Archives: Press Releases

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.

 

San Francisco, Calif., (October 18, 2023) — GOES Health, the award-winning outdoor health app, unveils its PrecisionAlert Update today, empowering outdoor enthusiasts with vital information. The update includes precise hourly weather forecasting, location-based outdoor health risks with real-time alerts, plus the addition of natural disaster and winter topics to GOES’ robust wilderness medicine library. With its intuitive interface, GOES makes understanding location-focused risks and enabling outdoor health forecasting easier than ever, giving users a convenient and reliable platform for everyday use.

Whether confronting an extreme heat advisory, a sudden temperature drop alert about potential frostbite conditions, or a warning about a nearby natural disaster like a wildfire or flash flood, GOES users receive actionable insights on how to prepare and make informed outdoor health decisions, based on decades of wilderness medical knowledge. This enables a safer and more enjoyable outdoor experience, prioritizing preparedness, providing peace of mind that only the GOES app can deliver.

The PrecisionAlert update includes:

• Precision weather forecasting: GOES provides hourly weather info for a searchable location, enabling environmental awareness for a safer journey. Explore anywhere in the U.S., up to 4 days in advance.
• Location-based outdoor health risks content and outdoor health alerts: Understand outdoor health risks specific to a location, environment, activity and terrain, and receive real-time alerts on potential risks and natural disasters.
• Enriched wilderness medicine library now with natural disaster and winter protocols: GOES simplifies learning about earthquakes, wildfire smoke, and floods. Expanding its already robust wilderness medicine library with hypothermia, frostbite, bears, lightning, and allergic reaction topics, helping people prepare for changing seasons – even when off-line.

Camilo Barcenas, CEO and co-founder, emphasized, “In a world where the human desire to venture outdoors meets extreme weather, the necessity for an offline, intuitive and empowering outdoor health guide is critical. The PrecisionAlert Update is a monumental stride in delivering personalized outdoor health information. We foster self-sufficiency and empower our users to navigate the unpredictable with a sense of assurance and readiness. ”

GOES Health Subscription Options:

GOES Health continues its commitment to cater to the diversified needs of the outdoor community. The free version of GOES grants users access to precision weather forecasting, current outdoor health risks and a selection of care protocols to start their outdoor adventures well informed. Full access to GOES at $5.99/month or $45.99 for a full year unlocks the Wilderness Medicine Library and self guided care protocols, available even without cell service.

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Media Contact: Erin Wyer / goeshealth@outsidepr.com
Photos: High-resolution images for editorial use are available HERE.

About GOES Health:

GOES is the award-winning outdoor health app co-founded by Dr. Grant Lipman, a former professor at Stanford Emergency Medicine and Director of its wilderness medicine fellowship and healthcare tech innovator Camilo Barcenas. GOES delivers relevant and validated medical info when and where you need it. With a GOES subscription ($5.99 monthly), you’ll receive location-specific outdoor health risks and outdoor health alerts right to your phone. The self guided assessment protocols empower you to make informed decisions, even when you’re off the grid. No matter where your adventures take you, GOES is your trusted outdoor safety companion. Discover more at GOES.Health.

Boulder, CO (October 18, 2023) — TrainingPeaks, the industry-leading training app for endurance coaches and athletes, today announced its partnership with Backbone to lead its public relations efforts. Backbone will focus on elevating the brand’s awareness in existing markets and driving growth in new target markets.

“The team at TrainingPeaks is dedicated to helping motivated individuals from all backgrounds achieve their goals, whatever those may be,” said Dirk Friel, Co-Founder of TrainingPeaks. “With Backbone’s comprehensive knowledge and experience across the outdoor industry, we are confident this partnership will help us reach more athletes and coaches to expand awareness of our training tools.”

TrainingPeaks offers a variety of software solutions designed to prescribe, track and analyze training for athletes of all levels. Founded in 1999 by Dirk Friel, his father and legendary coach and author Joe Friel, and Gear Fisher, TrainingPeaks was developed to fill a crucial need in the coaching space. At the time, many coaches were still relying on antiquated forms of communication such as fax and email, so the Friels and Fisher set out to develop a platform that made it easy for coaches and athletes to connect virtually. Today, the mobile and web apps enable coaches and athletes to communicate seamlessly, allowing for efficient planning and analysis of training in an intuitive interface.

Through the platform, TrainingPeaks users can search for training plans that fit their lifestyle needs and match with a coach for more personalized solutions. The company is used by coaches worldwide and serves athletes of all levels, from IRONMAN® World Champions and Olympians to everyday athletes.

“TrainingPeaks was founded by an amazing group of individuals who are coaches and athletes themselves,” said Ian Anderson, Backbone Vice President of Public Relations. “They understand the nuances of training and the diversity of needs athletes face because they have experienced them first-hand. Many of the staff at Backbone have been devoted TrainingPeaks users for years and we are excited to introduce the brand to new markets.”

For more information regarding TrainingPeaks, please direct inquiries to Sean Van Horn at sean.vanhorn@backbone.media.

About TrainingPeaks

TrainingPeaks creates endurance training apps and solutions that help athletes and coaches reach their goals. Featuring the world’s largest endurance training marketplace, athletes can find personalized training plans, accredited coaches and easy-to-use apps and integrations to track their progress and reach their goals. TrainingPeaks is trusted by runners, cyclists, and triathletes around the world including Tour de France teams, IRONMAN® World Champions and Olympians. Learn more at trainingpeaks.com.

About Backbone

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

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 18, 2023) – Rumpl, the category leader in premium outdoor blankets, is proud to announce that brand and marketing professional Josh Weichhand has joined the company as Vice President, Global Brand Marketing. Weichhand will lead and oversee Rumpl’s marketing, brand strategy, ecommerce, creative and international efforts.

Weichhand brings more than a decade of experience stewarding iconic brands in the outdoor and specialty retail space, having most recently led brand strategy for YETI, along with turns leading marketing teams, driving growth strategies, and igniting creative efforts for Chaco, Madcap Coffee and Anthropologie. At YETI, he launched the brand’s most visible sustainability platforms and campaigns in the company’s history, many of which have garnered acclaim from the marketing and advertising industry and press.

With Rumpl marking 10 years in business in 2024, Weichhand joins the company at a pivotal moment and is poised for growth.

“We’re honored to have landed Josh, as his experience leading marketing at juggernaut brands will directly apply to the stage of growth Rumpl is entering,” said Wylie Robinson, founder and CEO. “Rumpl pioneered the outdoor blanket category, and we’re excited to continue our contributions to the outdoor market at large. To have Josh put pen to paper and bring his creative vision to our team is a dream come true.”

“I’ve been following Rumpl since Wylie launched the brand on Kickstarter, and I have so much admiration for what he’s built and the impressive leadership team he’s assembled,” said Weichhand. “In addition to joining an exciting brand and energized team, I’m focused on the unique moment in which Rumpl finds itself, both as a brand that’s created and defines its category, and as a player uniquely positioned to win a wide audience across outdoor, sporting goods, and Gen Z consumers. I could not be more excited to contribute to this next chapter.”

About Rumpl: Based in Portland, Oregon, Rumpl makes Blankets for Everywhere. Utilizing material technologies commonly found in activewear and outdoor gear, Rumpl aims to modernize the everyday blanket. Rumpl’s high-quality, versatile blankets keep you comfortable no matter where you are. The materials have been tested and proven in harsh environments, yet specifically selected for comfort and durability. Rumpl believes the blanket you use every day deserves the same attention to detail as a sleeping bag you might use ten times a year. The end result is a premium and multi-purpose blanket that can be used anywhere you go … or when you don’t go anywhere. www.rumpl.com.

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PARK CITY, Utah (Oct. 17, 2023) — Shaun White, three-time Olympic gold medalist, builds upon his namesake brand with the addition of women’s performance wear designed for riders of all disciplines. The performance brand, developed alongside outdoor retailer Backcountry, debuted two years ago with a limited-edition snowboard and has since evolved into a diverse portfolio of snowboards, goggles, and premium men’s and women’s apparel for on and off the mountain.

“We are super excited to expand into women’s outerwear and base layers,” says White. “For too long I’ve heard women complain about the lack of style and fit from their outerwear. This line is just the beginning of more exciting things to come.”

The Whitespace women’s collection is designed for women who want to feel good while riding.Shaun worked with an all-female team to ensure fit and function were paramount. The Graphene Midweight Base Layer Mock Neck ($89.00 USD) and Base Graphene Layer Bottom ($99.00 USD) provide a warm, yet breathable next-to-skin barrier for high performance activity. For outerwear, the High Waisted 3L Soft Shell Riding Bib ($349.00 USD) offers a PFC-free water repellent DWR, slimming construction fully sealed with Bemis 3L taping and YKK vislon zippers. The bib is best paired with the matching Insulated Riding Jacket ($379.00 USD), built with a dual zone thermal liner, brushed tricot face guard, and a thermal cell phone pocket to lock out the cold. The versatile Cropped Puffer Jacket ($349.00) seamlessly transitions from the mountain to après. Each piece within the women’s line was thoughtfully designed with advanced tech innovations paired with on-and-off mountain style.

“Female participation levels in snowboarding have been growing steadily over the past several years, so the opportunity to expand Whitespace with a women’s line was a natural next step,” says Melanie Cox, Backcountry CEO. “The Backcountry team proudly collaborated with Shaun to bring its Whitespace women’s collection to fruition. In fact, our internal product developer and technical designer, who worked with Shaun on the collection, are both women who snowboard. It was a very personal project in which they were able to share their own ideas and feedback from their professional expertise and riding experience. The result is a technical, stylish, yet comfortable collection with a unique street-and-snow inspired aesthetic.”

A fresh assortment of men’s Whitespace apparel will also debut this month. New to the line, a Graphene Riding Hoodie ($99.00), and Tech Harrington Jacket ($199.00) have each been tactfully designed to adapt from a morning ride to a city stride. The brand will also unveil an expansion of hard goods including a newly redesigned line of snowboards and goggles. As Whitespace continues to grow, it will heavily invest in developing best-in-class products for everyone. With each product made, there is a passion for evolving and innovating to help all riders have the best experience possible on and off the mountain.

The new Whitespace collection will launch on October 17th and be available to purchase on https://www.backcountry.com/whitespace.

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About Whitespace

Founded in 2022, Whitespace is an active lifestyle brand created by Olympic gold medalist, Shaun White. The signature brand inspires focus and motivation that clears the noise, turns doubts into drop-ins, and unlocks the send. Rooted in snowsports, Whitespace makes premium gear and apparel for snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, training, as well as casual streetwear for everyday life.

About Backcountry

From the one-on-one expertise of Backcountry Gearheads to its epic selection of the best in both style and performance, Backcountry has been a leading outdoor retailer since 1996. Dialing in your gear closet, exploring your backcountry, recharging with après—Backcountry elevates the entire outdoor experience. In 2018, Backcountry began building its own Gearhead-inspired products; the fast-growing Built By Backcountry ski, bike, climb, hike, fly fish, and après lines include collabs with trusted brands like GORE-TEX, Pertex, and ALLIED Down. After 15 years as a successful online retailer, Backcountry opened its first brick and mortar location in Park City, UT and has since expanded its retail footprint to include nine stores from coast to coast, offering a seamless omnichannel experience for its consumers. Venture beyond.