Archives: Press Releases

The diverse lineup will help promote the brand in a variety of spaces across the world

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Big Agnes, the Steamboat-Springs-based outdoor equipment brand, is excited to announce its team of ambassadors for 2023. The group of ten adventurers embody the brand’s ethos and will be representing Big Agnes across the globe this year.

“We are excited to have such an amazing group of ambassadors who will represent Big Agnes in 2023,” said Bill Gamber, co-founder and president of Big Agnes. “These individuals are not only talented athletes but also great human beings who care about the environment and the community. We are proud to support them in their endeavors and share their stories with our customers.”

The ambassador team will be tackling a multitude of adventures this year – from paragliding in Nepal and climbing Orizaba to hosting bikepacking trips for Navajo youth and community on ancestral lands.

The 2023 Big Agnes ambassadors include:

• Ann Driggers – Originally from the UK, Driggers is a weekend warrior and backcountry bon vivant who lives to hike, ski, and paddle but mostly bikepack in the mountains of western Colorado.
• Ben Weaver – A songwriter and poet who travels by bicycle, Weaver uses music and poetry to strengthen relationships and culture between humans and their local ecosystems.
• Cherrise Tuttle – An avid adventurer who has spent the better part of her life living in the mountains with her wolf dog, Astro, as her main adventure companion. Tuttle prioritizes projects with social and environmental impact and currently sits on the board of The Cloudbase Foundation, a global nonprofit dedicated to social entrepreneurship and humanitarian projects.
• Erick Cedeño – Known as the Bicycle Nomad, Cedeño is an explorer and historian. Recently inducted into the 2022 class of The Explorers Club 50, Cedeño is recognized as one of the year’s 50 explorers changing the world who the world needs to know about.
• Jalen Bazile – An outdoor facilitator, organizer, and outdoorsman, dedicated to creating spaces that welcome and affirm Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the outdoors. Bazile is the founder of Travl Wide, a bikepacking outfitter, helping people develop relationships with themselves, their community, and the land around them.
• Jon Yazzie – A full-blooded Dine (Navajo) and aspiring adventure cyclist, Yazzie runs tours through his company Dzil Ta’ah Adventures, providing backcountry cultural experiences through bikepacking and raft-packing, with a focus on mentoring Navajo youth and community engagement.
• Justin Reiter – A retired professional snowboarder, an Olympian, a World Cup Champion, a Vice World Champion, and a ten-time National Champion. Reiter chooses to inspire others in their pursuits of excellence, and he continues his adventurous life in the woods, on his snowboard, and in the saddle all over the world.
• Rebecca Rusch – A multi-decade, multi-sport, seven-time world champion, Mountain Bike and Gravel Hall of Fame inductee, and professional athlete – with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Rusch’s grit, determination, and perseverance have earned her the moniker “Queen of Pain” for a reason.
• Tommy Danger – Danger runs a nonprofit called More Than Just Me, which uses an array of adventures to drive awareness to causes around the world. In his current project, More Than Just Mountains, Danger is climbing the Seven Summits to shine a light on Cystic Fibrosis.
• Trevor Hahn – A dad, artist and outdoor enthusiast on a journey reaching into the unknown with every sense except sight. Hahn strives to be an inclusion advocate, finding purpose in collaborating with others facing barriers to explore.

For more information on Big Agnes’ ambassador program, see www.bigagnes.com/pages/ambassadors.

###

About Big Agnes: Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Big Agnes®, Inc. is located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2021. The company produces award-winning sleeping bags, pads, tents, packs, insulated apparel, camp furniture and now backpacks. For more information, visit www.bigagnes.com or call 1-877-554-8975.

 

Majority of American consumers would be more likely to use a 3D body and foot scanning app based on FDA-cleared tech with medical-grade precision over one without this credential

BOSTON (April 11, 2023) – Online shopping has been around for 20 years, yet consumers still struggle to find the right size in clothing and footwear. Existing solutions like size charts and quiz-based size recommendation tools do not significantly alleviate the problem; in fact, more than 60% of consumers buy more than one size, according to Business Insider. Not surprisingly, consumers – who are likely frustrated with sizing issues – are open to new, higher tech alternatives for finding the right fit. According to a new Harris Poll commissioned by NetVirta, a fit technology leader and creator of Verifyt®, 62% of American consumers would be likely to use 3D smartphone scanning for their body and feet to determine the correct apparel and footwear sizes when shopping online. That number jumps to nearly 78% among American consumers ages 18-44.

It’s clear that credibility of the scanning technology plays a role in consumers’ openness to using such apps. When shopping online for clothing and footwear, nearly 7 in 10 American consumers (69%) would be more likely to choose a scanning app based on FDA-cleared technology with medical-grade precision over another app without this credential. The Verifyt app, which derives a user’s 3D body shape in under a minute, was adapted from NetVirta’s proprietary CurveCapture^® technology. This medical scanning solution provides thousands of physicians in 13 countries the ability to scan their patients using a smartphone. Today, CurveCapture^® is the world’s only FDA-cleared smartphone technology for 3D body shape scanning.

“The Harris Poll/NetVirta results indicate people are now ready for such technology,” said Jeff Chen, CEO and co-founder of NetVirta. “It’s clear that consumers value Verifyt’s medical origins – a testament to its credibility. Our precision provides consumers the confidence to choose the right size from home, and ultimately results in a seamless shopping experience with fewer returns and happier customers.”

Verifyt, the world’s only solution capable of 3D scanning the full body, feet and head, is compatible with most smartphone models (released since 2017). It helps reduce returns and increase conversions in many different product categories, including intimates, footwear, sports equipment and apparel. Beyond these immediate benefits, Verifyt provides a bridge to future applications including virtual try-ons and the metaverse.

Survey Method: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Netvirta from March 14-16, 2023 among 2,052 U.S. adults ages 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.  For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact charlotte@cgprpublicrelations.com.

Visit: www.netvirta.com

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — In a historic event today, the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition announced a campaign calling on President Biden to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument using his Executive authority under the Antiquities Act. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” to the Havasupai, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi.

For more than a decade, tribal leaders have been fighting to protect the Grand Canyon region from uranium mining threats. The proposal for the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would include 1,102,501 acres around and adjoining Grand Canyon National Park. These lands form an integral part of the Colorado River’s Grand Canyon watershed and are where traditional practices, cultural knowledge, and spiritual ceremonies have taken place for millennia.

The national monument designation would honor the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition Members’ deep cultural ties to the Grand Canyon and protect the area by making the temporary 20-year mining moratorium permanent, while also securing the cultural, natural, recreational, and scientific resources of the region. Twelve Tribal Nations who have called Grand Canyon their home since time immemorial, are unified in their bold efforts to continue the movement to permanently protect their traditional homelands under the Antiquities Act.

Through the prevention of further uranium mining development and improved management of waters and forests, the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument designation would have the capacity to increase climate resilience by safeguarding the waters of the Colorado River in the context of aridification, reducing wildfire severity, limiting groundwater loss and disruption associated with uranium mining activities, and protecting unique biodiversity including endangered California Condor and endemic and culturally important plants, from threats such as habitat loss and toxic pollution.

“Kahtoola stands firmly behind the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition and their steadfast dedication to preserve, protect and steward the lands in and around the Grand Canyon area. As a local business that values indigenous heritage and perspectives, we support the tribal led coalition’s proposal to create this monument for the protection of the landscapes, waterways, wildlife, cultural values, clean water and respectful outdoor recreation. We strongly encourage the Biden administration to acknowledge the critical work of the Tribes, who are the original inhabitants and stewards of these lands through the President’s authority to designate Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument,” said Danny Giovale, Founder/Owner, Kahtoola.

“Wild Arizona offers deep thanks and our steadfast support to the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition for their monumental effort to safeguard the Grand Canyon and its rimlands, and acknowledges their many generations of stewardship and protection of the lands, waters and wildlife of this beloved region. The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument proposal shows the vision of regional Tribal leaders for the health and beauty of this living cultural landscape and its vital ecosystems, sacred Tribal lands and waters, and sustaining economic benefits, set against the devastating impacts of uranium mining. Wild Arizona urgently requests the Biden Administration to swiftly advance their historic proposal and ensure that the Grand Canyon’s cultural connections and natural legacy be preserved and healed to honor all generations: past, present and future” said Kelly Burke, Executive Director, Wild Arizona.

Today we stand together firmly as supporters of the 12 Tribal Nations and their proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. In addition, we want to show our deepest and sincerest appreciation to all 12 Tribes for their courage, strength, and dedication as they continue the proud work of stewarding these lands, not just for themselves, but for all people and for generations to come.

The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition consists of leadership representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

###

Wild Arizona is a statewide organization with nearly 3000 supporters/members working since 1979 to protect, unite, and restore wildlands and waters across Arizona and beyond. We pursue this mission for the enrichment and health of all generations and to ensure Arizona’s native plants and animals a lasting home in wild nature.

Kahtoola was founded on the idea that giving back is a responsibility we have as an outdoor business. And for over two decades, we’ve proudly invested in organizations that are making a real difference in the lives of others—organizations that inspire us and that share our core values around preserving Indigenous cultures, building outdoor community and protecting our environment.

 

Tukwila, WA, USA – Morakniv launched their all-new Ash Wood Outdoor Collection, made from bright ash wood from European FSCⓇ certified forests and blades made of recycled Swedish stainless steel.

With the understanding that different outdoor enthusiasts have different needs, Morakniv developed four different knives as part of the Ash Wood Outdoor Collection. From the bushcrafter to the day-hiker, each knife is designed with unique features that enhance the experience of its user.

“With the help from selected focus groups around the world who have provided valuable input, we have been able to navigate our way to four new outdoor knives that, together, make the Ash Wood Outdoor Collection,” says Thomas Johansson, Industrial Designer at Morakniv.

The four knives are Finn, Wit, Lok, and Rombo, named after former Morakniv knife makers Finn-Anders Andersson, Wit-Anders Eriksson, Lok-Anders Mattsson and Rombo-Anders Eriksson Ström. The Anders name as long dominated the men’s first names in the Mora area, where Morakniv knives are made to this day.

The Finn is a small hiker’s knife that fits perfectly in your pocket and is ready to take on your next excursion. The Wit, slightly bigger than the Finn, is perfectly crafted for a variety of demanding and unexpected situations and specifically designed for precision work. The Lok is a robust knife built to withstand the most demanding and heavy-duty situations. And the Rombo was created for the culinary artist who is looking to improve their outdoor cooking skills and deliver a consistently superb culinary experience. 

The FSC label on the Ash Wood collection is considered a trusted mark for sustainable forestry. FSC means zero deforestation, a fair and safe workers experience, protection of plants and animals, and respect of local communities rights and resources.

Building on more than 400 years of Swedish tradition, Morakniv has produced knives of unparalleled quality for hunters, adventurers, fishermen, farriers, chefs, craftsmen and other skilled trades and hobbyists since 1891. Thoughtfully designed for precision and power, Morakniv products are still produced in their factory in Mora, Sweden. Morakniv is distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Industrial Revolution, a Seattle-based company that manufactures and distributes products enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. For additional information, visit moraknivusa.com or industrialrev.com.

Founded in 1971 as UCO Corporation – a parts manufacturer for notable brands including Boeing, K2, Lange, and Jansport – the Seattle-based company has been known as Industrial Revolution since 2005. Industrial Revolution has grown to become a leading manufacturer and distributor of inventive products that promote fun, safety, and comfort in the outdoors, including Candle Lanterns™, Stormproof Matches™, Ice Cream Balls, and the UltraPod™ tripod. Industrial Revolution includes two owned brands – UCO and Pedco – and two distributed brands – Sweden-based Morakniv® knives, as well as German-based Esbit solid fuel stoves and cookware.

# # #

THE SALES TEAM AT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WELCOMES HARRISON FRYE AS A REGIONAL SALES MANAGER.

Tukwila, WA, USA – Industrial Revolutions is excited to welcome Harrison Frye to the Sales Team as a Regional Sales Manager. Frye is responsible for managing relationships across all Industrial Revolution markets, managing accounts, and overseeing independent reps and distributors of Industrial Revolution brands, namely UCO, Morakniv, Esbit, and Pedco.

A native to Washington with more than 7 years of sales experience, Frye comes to the table with a strategic and analytical mindset and is motivated to build new network connections. “I have enjoyed getting to know the IR team and learning about the company history and product assortment,” says Frye. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow with the company.” In his spare time Frye enjoys hiking, golfing, mountain biking, and spending time outside with his wife and children.

“Harrison brings an expertise that spans from marketplace to independent dealers, including established relationships with many of our customers,” says Chris Clark, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Industrial Revolution. “He brings deep product knowledge, both in cutlery and general outdoor. We are excited to have him join the team at IR!”

Industrial Revolution is a collection of people, brands, and products that share the singular purpose of making life outside more enjoyable. As a privately held company, they choose to model a work/lifestyle that ensures our bottom line is defined by more than numbers alone. They believe that relationships matter, that their people matter and that they must always move forward toward sustainability, wherever they can, simply because it is the right thing to do.

Industrial Revolution was incorporated in 2005, but was founded in 1971 as UCO Corporation. Industrial Revolution is now a leading manufacturer and distributor of inventive products that promote fun, safety, and comfort in the outdoorsIndustrial Revolution includes two owned brands – UCO and Pedco – and two distributed brands – Sweden-based Morakniv® knives, as well as German-based Esbit solid fuel stoves and cookware.

To check learn more about Industrial Revolution at https://www.industrialrev.com/.

# # #

Five-mile cross country lap is a nod to the 2001 Durango World Cup race, won by Julien Absalon and Mary Grigson

 

Download Photos

Durango, Colo. (March 6, 2023) – This year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Subaru Mountain Bike Race will harken back to the past, using similar trails as the 2001 UCI World Cup course. The 5-mile lap will start and end at Chapman Hill and loop around the prominent mesa just east of downtown for a total of more than 500 feet of climbing per lap.

Durango’s cycling and mountain bike legacy–being home to hundreds of miles of singletrack and numerous Olympians–is closely linked with the Iron Horse, which began in 1972. Things really took off for Durango after the inaugural UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 1990, with the town hosting a World Cup in 2001 and multiple NORBA races.

“This year’s mountain bike course has been ridden and raced many times by the sport’s biggest stars,” said race director Ian Burnett. “The Iron Horse cross country race has been a mainstay in the Durango cycling calendar for years so we wanted to nod back to our history while creating a course that challenges the current crop of pro riders.”

Starting at the base of Chapman Hill, racers will storm toward the half-mile climb up Lion’s Den Trail before topping out on the mesa overlooking town. From here the course flattens out as it skirts around the east side of the Fort Lewis College campus, home to the National Championship-winning FLC Cycling Team. After some flowy yet tricky turns on the south side of the mesa, racers will tackle a few short, punchy climbs as they head back toward Chapman, where they will plunge down the ski hill amid throngs of spectators.

Racers will complete a set number of laps depending on which category they are a part of. There will be three waves of racers taking off throughout the day on Sunday, May 28, and there are plenty of spectating opportunities along the course. Start times by category are posted here, and the course map is available here.

Mountain biking has been a mainstay at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, which is known for the Durango-Silverton road race and tour, where riders “race the train” over two mountain passes for a total of 50 miles and 5,700’ of elevation gain. In recent years, the event has also added the Alpine Bank La Strada La Plata gravel event, which will also start and end at Chapman Hill.

Both the long and short gravel courses will start off on city streets before tackling the loose and rocky Horse Gulch Road climb. Riders then head east toward the punchy Glockenspiel climb and the steady yet scenic Texas Creek climb. The short course is 59 miles with 5,400 feet of climbing. The long course adds an additional loop with rolling terrain for a total of 98 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing.

Riders can register for all events and find  more details about the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic at: 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.

AMHERST, Mass. (April 6, 2023) – OrthoLite Cirql™, the world’s first circular foam material solution for footwear, has been named to the shortlist in the “Best Sustainability Initiative of the Year” category by Drapers Footwear Awards 2023.

Drapers has been the leading authority on fashion retailing in the UK since 1887, and its annual Drapers Award is given to a UK or Irish footwear brand, retailer, etailer or supplier that has improved its environmental impact or launched an impressive product within the year. Submissions are judged on four criteria: How the initiative was implemented across the business, the difference made to the business and its operations, how the activity or product achieved its objectives, and relevance to target audience.

Introduced in March 2022, OrthoLite Cirql was developed through an exclusive partnership between OrthoLite®, the global leader of sustainable, performance and comfort insoles and footwear materials solutions, and Novamont, the international innovator and leader in the advancement, development and manufacture of biodegradable and compostable bio-products.

“We are honored that OrthoLite Cirql is among this exceptional group of finalists in the category of best sustainable initiative of the year,” said Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite. “OrthoLite Cirql is on a mission to help lead the footwear industry toward true circularity, and we consider this innovative new material solution already to be a ‘win’ for all of our brand partners who are making strides toward sustainability in footwear.”

OrthoLite Cirql foam is a patented footwear materials solution combining OrthoLite’s 26 years of expertise and innovation in foaming polymers and Novamont’s world-leading bio-based, compostable and recyclable polymer to provide the first technology capable of greatly reducing the impact of the manufacturing process with multiple end-of-life disposal options.

OrthoLite Cirql will offer a traditional plastic-free, scalable and truly circular material to OrthoLite’s 500+ footwear brand partners and factory stakeholders in 2023.

OrthoLite Cirql is free from “forever chemicals.” It is responsibly sourced from non-GMO traditional vegetable raw materials derived from plants plus synthetic biodegradable materials. The material can be returned to the production cycle by advanced chemical recycling to help keep materials in use or back to nature as fully compostable through selected industrial composters.

Using existing and new, closed loop, take back, recycling streams for footwear, scalable end of life management will involve collaboration with footwear brands and the waste management sector. OrthoLite Cirql will also help avoid the accumulation of persistent microplastics as particles will biodegrade similar to natural polymers such as cellulose.

OrthoLite Cirql is committed to full transparency and third-party validation, and has  undergone extensive third-party testing, and analysis including a complete Life Cycle IVL Assessment. OrthoLite Cirql is Certified Industrial Compostable – (Din Certco), REACH-certified (EU) and USDA Certified Bio Preferred®, RSL compliant (Intertek), certified GMO-free, certified Vegan and Hypoallergenic.

The winner of “Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year” will be announced at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2023 in London on June 22, 2023.

For more information about OrthoLite Cirql, visit OrthoLiteCirql.com.

 

About OrthoLite®

OrthoLite is the world’s leading supplier of open-cell foam technology, and the innovator and creator of OrthoLite Cirql™, the patented, revolutionary alternative to conventional plastics that provides footwear brands and their factory partners with the most sustainable, circular choice in materials. OrthoLite’s innovative footwear solutions are available to brands that share a vision for the future of sustainable footwear. Currently OrthoLite is found in more than 550 million shoes across all categories each year from brands such as Adidas, Altra, Asics, Brooks, Clarks, Converse, Danner, ECCO, Fendi, HOKA, Hugo Boss, Justin, New Balance, On, Reebok, Rothy’s, Salomon, Skechers, The North Face, Timberland, Toms, Under Armour, and Vans.

OrthoLite has a long-standing history of meaningful partnerships and sponsorships that demonstrate a dedicated commitment to supporting its customers, consumers, brand partners and the footwear industry. OrthoLite is the Official Insole sponsor of the New York Yankees, and strong supporter of the Two Ten Foundation. Stay up to date with company news by visiting OrthoLite.com and OrthoLiteCirql.com, and following OrthoLite on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. To learn more about the benefits of OrthoLite, visit www.ortholite.com.

Salt Lake City, UT (April 5, 2023) “Advice for Girls” is a brand-new, feature-length ski film showcasing the collective experience of women in the ski industry. Throughout the film, athletes will share the lessons they have learned through their experiences and pass advice on to the next generation of female skiers.

The film is inspired by the poem “Advice for Girls,” written by Addy Jacobsend. Her hope is that her words will remind women and girls that they are worthy of success, allowed to take up space, and are extremely valuable to the ski industry. The Advice for Girls team hopes that this film will provide young girls with the inspiration to show up as their true selves and not let anything stand in their way.

The all-female cast AND production crew is extremely passionate about celebrating and uplifting women through empowerment, equal pay, and equal opportunities.

“I wrote the “Advice for Girls” poem all about the lessons I have learned as a female skier,” says author, producer, and athlete Addy Jacobsend. “Over the years there have been many limiting beliefs fed to me by the ski industry, and unfortunately, they have had the power to hold me back at times.”

“My hope is that both the poem and the film will help women and girls skip over some of those harmful, limiting beliefs and inspire them to take up space in the ski industry.”

There are thousands of people who are passionate about this movement and want to support women in skiing. Although the ski industry is supportive of this film, women still don’t receive the financial commitment from the industry that they deserve. In order to help this film reach its highest potential and make as much of an impact as possible the Advice For Girls team is turning to their skiing community to fill in the gaps: dads, moms, brothers, grandparents, supportive partners, friends, allies, and anyone passionate about women’s sports.

The film’s Kickstarter is live until May 5th! Visit the Kickstarter to learn more about the film, the all-female production team, and watch the film’s first teaser. Please consider supporting Advice For Girls either by donating to the Kickstarter or sharing information about the film’s fundraising efforts with those you think might be interested.

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adviceforgirlsfilm/advice-for-girls

Follow along on Social Media: @advice4_girls on Instagram

Questions: Thank you for your interest in learning more about Advice for Girls! For any questions or press inquiries, please contact sara@theroadwesttraveled.com and addyjacobsend@gmail.com.

Photo Credits: Bianca Germain @biancagermain, Katie Cooney @ktcooney