Archives: Press Releases

Durango, Colo. (May 29, 2023) – The 2023 edition of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic brought more than 2,000 bike enthusiasts to Durango this weekend to ride the classic Coca Cola Road Race and McDonalds Citizen’s Tour, which raced the train from Durango to Silverton. Racers also enjoyed mountain bike and gravel events.

“We had a beautiful day for the ride and race to Silverton as the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic heads into its next half-century as an event,” said race director Ian Burnett. “Then on Sunday the gravel riders and mountain bikers had a great time racing in the dirt.”

The weekend kicked off Friday night with Michaela Thompson and Toby Hassett taking wins in the 20-minute-long pro short track races.

On Saturday, the peloton set off for 50 miles with more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain. A group of about 20 riders stayed together for the first half of the men’s race before the group splintered on the climb up Coal Bank Pass. Team California’s Caleb Classen soloed across the line with a time of 2:07:18.

In the women’s road race, Sarah Sturm, Kira Payer, and Thompson escaped off the front early on. On Coal Bank Pass, it was Sturm vs. Payer, with Payer gaining an advantage due to a dropped chain from Sturm. Despite a determined chase from Sturm, Payer crossed the line solo with a time of 2:30:28.

Men’s Road Race Results

1. Caleb Classen (2:07:18)
2. Howard Grotts (2:08:56)
3. Jack Odron (2:11:22)
4. Tayne Andrade (2:12:21)
5. Jess Clapier (2:12:23)

Women’s Road Race Results

1. Kira Payer (2:30:28)
2. Sarah Sturm (2:31:13)
3. Michaela Thompson (2:35:59)
4. Sofia Waite (2:39:10)
5. Erin Osborne (2:39:26)

Full results from the road race are available here.

On Sunday, gravel racers set off for a day of rolling hills in the rural countryside east of Durango. The long course riders completed 95 miles and 7,700 feet of climbing. Full results from the gravel race are available here.

Men’s Gravel Long Course Results

1. Guy Leshem (4:50:49)
2. Jess Clapier (4:50:49)
3. Tyler Lock (4:53:22)
4. Sam Riess (5:00:00)
5. Ian Mcpherson (5:02:00)

Women’s Gravel Long Course Results

1. Sarah Sturm (5:06:37)
2. Ellen Campbell (5:42:54)
3. Terry Casey (5:57:22)
4. Sunny Gilbert (6:34:55)
5. Danika Brabec (7:14:37)

Racers in the Subaru Mountain Bike Race battled each other on a five-mile lap that featured nearly 600-feet of elevation gain per lap. The course started at Chapman Hill and raced up Lion’s Den Trail, around Rim Trail, and back down through the Chapman Hill Flow Trail.

Howard Grotts and Michaela Thompson both opened substantial leads early in the race, taking victories in both the mountain bike race and the overall omnium competition which combines points scored during the road race and mountain bike race.

Men’s Mountain Bike Results

1. Howard Grotts (1:41:26)
2. Toby Hassett (1:44:26)
3. Ivan Sippy (1:45:20)
4. Dane Grey (1:45:50)
5. Jack Spranger (1:47:54)

Women’s Mountain Bike Results

1. Michaela Thompson (1:35:16)
2. Lauren Aggeler (1:40:03)
3. Erin Osborne (1:43:15)
4. Jen Gersbach-Venzara (1:44:44)
5. Trish Thomas (1:46:32)

Full mountain bike results can be found here.

To learn more about the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, please visit: https://www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.

About Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is a 3-day cycling festival, which includes a 47-mile bike race and tour over two 10,000’ passes from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. The tradition began in 1971 when Tom Mayer challenged his brother Jim to see if he could ride the route faster than the train. Today the Iron Horse includes mountain bike and gravel events as well as numerous other cycling festivities around town.

 

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Charlotte, NC – May 25, 2023 – Let Me Run has named Richard Sexton as its new executive director, effective immediately. Sexton replaces Emily Battle, who has helmed the nonprofit physical and emotional wellness program for boys since 2019, leading the organization through organizational changes, COVID-19 and impressive national growth.

“I’ve loved the opportunity to lead this organization over the past four years and am proud of all that we have achieved as an organization through a difficult time,” Battle said. “I’m thrilled to be passing the baton to Richard, who understands firsthand the power of running in breaking down barriers, forming lifelong connections, and boosting both physical and emotional health. I look forward to seeing the impact that Let Me Run continues to have on boys around the country and hope to stay involved as a volunteer within the Charlotte community.”

Sexton has devoted much of his career to building organizations, from his own retail company to world-class enterprise sales and marketing teams within AAA, MicroD, and Williams-Sonoma. He has been equally committed to service to his community, with a long history of volunteerism with organizations such as Cub Scouts, Little Brothers, Discovery Place and the Cabarrus County school system. In 2021, Sexton ran across North Carolina carrying a 25-pound slamball to raise money for Champion Autism Network and autism awareness, covering a marathon a day for 30 days. With eight years of substitute teaching under his belt, Sexton is well attuned to the physical and mental health challenges faced by boys in today’s post-pandemic world.

“Running and movement are core to who I am as a person, and I understand the transformational power of running, both from a conditioning perspective and a mental well–being perspective,” said Sexton, who has more completed than 100 marathons and ultramarathons and six iron-distance triathlons. “Running has provided me with a lifelong support system in the friends I’ve made and conversations I’ve shared. Let Me Run directly addresses one of the most fundamental needs of boys today: the need to connect and express their authentic selves through the release of running and movement.”

Sexton will focus on building a national network of Let Me Run regions, supported by paid and volunteer staff and underwritten by national sponsors whose messages align with Let Me Run.

To learn more about Let Me Run, please visit www.letmerun.org. For media inquiries, please contact ashleigh@darbycommunications.com.

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About Let Me Run

Let Me Run is a nonprofit wellness program that inspires boys to be themselves, be active, and belong. With a comprehensive curriculum that applies the power of running, the program encourages boys to develop their psychological, emotional, and social health, in addition to their physical health. Twice a week for seven weeks, two trained volunteer coaches lead an elementary or middle school team through practice. Designed to amplify confidence, self-expression, and respect for others, each practice includes a lesson from the Let Me Run curriculum that incorporates running, games, and activities. Each fall and spring season culminates in a 5k race festival that celebrates the boys’ personal growth.

BOULDER, Colo. (May 24, 2023) – SCARPA, maker of performance footwear for mountain sports, won Outside Magazine’s prestigious Editor’s Choice award for its new Vapor S rock-climbing shoe. Outside Magazine’s editors test and choose the best outdoor gear annually that offers outstanding innovation in design, materials and performance.

The Vapor S is the newest member of SCARPA’s best-selling Vapor family. It’s an incredibly versatile slipper that is powerful and sensitive yet offers precision on the smallest edges. Its innovative NANO Strap System closes around the ankle to minimize heel slipping and increase heel hooking performance, while the ultra-low angled toe profile makes it the perfect shoe for thin cracks.

“The collective result is one fierce steep-rock beast, one you can maneuver into subtle heel-toe cams that would feel clunky in any other shoe. For a slipper, the Vapor S is also surprisingly versatile,” Outside Magazine’s editors said.

“I was very impressed with the ability to toe in on small edges on more vertical terrain, as well as smear on slopey, sandy feet, but was also able to pull and grab on steep footholds,” said one Outside Magazine tester.

“The Vapor S is a shoe SCARPA is incredibly proud of, and one we’re so happy to see recognized by the team at Outside Magazine,” said Matt Ginley, North American Sales Manager at SCARPA. “Our hope for this shoe is that its broadly applicable fit and performance will help it reach a greater audience, and this award tells us we’re on the right track. We’re honored that the Vapor S stood out to Outside’s team amongst the competition and we are grateful for the recognition.”

To learn more about the Vapor S and SCARPA’s other products, please visit www.scarpa.com.

 

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America 

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

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (May 24, 2023) — Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative, high performance outdoor equipment, apparel and footwear, is hosting the 21^rst Annual Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA) Fundraiser, scheduled for 6-10 p.m., Thursday, June 1. The event will take place in the front parking lot of Black Diamond’s Salt Lake City headquarters, otherwise known as the Black Diamond Courtyard, at 2092 E. 3900 South St.

SLCA is a 501c(3) non-profit organization created to promote climbing opportunities, to preserve local climbing access and to encourage stewardship of the environment. SLCA is currently replacing worn out bolts and anchors and improving trails that provide access to local crags. The SLCA continually advocates for the sport and offers educational events and programs to ensure local climbing areas stay open to the public.

“Black Diamond is an instrumental partner to the SLCA,” said Julia Geisler, SLCA Executive Director. “This event is our main annual fundraiser of the year, and without the support of Black Diamond, other sponsors and attendees, the SLCA would not be able to act as a unified voice for Wasatch climbers.”

The fundraiser will include an evening of food, drinks, raffles and music to benefit the SLCA. It will be held outdoors, rain or shine. All children under the age of 21 must be accompanied by an adult, and dogs are prohibited. Tickets can be purchased for $35 at SaltLakeClimbers.org or for $40 at the door. Student pricing includes a 25% discount.

Associated sponsors also include: The Front Climbing Club, Bouldering Project Salt Lake, REI Co-Op, Cypher, Athletic Brewing Co., Kodiak, Rock Garden, Scarpa, RDSH SLC, Santero, Wave, Yoshi’s Japanese Grill, Momentum Indoor Climbing, Jack Wolfskin, Backcountry, Petzl, Utah DNR Recreation, Moab Brewery, Han’s Kombucha, Rab, Sterling, Rhino, Camp, La Sportiva, and Umani Pizzeria. Live music will include performances by Salt Lake’s own singer/songwriter, Seth Brown, as well as from the band, Strange Medicine.

 

Black Diamond Equipment is a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. By consistently building innovative, standard-setting products and actively preserving the mountain/canyon environment, Black Diamond Equipment has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit BlackDiamondEquipment.com

 

SEATTLE, Wash. (May 24, 2023) — With the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleeping pad ever created, the new Therm-a-Rest^® NeoAir^® XTherm™ NXT is a chosen recipient of the Outside Magazine 2023 Editors’ Choice Award. The annual award, one of the most coveted in the outdoor industry, is given to the best new gear that offers outstanding innovation in design, materials, and performance.

Therm-a-Rest, the leader in outdoor sleeping gear for more than 50 years, introduced the new NeoAir XTherm NXT in spring of 2023. The cold weather backpacking pad takes a step forward in outdoor sleep performance with a warmer, lighter, and more comfortable pad for backcountry pursuits that demand extreme insulation in an ultralight package.

The unrivaled Triangular Core Matrix™ design and five-layer ThermaCapture™ technology gives the XTherm NXT a 7.3 R-value (.4 warmer than the previous pad) at an ultralight weight of 15.5 ounces (1 ounce lighter than the previous XTherm). At 3 inches thick (.5 inches thicker than the previous pad), the XTherm NXT enhances comfort while improving lightweight performance on the trail. To learn more about the NeoAir XTherm NXT, visit the Therm-a-Rest YouTube page.

“For the last half decade, we’ve been working to make the best even better with the goal of creating a better night’s rest under the stars – because a better night’s rest leads to better adventures the next day,” says Karen Lamerick, Senior Marketing Director at Cascade Designs, the parent company of Therm-a-Rest. “The Editors’ Choice award from Outside is one of the most coveted in our industry. They test gear for more than a year and really put it through the wringer. This means a lot to our team.”

“Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir XTherm was already a bit of a unicorn in the backpacking world when it came out in 2012: crazy warm, packable, and lightweight,” said Outside’s editors. “The new XTherm NXT must be a flying unicorn, then, since it’s better in nearly every way…Therm-a-Rest’s XTherm NXT offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleeping pad, ever.”

For more information about Therm-a-Rest and its collection of award-winning pads, sleeping bags, including the new NeoAir XTherm NXT, visit www.thermarest.com.

 

About Therm-a-Rest^®

Our founder’s mission was simple: create a better way to sleep outside; because when you rest better, you play better. Their ingenuity and vision back in 1972 led to the creation of the first self-inflating sleeping pad. Today, we’re still working towards the same mission to craft the best sleeping pads and bags on the market. We’re not just giving explorers a better way to camp, we’re giving them better adventures tomorrow. For more information, visit www.thermarest.com.

About Cascade Designs, Inc.^®

For 50 years, Seattle-based Cascade Designs, Inc. and its brands, Therm-a-Rest^®, Mountain Safety Research^® (MSR), Platypus^®, SealLine^®, and PackTowl^®, have led the outdoor industry in designing innovative, useful and long-lasting equipment, manufacturing the majority of products in their Seattle, WA, and Reno, NV, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland facilities. From the original self-inflating Therm-a-Rest^® camping mattress to the first multi-fuel stove from MSR^®, Cascade Designs has developed leading products that explorers, travelers, adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts and weekend campers can rely on to deliver optimum performance in the outdoors through exceptional engineering and quality. For more information, please visit: www.cascadedesigns.com.

 

 

PHOENIX (May 23, 2023) – Lectric eBikes, the industry leading e-bike brand and the maker of the country’s best-selling e-bike model and third best-selling electric vehicle, has initiated May 30 as the official National E-Bike Day. The new holiday, established and sponsored by Lectric, encourages riders everywhere to celebrate e-biking and to make the switch to electric transportation.

National E-Bike Day will coincide with Lectric eBike’s fourth anniversary, which marks the start of the most affordable and adventurous eBike brand out there on May 30, 2019. To commemorate each impactful year of getting ‘more butts on e-bikes’ thus far, Lectric eBikes is ringing in the holiday by giving away four eBikes during their live stream event on Tuesday, May 30, at 12 p.m. PST on its Facebook and YouTube pages.

“The e-bike is the most efficient solution for humans to move ourselves, so I’m proud to establish National E-Bike Day to not only reflect on our mission as a company, but to also champion the e-bike industry as a whole,” said Levi Conlow, co-founder and CEO of Lectric. “When we started Lectric in 2019, we set out to be the Greatest Urban Transportation Solution Ever and to challenge the idea of transportation as we knew it. This will be a day dedicated to recognizing and amplifying the sustainable, economic and wellness benefits of e-biking, while encouraging riders across the country to use their e-bikes or opt into electric transportation.”

For the giveaway, Lectric is offering individuals two ways to participate —individuals with an e-bike, from any manufacturer, can be entered to win by posting a picture of themselves enjoying the benefits of e-biking on their Instagram or Facebook accounts that day along with the hashtag #Nationalebikeday. People can also participate in the giveaway by commenting on Lectric’s live event on Facebook and YouTube. Four winners, two from each entry option, will be chosen at random during the live stream and will receive a free Lectric eBike of their choice. Participants can join the live stream event starting at 12 p.m. PST.

Lectric eBikes was founded on the idea of changing the way people move. Co-founders and childhood friends Levi Conlow and Robby Deziel shared a passion for biking and recognized the need for high quality e-bikes that offered the best value per dollar. By prioritizing quality, power and comfort while maintaining affordability, Lectric has grown a community of more than 300,000 electric commuters on the road nationwide with America’s best-selling e-bike model.

Visit the official National E-Bike Day holiday page at https://nationaltoday.com/national-e-bike-day/ to learn more about the holiday and ways to celebrate. To learn more about the Lectric eBikes, visiting www.LectriceBikes.com. For media inquiries, please contact Account Manager Corinne Baud at corinne.baud@rygr.us.

About Lectric eBikes

Lectric eBikes is one of the fastest growing electric bike companies in the nation, selling nearly 300,000 e-bikes in less than four years. The company is known for its dedication to producing quality products at affordable prices. Its flagship XP^TM models are exceptionally designed so that everyone can ride, delivering all the high-quality features of an elite e-bike, offered at an industry-shattering low price. www.lectricebikes.com.

CARRBORO, N.C. (May 22, 2023) — Fleet Feet, the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated run specialty stores, announces more than 120 stores will participate in The Big Run, the brand’s nationwide event that since 2016 has united local communities in celebration of Global Running Day.

The 2023 edition of The Big Run kicks off on Global Running Day with stores hosting certified 5k races or fun runs from Wednesday, June 7, through Saturday, June 10. Open to runners and walkers of all abilities, The Big Run offers participants a chance to get outdoors and connect with their local running community.

“The intention of Fleet Feet’s The Big Run has always been about creating a unified, national running celebration on Global Running Day, brought to life and made unique by our stores with really hyperlocal, community-specific 5K events,” says Ellen Donahue, vice president of marketing for Fleet Feet. “Since Covid, our stores have hosted a mixture of virtual and hybrid events. With in-person running events making their full return, we’re thrilled about this year’s The Big Run and the number of new and returning events taking place across the country. Our store owners, operators and staff members are putting so much work into creating really memorable experiences for their communities, and we believe this year’s event will again exceed all expectations.”

Results from the 5k races will funnel up into a national leaderboard on fleetfeet.com and cash prizes will randomly be awarded to runners celebrating accomplishments of  race completion or speed. Additionally, participants who post about the event on their social media channels will be randomly selected to win prizes from The Big Run’s sponsors and event partners. Participants will also receive t-shirts, medals and bibs.

For more than 46 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, and at every distance with personalized solutions, knowledge and empowerment.

Fleet Feet launched its first national brand campaign, #ReasonsWeRun, and its first nationwide The Big Run training program presented by Brooks earlier this year. Fleet Feet supports more than five million customers across 250 locally owned and operated stores.

To register for The Big Run in your community, visit thebigrun.fleetfeet.com.

 

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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 250 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 was recognized in Fast Company’s Brands That Matter List and Inc.’s Best in Business List. Stay inspired, motivated and connected at Fleet Feet.

Flagstaff, Ariz. (May 22, 2023) – Kahtoola, headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona, celebrates Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s historic visit on May 20 to the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, and stands alongside the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition in calling upon President Joe Biden to protect the area.

The proposed 1.1-million-acre monument has cultural connections to at least 12 Tribes and Nations, and the Indigenous-led proposal dates back decades to numerous efforts to permanently protect the Grand Canyon region from new uranium mining and other harmful development. Kahtoola recognizes the importance of the opportunities the Grand Canyon region provides for outdoor experiences and traditional uses of all types, from hiking, hunting, fishing and camping to grazing and Tribal uses like plant and firewood gathering. A national monument would maintain these existing uses while protecting the region’s clean air, land, and water.

Owner and founder Danny Giovale says, “As a local business in the outdoor industry who cares deeply about the environment, our local Tribal communities, and a thriving outdoor economy, Kahtoola applauds the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland for coming out to visit the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. Haaland’s site visit shows that she understands the importance of personal connection to place and the value it adds when addressing the local people and the environmental and human health threats we face if these lands are not protected. As one of our nation’s most iconic landscapes, permanent protection from uranium mining is essential to ensure healthy waterways, ecosystems, cultural values, and natural resources. Many people depend on these lands as a way of life and Kahtoola supports a co-managed, sustainable, multi-use approach that ensures these lands remain healthy and intact for all generations to come. We are celebrating Haaland’s visit and sincerely hope that President Joe Biden uses his authority under the Antiquities Act to protect these lands and honor the 12 Tribal Nations by designating Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.”

Kahtoola encourages other outdoor industry businesses to take action in calling for the establishment of the national monument by visiting KeepItGrandAZ.com.

About Kahtoola:

Founded in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1999, Kahtoola’s vision is to expand the benefits of the outdoors to everyone through exceptional product design and social and environmental responsibility. Kahtoola’s gaiters, hiking crampons, and flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes®, EXOspikes™ and NANOspikes®, are built to enable safer and more rewarding experiences in the outdoors, while the brand’s conservation, sustainability, and philanthropy initiatives foster healthier environments and empower disadvantaged communities by lowering economic and social barriers. For more information, please visit kahtoola.com.