Witness the crowning moments of the 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda.
• Cash Bar: Enjoy an array of adult beverages to keep the party going.
• Gravel Glow: Get ready to shine and express your unique style in your hip, funky, and cool attire. Think denim jorts, Hawaiian button-downs, neon, and glow-in-the-dark clothes.

To reserve your spot and for more information, visit https://www.bigsugarclassic.com/gravel-rave/

To view all Life Time athletic events, visit my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.

About Life Time®, Inc.

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 35,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events, and comprehensive digital platform.

About Bella Vista, Arkansas

Nestled inside the edge of the Ozark Forest, Bella Vista, Arkansas, offers a temperate climate, diverse wildlife, and memorable scenery. With pristine lakes, scenic golf courses, and handcrafted nature trails combined with the rapidly growing business, art, music, and culinary scenes of Northwest Arkansas, Bella Vista provides a perfect balance between beauty, business, and backcountry. For more information visit https://discoverbellavistaAR.com.

About Visit Bentonville

Visit Bentonville is funded by the Bentonville Advertising and Promotion Commission which was established in 1996. The commission is supported by a 2% tax on lodging and meeting space and a 1% tax on restaurant and dining establishments. The organization’s mission is to brand, promote, and sell Bentonville as a tourism destination; improving quality of life and stimulating economic development. Visit Bentonville leads the planning of sports, meetings, and group tours while also marketing leisure experiences that include arts, cycling, culinary, film, music, and aviation. Visit Bentonville also collaborates with tourism offices throughout the state of Arkansas to create a positive economic impact while increasing tourism amenities for both visitors and residents.

 

October 12, 2023 – Boulder, Colo. – HEAD/Tyrolia, the world’s largest independently-owned ski and binding manufacturer, today announces its strategic partnership with Backbone, the country’s leading active lifestyle media agency. Backbone will be the PR agency of record for the brand, supporting HEAD’s continued growth within the U.S. in winter sports.

“Backbone’s love of snow sports and their many years of communications successes make them an ideal partner for us,” said Jon Rucker, President of HEAD/Tyrolia USA Wintersports Division. “This collaboration will help us to better support each of our current customers all while turbocharging our growth into additional winter sports categories.”

“HEAD is a category-defining brand that dominates from the World Cup race level down through high-performance skis for recreational skiers,” said Backbone Vice President of Public Relations, Ian Anderson. “We’ve seen what the brand has in store, and as a team of passionate skiers, we’re excited to join the team.”

For further information, please contact Marketing and Communications Manager, Julia Couperthwait, at juliac@us.head.com or Senior PR Account Manager, Annekë Efinger, at anneke.efinger@backbone.media.

About Head – see www.head.com

HEAD is a leading global provider of premium equipment & apparel for athletes and players, at all levels. We have five divisions: WinterSports, RacquetSports, Water Sports, Sportswear and Licensing. We sell products under the brands: HEAD (alpine skis, ski bindings, ski boots, snowboard and protection products, tennis, racquetball, paddle, squash and pickleball racquets, tennis balls and tennis footwear, sportswear and swimming products) PENN (tennis balls and racquetball balls) TYROLIA (ski bindings) MARES, SSI and rEvo (diving) LiveAboard (diving holidays, dive tours) ZOGGS (goggles, swimwear and equipment) INDIGO (skis, ski helmets, ski goggles, ski accessories, snowboards and other ski gear) Since our launch in 1950, we’ve achieved a reputation for cutting-edge design, engineering excellence and a passion for championing all sport, everywhere. World-class performance demands the very best equipment and that’s why, at HEAD, our purpose is to give athletes and players at every level, exactly what they need to win.

About Backbone

Backbone is the country’s leading active lifestyle media agency. For over 25 years, Backbone has partnered with brands big and small to develop and execute effective, integrated media strategies. Backbone has consistently been included on Outside Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” list with offices in Carbondale and Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit www.backbone.media.

SIDNEY, Neb. (Oct. 12, 2023) — Meindl USA, the exclusive provider of Meindl’s premium and handcrafted footwear in North America, is excited to introduce the EuroLight Hunter collection of men’s and women’s boots. This all-new line redefines performance and comfort in hunting footwear, offering a lightweight, durable and versatile option for a wide range of outdoor adventures.

After three years of development, the EuroLight Hunter collection is designed with premium materials and Meindl’s legendary European craftsmanship to meet the demands of modern-day hunters who require a lightweight, durable and full-featured boot that can handle various terrains and weather conditions.

“Our mission with the EuroLight Hunter line was to design a lightweight boot that is comfortable and reliable enough for customers to use for any style of hunt, or outdoor adventure, while also being durable enough for everyday use,” said Phil Francone, founder and president of Meindl USA. “To do that, we incorporated years of research and end-user feedback into a design that utilizes the highest-quality materials and technologies available with Meindl’s extensive experience and craftsmanship. We couldn’t be more excited with the end result.”

The EuroLight Hunter collection is made in Europe and features 9-inch waxed full-grain nubuck leather uppers and reinforced toe caps to withstand use and abuse in the gamut of field conditions. Additional protection from the elements is provided by a 100% waterproof but breathable Gore-Tex liner that keeps water out but allows perspiration vapor to escape.

Meindl’s flex-zone venting, a series of strategically placed vents in the forefoot, allows the boots to breathe and move naturally with feet while flex-zone in the achilles area enhances natural stepping motions. Those flex zones, paired with the aggressive multi-directional lugs of Meindl’s DUO-DUR III Sole, create maximum comfort, stability, traction and performance.

Increased cushioning and support are offered by high-performance polyurethane midsoles and Meindl Air Active insoles. Oversized gussets open wide for easy on and off.

Created as a solution for all hunting and outdoor adventures, the Meindl EuroLight Hunter line features an A-flex-use rating and is available in three styles: the EuroLight Hunter Uninsulated ($295); the EuroLight Hunter 300 ($315); and the Lady EuroLight Hunter 300 ($315).

The EuroLight Hunter 300 and Lady EuroLight Hunter 300 feature high-performance and lightweight Gore Air Fibre Insulation, adding warmth without tacking on unnecessary weight. The EuroLight Hunter uninsulated weighs just 3lbs per pair.

To learn more about the EuroLight Hunter series, Meindl USA’s full product offering and technologies, or to shop available products, visit www.meindlusa.com.

About Meindl USA

Founded in 2019 by experienced professionals from the footwear and outdoor industry, Meindl USA was born from a passion for making Meindl’s legendary footwear and proprietary technologies available to customers in North America. Meindl USA is the exclusive provider of Meindl footwear products in North America. Its product offering includes footwear for hunting, hiking and walking in addition to socks and footwear accessories. For more information about Meindl USA, visit www.meindlusa.com.

About Backbone

Backbone is the country’s leading active lifestyle media agency. For nearly 25 years, Backbone has partnered with brands big and small to develop and execute effective, integrated media strategies. Backbone has consistently been included on Outside Magazine’s “Best Places to Work” list with offices in Carbondale and Denver, Colorado. For more about Backbone Media, visit www.backbonemedia.net.

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 11, 2023) — CAMP365 – creators of the world’s first fold-out cabin camper, announces this week a new platform in the pickup-camper category, the CAMP365 T Model. Made in the USA and designed to meet the needs of electric vehicle owners looking for a truck bed option that has a minimal impact on range, the T Model works with the Rivian R1, Ford Lighting, Tesla Cybertruck, and other mid-size trucks.

Lightweight and aerodynamic, the T Model weighs in at only 700-800 pounds (depending on options), but travels as a streamlined unit, drastically reducing wind resistance. The sleek design accounts for an estimated 5-10% loss in range, miles ahead of competitors who lose nearly 50% of range with an 8,000lb. payload.

Measuring approximately 4’ x 7’ in a truck bed, the T Model unfolds in minutes to reveal a 9’ x 7’, 63-square-foot interior that will comfortably sleep 4-5 people and afford 6’8” of headroom. Measuring only 4’ wide, the T Model can easily be stored in residential garages and has patented technology to allow a single person to load or unload the camper in approximately 10 minutes.

Taking design cues from the company’s original CAMP365 model – the pull-behind unveiled in 2018 – the T Model allows for year-round camping with its dual-layer air gap insulation walls. The all-electric camper is solar-ready, and other features include:

• Folding queen, twin or bunk comfort system
• 24-gallon water tank (splittable to 12/12 for fresh/grey water)
• Hot water shower
• Sink, faucet, toilet and an induction cook-top
• Electric heat & A/C
• 75” of dry storage between both folding walls
• Large, lockable bed storage drawer
• Exterior racks to hold two e-bikes, four bikes, or two kayaks/paddleboards
• Two side awnings
• Starlink internet

“We’re proud to add to CAMP365’s heritage of providing innovative products to the RV market with the T Model,” says Kevin McGregor, CEO of CAMP365. “Not only does this new model have a modular design that makes it among the most spacious campers in the category, but it allows electric vehicle owners an option to explore and adventure with limited loss of range to their vehicle.”

All CAMP365 units are made in America at manufacturing plants in Iowa and Minnesota. The new Camp365 T Model will start at $25,000 and can be reserved for a $100, fully-refundable deposit. Production is slated to begin in the early summer of 2024.

For more information on the new T Model truck bed camper, and to learn more about CAMP365’s full range of tow-behind campers, please visit www.CAMP365.com.

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About CAMP365: Based in Eden Prairie, Minn., CAMP365 is a trailblazing force in the outdoor and recreational industry, who introduced the world’s first fold-out cabin camper in 2018. Committed to quality, functionality, and innovative design, CAMP365 provides cutting-edge campers that seamlessly integrate with the modern adventurer’s lifestyle. Crafted by a team of passionate outdoor enthusiasts and engineers, CAMP365 today holds more than 17 patents and offers towable, truck bed and emergency response options in its made–in-the-USA camper line. Find out more on CAMP365’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @OfficialCamp365

A collection of technical golf apparel that is, “Never out of bounds.”

Golf doesn’t need to be a fair-weather endeavor or be contained by barriers. 686 cross-pollinates their 30+ years of technical outdoor design knowledge with Malbon’s creative approach to golf and lifestyle apparel. Taking classic golf styles and modernizing them with all-weather fabrications resulted in clubhouse ready garments that feature 10k waterproofing and breathability, cozy merino lining, and other sneaky details to keep golfers warm, dry, and swinging.

“Stephen and I go back about 20 years during the early days of Frank 151,” remembers 686 founder Michael Akira West. “He lives in this creative culture that blends music, street, art, media, and sport. When Stephen channeled his energy into reshaping golf, it clicked. Stephen – along with Erica Malbon – are true originals. I’m stoked that we get to work together and mash our all-weather mantra into the golf world.”

Inspired by a mix of each brands culture and expertise, together we created style-conscious garments that aren’t out of place on the links, a late-season block party, or fighting the elements after stepping out the front door.

“Collaborating with 686 was an easy decision”, says co founder Stephen Malbon. We both approach our respective industries with a fresh outlook and this collection is a testament to that shared vision. I’m thrilled about this partnership and excited to deliver a line that seamlessly blends fashion with functionality to the community.”

This collaboration is for golf loving humans ready to tackle the harshness of the outdoors without sacrificing their personal style. Stay out longer this season, with the ‘All Mountain Golf Club.’

The Malbon Golf x 686 Collection will be available on October 10^th on www.686.com and www.malbongolf.com

ABOUT MALBON GOLF

The mission of Malbon Golf is simple: inspire today’s youth to participate in the greatest game on Earth. Founded in 2017 by culture and golf enthusiasts Stephen and Erica Malbon, the brand launched with a limited collection for men looking to find multi-functional golf apparel that’s made to be worn both on and off the green. Since then, the husband and wife duo have been pioneering the movement toward golf as a lifestyle by collaborating with some of the most well-known brands in the world and creating a community of like-minded thinkers who share the same collective vision for the future of the sport. Today, Malbon Golf has expanded to offer a complete line of limited edition apparel, footwear and accessories that are designed to reimagine the status quo and aspire across all ages with the ultimate goal of bringing a fresh perspective and an accessible, personal approach to the game. The brand is available throughout the US and Korea through both e-commerce and at top select retailers. To learn more, please visit malbongolf.com or follow on Instagram at @malbongolf. To explore the digital collectibles, Buckets Club, visit bucketsclub.com or @buckets.club.

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

 

 

 

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 10, 2023) — DPS Skis, the U.S.-based ski manufacturer pairing aerospace carbon technology with groundbreaking shapes, launches Revive. The new program gives customers a chance to trade in qualifying used DPS skis for a credit towards new DPS skis and gear. Credits amount up to $500 depending on the condition of the traded in skis. Upon receipt, DPS puts the returned skis through a 10-point factory tune process and treats them with PHANTOM Glide—a permanent, high-performance base treatment that improves glide performance across a variety of snow conditions—before putting them back up for sale.

“The durability and lifespan of our skis has always been a top priority here at DPS and it’s not uncommon for a pair of DPS skis to last ten years or more. With Revive, we can now ensure that our skis will be used to their fullest,” says Zach Clayton, global marketing manager at DPS Skis. “Revive allows new customers to give a DPS factory-restored pair of skis a second life which, in-turn, keeps those skis from collecting dust in a garage or taking up space in a landfill.”

To help with storage and distribution, DPS Skis has partnered with used gear retailer, Geartrade, for Revive. DPS-refurbished skis are shipped to, and subsequently distributed from, Geartrade’s facility in Salt Lake City. Revive skis are available for sale directly from DPS Skis or through Geartrade.

“It makes perfect sense to partner with Geartrade for Revive,” says Clayton. “With all DPS skis being manufactured in Salt Lake City, and Geartrade being just up the road, we’re neighbors and we have a long history of friendship and collaboration. Additionally, Geartrade offers best-in-class customer service and has the storage and shipping capabilities that a project like Revive requires. We’re thrilled to be working with them.”

To initiate a Revive return, or to learn more about the program and its trade-in stipulations, fill out the online form at https://www.dpsrevive.com/. The Revive program is currently available to U.S. customers only. Both touring and tech bindings are accepted, however, skis with two or more sets of binding mounting holes will not be. Revive skis can be purchased at https://www.dpsrevive.com/.

For more information on DPS, its Revive program, or any of its other products and initiatives, 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