Archives: Press Releases

LATHAM, N.Y. (July 20, 2023) – PrimaLoft, Inc., a global leader in advanced material technology, is experiencing significant traction and enthusiasm for its Active Evolve insulation. This groundbreaking technology, known for its exceptional breathability, moisture management, and stretch capabilities, has garnered widespread attention and adoption within the outdoor and lifestyle apparel industry. In response to this growing momentum, PrimaLoft is expanding its product offerings by adding four new Active Evolve styles, reaffirming its commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers.

Originally launched in 2018, PrimaLoft Active Evolve is a line of insulating fabrics that is designed to evolve performance, design, and sustainability. Combining the lightweight warmth of insulation with the breathability of fabric, this technology is developed to perform in a wide range of activities, regardless of intensity or season. From pushing yourself during a cross country ski tour, to working up a sweat hiking to the next peak, PrimaLoft Active Evolve keeps you in your comfort zone – even when you’re pushing yourself out of it.

Several products in the Active Evolve line can be used as a next-to-skin fabric. This enables brands to forego liner fabrics, which means heat and moisture are more efficiently managed, breathability is supported, and user comfort is maintained. In addition to achieving optimal performance during aerobic activity, this yields a wider utility and year-round use, all while allowing brands to use less overall material when designing a garment, reducing footprint and waste.

PrimaLoft Active Evolve offers several advantages to designers. It enables them to utilize the full spectrum of color, incorporate unique patterns, and provides greater flexibility in fabric selection. Additionally, Active Evolve eliminates the need for quilting in the design process. Products within the Active Evolve line are made from up to 100% post-consumer recycled content, including three of the four new styles.

“This product series was designed to evolve with you,” states Tara Maurer-Mackay, senior vice president of product strategy at PrimaLoft. “PrimaLoft Active Evolve’s breathability provides a thermoregulating system that maintains comfort and elevates performance year-round for any activity.”

Last winter, Sitka showcased Active Evolve in their Ambient collection of technical hunting apparel. In developing its three Ambient jacket styles for hunters, including both men and women, Sitka designers were challenged with finding an insulation that was durable, packable, and most importantly, adaptable to changing weather conditions and levels of activity.

“SITKA’s Ambient collection featuring PrimaLoft Active Evolve is a product that functions very well across a range of pursuits,” says John Barklow, SITKA’s Senior Product Line Manager. “These pieces are highly breathable during aerobic activity and provide critical warmth once you have slowed your pace. The Ambient jacket and hoody are made to move with you and provide comfort across a variety of temperature ranges and activity levels.”

The endurance sports specialist LÖFFLER will integrate PrimaLoft® Active Evolve in their cross-country skiing collection this winter season. The Austrian brand is known for its high-quality clothing combining responsibility, quality, and innovation. As official clothing partner of the Austrian Nordic Ski Teams, their garments need to function on the highest level.

“PrimaLoft Active is particularly suitable for high-level sports clothing where versatile insulation is required,” said Stefan Gögele, head of product management at LÖFFLER. “This material offers the perfect combination of breathability, moisture transport and thermal performance. At the same time, it is wonderfully compressible and also sustainable using recycled content. This makes it an ideal partner for our cross-country skiing, biking, and ski touring jackets.”

With more than a dozen brand adoptions thus far, PrimaLoft Active Evolve’s adaptability for the user, range of use across activities, and seasonal timing, is quickly making this one of the most versatile products in the PrimaLoft portfolio. In addition to Sitka and Löffler, key partner brands for Fall/Winter 2023-2024 will include CP Company, Eddie Bauer, Endura, Martini Sportswear, OMM, Quiksilver, Ziener and more.

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About PrimaLoft 

PrimaLoft, Inc., an advanced material technology company based in Latham, New York, with offices in Xiamen, China, is the world leader in research and innovative development of comfort solutions with high performance insulations and fabrics. The PrimaLoft® brand, a registered trademark of PrimaLoft, Inc., delivers feel-good products that are used by more than 950 top global brands in outdoor and fashion, home furnishings, work wear, hunting and military applications. With its Relentlessly Responsible™ mission, PrimaLoft strives to balance innovation, performance & sustainability in a pursuit of a better future. PrimaLoft® insulation was originally developed for the U.S. army as a water-resistant, synthetic alternative to down. Today, the brand is recognized as a benchmark for providing unsurpassed comfort in any condition, while lessening its impact on the environment. PrimaLoft, Inc. is active in sustainable textile production through partnerships with the bluesign® system, the International OEKO-TEX® Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index and the Global Recycled Standard. For more information, please visit stage.primaloft.com, and follow PrimaLoft on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

July 20, 2023 – Today, The Conservation Alliance submitted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Biden Administration, and members of Congress signed by over 100 companies that clearly demonstrates business support for the agency’s draft Public Lands Rule. From the outdoor industry to brewers, bankers, sportsmen, and renewable energy companies, the businesses represent a wide range of industries that all rely on the outdoors for their bottom line.

Outdoor recreation generates $862 billion in economic output per year. Conserving public lands brings critical economic benefits through tourism and local recreation for rural and gateway communities situated near these lands and waters. In addition, outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife watching on public lands creates 4.5 million jobs across the United States.

Currently, the BLM manages 245 million acres of America’s public lands, including some of the country’s most iconic landscapes. BLM lands provide critical spaces for wildlife, climate resiliency, renewable energy development, and tribally-significant cultural resources. The letter asks that the agency’s land management practices put conservation and recreation on a level playing field with other uses, saying “we support a Public Lands Rule that will ensure that our public lands continue to offer unique recreational opportunities, buffer important habitats against the growing impacts of climate change, and drive economic value and jobs for Americans. We strongly encourage the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management to do all that it can to better conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands and waters by adopting a strong Public Lands Rule.”

“The Conservation Alliance is proud to stand with over 100 businesses who are speaking up about the value of our public lands and outdoor spaces. The time has come for the BLM to focus on managing its 245 million acres for outdoor recreation and conservation benefits and we believe this rule achieves both of these critically important objectives,” said Shoren Brown, VP of Public Affairs at The Conservation Alliance.

“Our nation’s largest public lands agency, the Bureau of Land Management, has largely focused on resource extraction and commodity development for nearly 40 years,” said Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. “As the climate crisis worsens and nature disappears, the US government must prioritize the protection of land and water for future generations and Indigenous communities, and to conserve habitat for endangered species. Otherwise, we won’t have a planet worth living on.”

“The climate crisis has made it plain that we must double down on strategies that can ensure the long-term health and viability of our public lands. REI Co-op, and its 23-million-member community, urges the BLM to swiftly implement a strong Public Lands Rule that will truly help it meet its multi use mandate and ensure that the 245 million acres it stewards are managed for their recreational, cultural and conservation value for future generations,” said Eric Artz, President and CEO of REI.

“Public lands make up much of the landscapes America is renowned for—the environments that inspire hundreds of millions of visitors annually, serve as habitats for thousands of species and inspire our sense of adventure. As a part of our mission to keep the world adventurous forever, Rivian stands alongside many diverse voices in supporting the BLM’s proposed Public Lands Rule in rebalancing land use priorities by codifying conservation as one of the formal uses for our public lands,” said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer of Rivian.

The letter and list of supporting companies can be found here.

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SEATTLE (July 20, 2023) — Outdoor Research, the Seattle-based manufacturer of high-performance technical outdoor apparel, is launching into the mountain-bike category in Spring 2024 with its new Freewheel MTB Collection, an eight-piece mountain-bike assortment. The collection brings the technical design expertise and materials innovation leadership that has defined Outdoor Research products for more than 40 years to a category that is a core activity for a large segment of its existing customer base.

Introducing the Spring 2024 Outdoor Research Freewheel Mountain Bike Collection

For many years, cyclists have adopted technical apparel from Outdoor Research for punching out the miles. Pieces like the waterproof Helium Rain Jacket, the durable Ferrosi Overshort and sun-protective, quick-drying Echo collection — though not explicitly built for riding — are versatile layers that work across a wide range of activities.

In anticipation of the Freewheel launch, and to showcase the brand’s commitment to the mountain bike community, Outdoor Research has signed on as a Principle-Level Sponsor of Crankworx Whistler 2023, the original stop of the world’s biggest mountain bike festival. Outdoor Research is the title sponsor of the Speed and Style Event on Friday July 28th and will be on-site throughout the festival promoting the upcoming Freewheel Collection with displays and product giveaways.

“The Freewheel program was developed because our customers and athletes ride mountain bikes alongside their many other outdoor activities, and we knew they were already using our gear for riding,” said Kylene Wolfe, Senior Product Manager of Sportswear. “Talking to our customers showed us that there is a real need for better-fitting, more technically-led trail-riding apparel. So it was a logical next step to expand directly into the trail-riding category.”

The Outdoor Research team has extensively field tested the new Freewheel line with a wide range of athletes. The collection brings in proven technology from OR’s outerwear and sportswear collections, including DuraPrint®, a 3D printed overlay. DuraPrint delivers extra abrasion resistance in high-wear areas without adding weight or impeding flexibility in the fabric — a natural fit in the bike category. It also offers extended and inclusive sizing options, up to women’s 4X Plus and men’s 42.

The new collection includes a bike-specific half-zip hoodie, a long-sleeve Jersey, and short-sleeve riding tee, riding shorts featuring DuraPrint technology, two bike gloves and a hip pack.

“Whistler holds a special place as the hub of the mountain bike world, and Crankworx has established itself as the premier event in the sport,” states Chris King, VP of Brand at Outdoor Research. “We are excited to be a Principle-Level Sponsor for an event that draws such a wide-reaching, influential audience. We can’t wait to show off our product team’s hard work to develop a versatile kit specially tuned for mountain biking.”

Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director, Crankworx Events Inc., said: “Outdoor Research’s reputation for building world-class outdoor gear and apparel is widely recognized. We are excited to introduce them to the mountain bike community, and we look forward to creating a solid foundation for a potentially long-standing partnership.”

About Outdoor Research

Since 1981, Outdoor Research has created trusted apparel, accessories, and equipment for you to thrive outside. Our award-winning outdoor gear is meticulously researched and tested for outdoor enthusiasts and military users around the globe. Grounded in our values of curiosity, passion, innovation, collaboration and community, we strive to create space for all in the outdoors. We celebrate wins outside at every level together with our ambassadors, non-profit partners and employees. Join us at outdoorresearch.com.

About Crankworx World Tour

Born in Whistler, B.C. in 2004, Crankworx has evolved into a multi-stop international festival series, bringing together the best mountain bike athletes to compete in elite-level competitions in a variety of disciplines, as well as hosting races for amateurs, Kidsworx contests for young riders, participatory events, and celebrations of mountain bike culture, all while showcasing amazing destinations. And while the festival has gone international, each year the global mountain bike community comes home to Crankworx Whistler for the ultimate celebration of all things mountain bike. The original. The biggest. The heart of it all. The defining celebration of mountain biking.

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Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2023) — Today, Outdoor Alliance and Public Land Solutions released a report on oil and gas leasing reform and its impact on outdoor recreation on public lands. Historically, many public land communities have depended on resource extraction as their primary economic driver, but transitions in the economy mean that these communities need better balance between extraction and other economic opportunities, including conservation and outdoor recreation. With remote work on the rise, more communities are focusing their economic development strategies on quality of life, including access to outdoor recreation and protected public lands and waters. Yet our oil and gas leasing system still favor oil and gas development over other economic opportunities and other public land needs.

The newly released report, “Outdoor Recreation and Oil and Gas Leasing Reform” explores the effects of these oil and gas leasing policies on public land communities and provides suggestions for updating these policies to better reflect 21^st century demands and opportunities on our public lands and waters.

For example, if we continue to allow methane emissions and fail to provide sufficient bonding for capping wells at the end of their life cycle, we will leave community after community with poor air quality and thousands of acres of unusable land. When large oil and gas developers sell wells to smaller local operators, funds are not available to update well pad equipment, and the burden falls on taxpayers and local residents.

Our country’s current speculative leasing practices tie up public lands for decades, discouraging investments in new trails and outdoor recreation assets. These assets have become reliable economic drivers bringing both tourism and business investment, as more and more companies and professionals choose to live where there is access to healthy landscapes. In Utah, Grand County Commissioner Mary McGann points out: “The area surrounding Moab is home to two state parks, Dead Horse Point and Utahraptor, and two national parks. Arches and Canyonlands. To have an oil well near any of these spectacular parks is like placing a drill rig in the center of a Vincent van Gogh painting. Oil and gas leasing near any of Grand County’s recreation areas is inappropriate, and the leasing system should be updated to reflect this.”

Updating the oil and gas leasing system is even more important to emerging recreation communities like Fruita, Colorado. George Gatseos, from Over the Edge bike shop in Fruita agrees: “It would be great to have the industry of outdoor recreation on an even footing with oil and gas in regard to how the BLM treats commercial uses on public lands.”

America’s public lands and waters are the economic foundation for communities across the West. Reforming the federal oil and gas leasing system is necessary to balance development and conservation responsibly and ensure that recreation resources are prioritized and maintained to meet today’s needs, challenges, and opportunities.

About Outdoor Alliance

Outdoor Alliance is the only organization in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands. A nonprofit coalition comprised of 10 national advocacy organizations, Outdoor Alliance’s members include American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, the Colorado Mountain Club, and the Surfrider Foundation. By working with its member coalitions and helping mobilize the involvement of individuals to protect public lands and waters, Outdoor Alliance helps ensure public lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. Outdoor Alliance — conservation powered by outdoor recreation. Learn more at OutdoorAlliance.org.

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BOULDER, Colo. (July 19, 2023) – Backpacker’s Pantry, the family-owned maker of gourmet adventure meals, and Astronaut Foods, the original source for freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, announces the hire of Chris Dickerson as its new Director of Marketing.

With an extensive background in brand strategy and digital marketing, Dickerson is set to drive the company’s marketing efforts and propel the Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Ice Cream brands to new heights.

Dickerson brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the outdoor industry. Having worked with several prominent outdoor brands, including Hydro Flask, Sea to Summit, Whistler Blackcomb, REI, Therm-a-Rest, MSR, evo, and Zumiez, Dickerson’s expertise in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns is expected to strengthen Backpacker’s Pantry’s market presence and accelerate its growth trajectory.

“We are thrilled to add Chris to the family,” said Duane Primozich, CEO of Backpacker’s Pantry. “Beyond his deep experience in the outdoor industry and his exceptional vocational acumen, he is a perfect cultural fit. He shares our core values and embraces our core purpose of service to our people and the planet.”

As the Director of Marketing, Dickerson will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive marketing strategies that align with Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods business objectives. His primary focus will be on enhancing brand awareness, expanding customer engagement, and driving revenue growth through a multi-channel marketing approach.

“I’m very excited to join Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods, two brands that have such a rich history and essentially created the freeze-dried food category in the outdoor industry and outer space,” said Dickerson. “Backpacker’s Pantry and Astro have a strong commitment to quality, and sustainability to serve our people, the planet, and our customers. I look forward to working closely with the team to develop innovative marketing initiatives that resonate with our target audience and drive the company’s success.”

Outside of work, Dickerson can be found hiking, camping, and skiing in and around the Pacific Northwest. He also currently serves on the Marketing Communications Committee  of the Washington National Park Fund.

For more information on Backpacker’s Pantry, please visit: https://backpackerspantry.com

About Backpacker’s Pantry

Backpacker’s Pantry is a Boulder-based, family-owned producer of gourmet adventure meals made with healthy and sustainable ingredients. Since 1951, the company has been delivering high-quality freeze-dried meals with an emphasis on taste. To give back to the community we love, the places we adventure and the planet we must protect, Backpacker’s Pantry donates 1% of every sale, every day to nonprofits around the world through 1% For the Planet and is 100% solar powered. Today, Backpacker’s Pantry is sold in over 2,000 stores in North America. For more information and a complete list of products, visit https://backpackerspantry.com.

About Astronaut Foods

Founded in 1974 in conjunction with NASA and based in Boulder, Colorado, Astronaut Foods is the original source for freeze-dried ice cream — an out of this world treat. Today, the company sells freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and freeze-dried fruit. Astronaut Foods can be found in museums, toy shops, amusement parks and outdoor stores all across North America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, Astronaut Foods is dedicated to supporting people and organizations whose goal is to push the boundaries of space exploration and discovery. For more information and a complete list of products, visit astronautfoods.com.

About American Outdoor Products

American Outdoor Products (AOP) is a food manufacturer located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, CO.  Established in 1951, American Outdoor Products remains an independent, privately held, family-owned and operated company distributing products throughout the world. Inspired by a passion for unique cuisine and exciting adventures, the company produces Backpacker’s Pantry, adventure food for the outdoors; Astronaut Foods, out-of-this-world novelty treats; Chef Soraya grab-and-go plant-based meals; and Colorado Spice, all-natural and organic artisan spice blends. To learn more, visit: https://backpackerspantry.com

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SAFETY HARBOR, FL – July 18, 2023 – Partners from both the public and private sectors, announced today it has completed its goal of bringing clean drinking water, border-to-border, to nearly 60,000 residents of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Sawyer water filters, developed using advanced kidney dialysis filtration technology, were implemented as a low-cost solution across the country and brought to some of the most remote islands in the Pacific Ocean. The project was championed by the women’s lead nonprofit organization, Kora in Okrane (KIO), based locally in the Marshalls, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health.

“The Marshall’s initiative is an example of how nonprofits, government, and the private sector can join forces to bring clean water to an entire country in need,” said Darrel Larson, Sawyer’s international director. “The Pacific Islands have the world’s worst water per capita, and it continues to worsen. This collaboration is proof that we can solve other water access issues, whether in the South Pacific or around the world.”

The Marshall Islands, a chain of atolls stretching along the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Australia, has been painted as ground-zero for climate change and, with only about 6,000 visitors a year. While rising sea levels might be the Marshallese’s demise, climatologists predict the islands will cease to exist in approximately 80 years. Safe, drinkable water is the key to ensuring their culture lives on.

“As a volunteer organization, we have worked very hard, along with our partners, to bring clean water to some of the most isolated communities in the world. It’s hard to put into words what access to this necessity of life means to us and the people, especially women, and children of the Marshall Islands,” said Angeline Heine-Reimers, President of Kora in Okrane (KIO). “As a small low-lying country, we continue to wrestle with a worsening climate crisis. We must take the necessary steps to ensure our people have the tools to help them navigate these challenges. And it starts with access to clean water.”

All of Sawyers’ clean water work projects feature its high-performance 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter which removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, and 100% of microplastics.

Sawyer’s award-winning water filter technology has been implemented in 100+ countries to combat waterborne diseases, the leading cause of death for children in the world today. In 2020, with the help of Sawyer filters, Liberia became the first developing country with clean water, border to border. In addition to the completion of the Marshall Islands project, Sawyer is on track to complete country-wide initiatives in Fiji in 2024, and in Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands, in 2025. For Sawyer, this milestone marks clean water solutions for four countries in five years. The global water work is funded by 90% of Sawyer’s proceeds and helps 27+ million lives in 100+ countries.

About KIO

Kora in Okrane (KIO), a non-governmental organization of volunteers from all societal sectors. Established in 2006, KIO stems from like-minded women passionate about serving. Their mission is to provide targeted assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged women and children of the Marshall Islands.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

About Sawyer
Founded in 1984, Sawyer has been at the forefront of innovation in water filtration, insect repellent, sunscreen, and first aid. Not only are Sawyer’s filters one of the most popular on the trail, but they are also being used in over 90 developing countries to provide people with clean drinking water. The majority of Sawyer’s products are proudly made in the USA in Safety Harbor, Florida.

 

 

 

STOCKHOLM (July 18, 2023) – Houdini, the global circular sportswear company dedicated to minimalist silhouettes reflecting its passion for doing more with less, today introduced its Spring/ Summer 2024 collection. Embracing classic adventures with a nod to urban exploration, the line uses cool, lightweight fabrics at home in the backcountry and in the heart of the city. The new Go family of garments leads the collection providing choices for bike commutes to climbing, hiking and traveling. One hundred percent of the products are from environmentally preferred sources, are totally PFAS-free, and made from recycled, renewable, biodegradable and bluesign certified materials. The line is available January 2024 at select retailers and at www.houdinsportswear.com

“This line reinforces our philosophy to produce environmentally responsible apparel enabling people to do more and go further with smaller wardrobes,” says Eva Karlsson, Houdini CEO, “As we continue to fight overconsumption, the 2024 collection reinforces our Design Checklist principles. Contrary to fast fashion, our styles become ‘lifelong companions’, items that by their quality, functionality and style simply don’t need to be replaced.”

Specifically, the Go family includes: the Go Jacket ($250), Go Pants ($180), and Go Shorts ($135). These light, stretchy, softshell pieces have a casual silhouette, ideal for city pursuits, and use a comfortable, breathable polyester, a recycled polyester ripstop blend and PFAS-free water repellent fabric.

The Pace Flow Houdi ($190) is a light and airy performance hoodie using mesh fabric that traps heat to provide warmth, while offering exceptional breathability at a very low weight. Available in silhouettes for both men and women in four colors: sunset orange, black, blue and morning haze.

Returning favorites include the One Parka ($450), Mono Air and Power families. The Mono Air collection features the classic Mono Air Houdi ($230), Mono Air Jacket ($220), Mono Air Vest ($160), and Mono Air Pants ($160). The Power line features the bestselling Power Houdi ($240) and Power Up Jacket ($230). The Route Dress ($160) and the Dawn Dress ($150) continue as a staple with quick drying fabric and a chic silhouette. The Tree Tee ($60) for men and women, available in a variety of colors, is incredibly soft and made of 100% Tencel, a fiber made from wood pulp.

Nurturing the Design Checklist protocol of ensuring that every item is needed and has a specific purpose, apparel and accessory classics are carried over completing the collection.

About Houdini

Houdini is an odd band of friends from Sweden on a quest to reimagine the future of circular sportswear. Ever since the start in 1993, Houdini has challenged the norms of the outdoor industry, as a company led by women, as innovators of sustainable design and as pioneers of circular business models. Ultimately, Houdini wants to enable and inspire people to reconnect to nature.

 

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 Ogden, Utah (July 18, 2023) — Today, Salomon North America is proud to announce a new partnership between  Golden Trail National Series and United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). As part of the brands’ commitment to clean sport, USADA will be offering race day testing at the upcoming Pikes Peak Marathon and Mammoth Trail Fest. Athletes, coaches, agents and others can learn about the new testing policies, procedures and information during a live webinar with USADA, Salomon and race directors on Tuesday, July 25 at 8 a.m. MDT.

“I could not be more excited for this new partnership between the Golden Trail National Series and USADA that helps legitimize anti-doping in the sport,” says Steff Gardner, Salomon North America trail marketing manager. “At Salomon, we’re constantly exploring new ways to support and help foster the sport of trail running. Adding a level of professionalism and integrity through this USADA partnership is just one step in our ongoing efforts.”

USADA’s mission is to preserve the integrity of competition, inspire true sport and protect the rights of athletes through a gold-standard anti-doping program that can be applied to any sport or sporting event. The organization is recognized as the official, independent anti-doping organization for all Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American sports in the United States and has been used in over 80 different sports and events, from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to the Boston Marathon.

The Pikes Peak Marathon and Mammoth Trail Fest will implement this new testing program, which aims to provide athletes with a trusted, professional testing partner to match the professionalism athletes bring to each race.

“At Mammoth Trail Fest, we believe in with respect to the environment, competitive sport, and our community, there is no place for shortcuts or compromised ethics,” shares Mammoth Trail Fest race director, Tim Tollefson. “We remain committed to clean sport through advocacy and education. We are delighted that we now offer legitimate gold standard race day testing at both races through USADA.”

“The Golden Trail Series brings an elevated level of competition to the Pikes Peak Ascent, and with this level of competition, we want to advocate for clean sport and enhance the future of trail running,” says Ryan Linder, Pikes Peak Marathon race director. “Overall, the Pikes Peak Marathon is thrilled to collaborate with Salomon and Mammoth Trail Fest to make this partnership with USADA possible.”

USADA, Salomon, Pikes Peak Marathon and Mammoth Trail Fest will be holding a live webinar on USADA testing policies, procedures and more on Tuesday, July 25 at 8 a.m. MDT. Athletes, coaches, agents, volunteers and more are welcome to join and are encouraged to contact Tim Tollefson (timothytollefson@yahoo.com) or Ryan Linder (ryan@pikespeakmarathon.org) for the webinar link.

To learn more about the partnership or Salomon, please reach out to Corinne Baud at corinne.baud@rygr.us.

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About Salomon: Born in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon creates premium footwear, apparel, gear and winter sports equipment that is superior in function, radical in design and obsessive in style. At the Annecy Design Center, engineers, designers and athletes collaborate to write the future of sports by creating products that transform outside sports experiences and enable a deeper connection with nature, allowing people to unleash the best version of themselves so that they might positively impact the world.

About USADA: USADA conducts the year-round, independent anti-doping programs for all Olympic, Paralympic, and UFC athletes. USADA is an independent, nonprofit, non-governmental agency whose sole mission is to stand with athletes to champion their right to clean sport, inspire true and healthy sport, and promote the integrity of sport.

About Pikes Peak Marathon: The Pikes Peak Marathon, founded in 1956, is the oldest continually held marathon in the United States, taking runners from Manitou Springs, Colorado, to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet, and back down for a total of 26.2 gruelling mountain miles.

About Mammoth Trail Fest: From world-class trail races and community focused events to free live entertainment, storytelling, and great local food, Mammoth Trail Fest is a multi-day experience designed to increase access to trail and ultrarunning through opportunity, education, and trail stewardship.