Archives: Press Releases

LONG BEACH, California (May 30, 2023) — “Marine conservation and the scuba industry go hand-in-hand. The strength of our industry relies on the strength of our environment,” said Mark Young, Scuba Show Producer. This sentiment sets the stage for Scuba Show 2023, the largest consumer scuba diving expo in the United States, which splashes down at the Long Beach Convention Center this weekend, June 3rd and 4th.

To kick off the weekend, Scuba Show will host its first annual cleanup at its adopted beach, Alamitos Beach, on Friday, June 2nd. Collection bags and gloves are provided by the California Coastal Commission through the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department of the City of Long Beach.

Recognizing the vital role of nonprofit organizations in the scuba diving industry, Scuba Show serves as a platform for these organizations to raise awareness, engage the public, and garner support for their initiatives. This year’s participating nonprofits include: Shark Stewards and Fins Attached, both working to protect sharks; Ocean Sole combating plastic pollution through art; Reef Check Foundation promoting stewardship of sustainable reef communities worldwide; Diveheart empowering those with disabilities to build confidence and independence through diving; and others, including Get Inspired, Aquarium of the Pacific, Marine Genome Project, Dive into the Pink, the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, and more.

Scuba Show 2023 will also feature presentations on marine conservation and citizen science programs, further highlighting important work being done in the field.

“We are thrilled to showcase these incredible organizations at Scuba Show 2023,” said Young. “Their dedication to ocean conservation, education, and community development is truly inspiring. Through their work, they are fostering a deeper understanding of the marine environment and empowering individuals to become active participants in safeguarding our oceans for future generations.”

Adding to the excitement, Scuba Show will welcome a special guest — DiscoShark. Created by New York City artist and conservationist Kevin McHugh in 2014, DiscoShark gained fame at Coachella and has since traveled the globe, raising awareness and funds for marine conservation. This vibrant, glittering presence will captivate attendees and further highlight the connection between art, music, and the preservation of our oceans.

All show-goers are invited to attend the Saturday Night Party, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, a cash bar, a fundraising raffle, and the presentation of the California Scuba Service Award. Proceeds from the party will benefit a marine conservation charity selected by the CSSA honoree’s family.

Scuba Show 2023 promises to be an exceptional event, combining the excitement of scuba diving with the opportunity to make a positive impact. Don’t miss the chance to connect with nonprofits, learn from industry experts, and immerse yourself in the world of scuba diving this weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center.

For more information about the City’s Adopt-A-Beach program, call (562) 570-1745.

For more information about Scuba Show 2023, including the beach cleanup, Saturday Night Party, and tickets, please visit: scubashow.com

 

About Scuba Show

The 36th annual Scuba Show, organized by the publishers of California Diving News, takes place on June 3-4, 2023, at the Long Beach Convention Center. The show will present divers and the scuba-curious from the Southern California community and beyond the opportunity to experience the vast world of scuba diving. The show will feature over 260 exhibitors from around the world, a pool to try scuba diving, seminars from industry experts, and more. Reserve your tickets now.

SALT LAKE CITY (May 30, 2023) – White Duck Outdoors, a leading supplier of all-season canvas tents and quality products designed to help make the great outdoors more enjoyable, has announced the release of its latest product, the Regatta 360 Bell Tent.

An expansion of the brand’s popular Regatta Bell Tent Collection, the Regatta 360 is designed to offer premium comfort and convenience with high-quality, fully-mesh walls that combine with the door to offer up to 360 degrees of improved airflow and ventilation. It also features a spacious yurt-style design that is simple to set up and creates enough room to stand and move around comfortably.

“The Regatta Bell Tent Collection has been a longtime favorite of our customers and we’re beyond excited to extend the lineup with the Regatta 360,” said Moez Faruqi, Head of Marketing at White Duck Outdoors. “We’ve put a lot of thought and care into designing a tent that not only looks great but also provides enhanced comfort and convenience for campers to truly enjoy their time in nature.”

In addition to comfort, the new tent is crafted for durability using White Duck Outdoors’ sustainable 8.5 oz. DYNADUCK cotton canvas that’s treated with a PFC-free finish that’s water, mold and UV-resistant to offer safe and long-lasting protection from the elements. It’s also equipped with a waterproof 7.5 oz. PE floor, ensuring users stay dry even in the wettest conditions.

Additional strength is provided by double-stitched seams, top-grade zippers, and a proprietary shock-absorbing grounding system. Each tent comes ready for use with poles, pre-attached reflective guy lines, a waterproof storage bag, and a tool kit complete with stakes and a mallet.

The tent is offered in 13-foot and 16.5-foot sizes. The 13-foot model ($889.99) will comfortably sleep 6, while the 16.5-foot model ($1,079.99) will sleep 8.

To shop the Regatta 360 lineup or to learn about White Duck Outdoors and its full product offering, visit www.whiteduckoutdoors.com.

 

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About White Duck Outdoors
White Duck Outdoors offers a varied collection of high-quality, stylish camping gear, ranging from different types of canvas tents to bags and dog beds. With an emphasis on sustainability, durability, and consumer-centric design, White Duck aims to provide gear that will allow anyone to get outside for any purpose. In addition, the company’s White Duck Cares initiative puts customers at the forefront of the brand with free shipping, no-hassle returns, and 24/7 support. Visit www.whiteduckoutdoors.com to learn more about the company, its products, and its sustainability efforts.

 

 

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.