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First-of-its-kind bipartisan policy package focuses on upgrading and expanding sustainable outdoor recreation on public lands and waters.  

Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2023) — This week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) reintroduced America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), a first-of-its-kind policy package that aims to improve outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters. Public support for AORA will be crucial to its passage in Congress, according to Outdoor Alliance, a non-profit that works on behalf of the human-powered outdoor recreation community to protect public lands and waters.

Outdoor Alliance is urging the public to contact their lawmakers in favor of the legislation over coming months. It has made taking action easy through a personalizable letter writing form on its website.

AORA is a bipartisan effort that includes a number of recreation bills that Outdoor Alliance and its partners worked to develop over the last 10 years, including the Recreation-Not-Red-Tape Act and the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act (SOAR). Though it came close to passing at the end of the last Congress, it did not make it across the finish line. Outdoor Alliance is pleased to see the Senate picking it up again early in this session.

The bill offers thoughtful updates to enhance the outdoor recreation economy, expand recreation opportunities, protect the outdoors and ensure recreation remains sustainable. It will help land managers work together to protect outdoor recreation, expand outdoor access and create new parks for neighborhoods that need them most. It will also help mountaineering clubs like Washington state’s The Mountaineers get new people outside. The legislation will also encourage land managers to identify and designate new bike trails, protect bolted climbing, and upgrade how vital visitor data is collected, which shapes how public lands are protected for years to come.

With outdoor recreation participation growing, particularly since the pandemic, there are many opportunities to improve how public lands are managed to protect and enhance sustainable access to the outdoors.

“Outdoor recreation is enormously important to Americans, and Outdoor Alliance is grateful for Senator Manchin and Senator Barrasso’s reintroduction of America’s Outdoor Recreation Act, which will benefit the millions of Americans who participate in outdoor recreation every year,” said Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance’s Policy Director.

“Outdoor recreation on our public lands and waters is an important part of millions of people’s lives, and there is more we can do to protect and facilitate these experiences. Effectively managing our public lands and waters requires both conservation and sound policy guidance. America’s Outdoor Recreation Act provides improved management for climbing and mountain biking; enhances how agencies manage outdoor recreation; and invests in equity through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership and by making facilitated access experiences available to more Americans.”

Among others, the provisions in America’s Outdoor Recreation Act include:

 

• Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act (BOLT), which would help identify and designate long-distance mountain biking trails on public lands.
• Important steps to protect Wilderness climbing through land agency climbing guidance.
• Travel Management, which Outdoor Alliance’s partners at Winter Wildlands Alliance have worked on for years and which ensures that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management designate “zones” for human-powered use and for motorized use, especially during winter.
• The SOAR Act, which Outdoor Alliance’s partners at The Mountaineers have worked on for years, and which fixes the recreational permitting process. This would help recreational outfitters, including OA members like The Mountaineers, get permits from land managers to take people on facilitated trips. This is also critical for improving equitable access to the outdoors.
• Makes the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) permanent. FICOR is a council that helps land managers coordinate and focuses on improving access to nature and expanding outdoor recreation opportunities.
• Improvements to data and technology. The bill would require land management agencies to better collect and report on visitation data, which will help planning and conservation efforts.
• Creating a recreation inventory which will help agencies plan around protecting recreation. This was a key piece of the Recreation-Not-Red-Tape Act that OA worked on for years. Identifying where recreation happens on public lands will help protect important landscapes from potential development conflicts, and will be helpful as agencies do land planning.
• Codifies the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, which provides grant funding for urban areas to develop green spaces and outdoor access, with priority given to economically disadvantaged areas and neighborhoods without existing outdoor recreation opportunities.

These policies would provide significant protections and enhancements for all the outdoor recreation experiences the public enjoys on public lands. To learn more, please visit www.outdooralliance.org and take action by writing a letter via its action form here.

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, OA 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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DURANGO, Colo. (March 17, 2023) – Tailwind Nutrition athlete John Kelly was the second to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons this year, finishing the 100 mile course in 58 hours 42 minutes and 23 seconds, less than 20 minutes after Aurélien Sanchez who finished in 58 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds. The only other finisher this year was Belgium’s Karel Sabbe, another Tailwind athlete, who finished just six and a half minutes before the 60-hour cut off. Sabbe now officially holds the designation of the slowest finish, a title many wish they could one day hold. 

The Barkley Marathons course consists of an unmarked 20-mile loop riddled with steep climbs and dense forest, not to mention darkness and sleep deprivation. Runners must rely on a map and compass to navigate through the wilderness to complete five loops before the 60-hour cutoff, with the goal of finishing what is known as, “The race that eats its young.”

This is Kelly’s second Barkley Marathons finish, the first was in 2017. He is one of only three people who have ever finished the race twice. There has not been another finisher since Kelly completed the five loops in 2017. It was also Kelly’s sixth time starting, having raced in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and this year. For Tailwind athlete Sabbe, this was his third attempt, having started in 2019 and 2022 as well. In 2022 he made it onto the fourth loop but got turned around, ending up in the neighboring town of Petros and escorted back to the race camp by the county Sheriff. 

“For me this race was at its most basic a fun adventure with friends in the woods,” said Kelly. “But deeper down it was a test of mental resilience, to see if I could still push through the challenges without the motivation of trying to become a first-time finisher. Tailwind helped ensure I could focus on that test, providing over 30 bottles of simple, nothing to think about, fuel.”

The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race created by Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell and held annually in Frozen Head State Park Tennessee each year. On race day, Tuesday, March 14, as with every year, the official start time is kept a secret until one hour before when the conch shell is blown. The race officially starts when Laz lights his cigarette. To be a Barkley Marathons finisher, athletes must complete five total loops, 20-miles each, for a total of 100 miles in under 60 hours. Before this year, of over 1,000 people who have started the race, only 15 people have ever finished. 

Each year “Laz” creates a theme for the race (one year it was Love and Puppies). In regard to this years’ theme, Howie Stern, official photographer said, “Why the appeal of photographing Barkley every year? It’s that the worst-case scenario is the starting point…”. Coincidentally, that was the theme for Barkley Marathons this year.

To see how the race unfolded this year, check out the Barkley Twitter thread, with tweets from official tweet master, Keith Dunn. Dunn said, “Barkley is family and Fool’s Weekend is the annual reunion of that family. It’s the one time each year I get to see old friends who I love dearly and make new friends and I cannot begin to imagine not being there.”

The elusive and infamous Barkley Marathons is limited to 40 participants each year and potential runners must apply and be accepted to participate. The entry fee is $1.60, and runners must also provide certain items to the race directly, such as a license plate from their home state or country.

For more information on Tailwind Nutrition and to keep up with Tailwind Nutrition athletes, please visit: www.tailwindnutrition.com, Tailwind’s blog and follow their adventures on Instagram (@tailwindnutrition) and Facebook.

About Tailwind Nutrition

Since 2012, Tailwind Nutrition has been manufacturing all-natural endurance nutrition products that are free of GMOs, dairy, soy, and gluten, are easy to digest, and support an athlete’s fueling and recovery needs during exercise. Owned, operated, and manufactured in Durango, CO, Tailwind Nutrition’s specially formulated drink mixes help athletes perform and compete at their highest level without the worry of food allergies or sensitivities. Tailwind is all you need, all day. Really. For more information visit tailwindnutrition.com

The Blinder Lights family just got better with advanced technology & more competitive price per lumen

 

World-renowned cycling and outdoor accessory brand Knog is thrilled to announce the expansion of its best-selling Blinder Light collection. Combining robust aluminum CNC construction, compact design, optimized beam angles, powerful light output, multiple mounting options, and more competitive price per lumen, the all-new Blinder Integrated front light range is designed to raise the bar by which all serious commuter and road cyclists bike lights are measured. 

 

Growing the family of Knog’s Blinder lights, which includes top-rated lights like the Blinder V Rear Light and Blinder Road Front Light, the new Blinder Integrated range brings riders the best possible front lights for the best possible price. Available in 600 lumens, 900 lumens, and 1300 lumens, the newest Blinder lights are constructed from a single piece of industrial-grade aluminum using CNC machining that is anodized for an unparalleled durable finish. This method creates an unbelievably strong light that is also lightweight and impervious to corrosion from the elements. Equipped with features like dual-function side body vents and chassis cooling fins, the new Blinder 600, 900, and 1300 provide dual mounting options, enhanced side visibility, and self-regulated battery temperature, which helps prevent the unit head from overheating. 

 

Giving riders the high-powered, road-focused beam they need, the new Blinder 600, 900, and 1300 combine two wide beam optics with two narrow beam optics. This combination creates the perfect blend of light, covering both distance and span. An intelligent, easy-to-operate silicone button also allows the rider to effortlessly select one of the six available modes: steady high, steady medium, steady low, pulse flash, strobe flash, and eco flash. Riders will never be left guessing when their light requires a full recharge–the new Blinder lights are designed with a convenient LED that lights up red when the battery dips below 10% remaining charge. The button also features an LED ring that glows green while the light is charging and turns off automatically when the light has achieved full charge capacity. Like all Knog products, there is no need to worry about wasteful, single-use batteries. Blinder 600, 900, and 1300 all feature an advanced Lipo USB-C rechargeable battery that provides outstanding performance and an average run time of 2.5 hours on its highest setting and a staggering 125  hours on the Eco-Flash mode.

 

Designed to be mounted in different locations above and below the handlebars, Knog celebrates rider individuality with multiple mounting options to best suit your cockpit setup. In addition to the flexible mount the light is supplied with, the new Blinders also have mounts that allow the lights to be used in conjunction with Go-Pros and other handlebar-mounted accessories. Delivering premium functionality, the Blinder 600, 900, and 1300 are also 100% waterproof and dustproof. 

 

“When we were first conceptualizing the new Blinder range, we sat down as a team and discussed any and all potential ideas for a new front bicycle light,” says Knog Co-Founder and CEO Hugo Davidson. “We knew we wanted to design something striking, elegant, and innovative, but most importantly, we wanted to provide something functional, effective, and relevant to all rider types. Rather than developing a whole new family of lights, we decided to build off the Blinder family’s rich history of innovation and performance–borrowing design elements from our Blinder Road light, like the side illumination windows and side body vents. Our all-new Blinder range is a new chapter in our long story, one that highlights our passion for the intersection between performance and design,” he adds. 

Retailing for $59.95 (Blinder 600), $79.95 (Blinder 900), and $99.95 (Blinder 1300), the new Blinder Integrated Front Lights will be available this spring. For a sneak peek of the new Blinder Bike Lights, come visit Knog at Sea Otter, booth R1. For all press inquiries, contact Katie Richter at katie@darbycommunications.com For all distribution inquiries, contact International Sales Manager Colin@knog.com.au.

After one year in the making, Optic Nerve Eyewear reveals a new brand identity with a refreshed logo and tagline that aligns with the launch of eight new products to further elevate the brand’s sustainable offerings. Launched in 1981, this Colorado-based company emphasizes people over profits and has been well-respected in the industry for more than 40 years due to its excruciating thoughtfulness around features and innovation. With their new rally cry — “Always Worth It” – they are hoping to pass on to others that getting outside is always worth it.

Optic Nerve is made for the outdoor-inspired and driven by the personal passions of its owners and employees. With a mission “to improve the world around us by making it easier for people to experience and enjoy all the things they love to do in the great outdoors,” the brand is committed to ensuring nothing stands in the way of their customers’ next adventure.

“For the last four decades, Optic Nerve has delivered quality eyewear for the outdoor-inspired and we aim to keep it that way,” Bill Cotton said, Optic Nerve president and co-owner. “We want the Optic Nerve brand to authentically embody the spirit of who we are beyond our products. We have a unique style, flavor and flare and this refresh more accurately captures what’s most important by being a true reflection of our beliefs as a brand and the needs of our customers.”

As a bold step with this overall new direction, Optic Nerve also decided to consolidate all product lines under a single master brand and has retired the ONE Polarized^® brand. All products will now be presented in a more meaningful way to strengthen the core brand. This will be a rolling change to sunset the ONE Polarized brand and changeover the new branding and merchandise throughout 2023 and into early 2024. 

To align with the timing of this launch announcement, Optic Nerve has several new products made from different eco-friendly materials and methods that will pioneer the new brand identity including:

• Castor Bean Oil-Derived Materials (G850) frame construction:
  • FixieLUX: A striking new platform in the Fixie Series designed for performance sports/athletes, FixieLUX features an innovative frame and temple design that features a new ratchet-adjustable nose piece to provide unparalleled security and comfort. This lens is strongly curved, allowing for close protection of the eyes and face. | $79. COMING SOON
  • FixieSTEALTH: Combining the best features in the Fixie Series, the FixieSTEALTH offers an amazing field of view, an aggressive performance-inspired design and durable construction including an innovative ratchet-adjustable nose piece for a precise fit. | $79. COMING SOON
  • FixiePHENOM: Built to go above and beyond, the FixiePHENOM provides a wide field of view, incredible visual precision and a full lens wrapper for rock-solid sturdiness. These frames not only look and feel great, but they’ll also reset the bar for performance eyewear. | $99. COMING SOON
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood frame construction:
  • Hedge: Timeless shape and beautiful wood materials come together in this eye-catching new addition to the wood collection – coming in a light and dark bamboo tone with polarized lenses. | $59.99.
• Global Recycling Standard (GRS) Certified Plastic frame construction:
  • Gracie: One of the must-have accessories for summer 2023, the Gracie lifestyle sunglass style has a distinctive frame shape and three different color options with polarized lenses to complement a fashion-forward style. | $39.99.
  • Cyphon: A workhorse frame with features designed for life outside, the Cyphon comes in subtle but striking colorways with anti-slip rubberized temples and polarized lenses to keep eyes protected. | $39.99.
  • Biggerton: Designed with movement in mind, the Biggerton is designed to accommodate larger face shapes and features anti-slip rubber on the nose and temple to keep the frames secure during any outdoor adventure as well as polarized lenses. | $39.99.
• Retainers Cords: Lost sunglasses should be a thing of the past! This new collection of eyewear retainers helps keep sunglasses where they belong. With material options including cord, cotton, neoprene and even buoyed, these retainers are ready for any adventure and come in eight different styles and various colors to complement any style. | $9.99 – $10.99.

These new products, and all products moving forward, will reflect Optic Nerve’s commitment to sustainability as they are made from plant-based materials and come in new biodegradable packaging. Like the Gracie, Cyphon and Biggerton mentioned above, all current products priced at $29 or $39 will be made from GRS materials by the end of 2023. Optic Nerve will be one of the only players in the industry to provide this commitment to sustainability for the price. As an additional commitment to sustainability, Optic Nerve’s warehouse distribution center and office, just outside of Denver, is powered by solar and wind energy so customers can feel inspired by not only the products themselves but what they represent.  

For more information about Optic Nerve and to see more of their new brand, visit www.opticnerve.com.

About Optic Nerve

Independently owned and proudly headquartered in Colorado since 1981, Optic Nerve Eyewear exists to create a clearer view of what matters, producing purposeful eyewear for the outdoor-inspired. Headquartered in one of the most physically active states in the U.S., Optic Nerve knows what it’s like to go the extra mile and dedicates excruciating thoughtfulness around features and innovation to make sure nothing stands in the way of creating products with a little extra flare and more value, all with a steadfast commitment to sustainability and quality backed by a lifetime warranty. To learn more, visit www.opticnerve.com.

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  Kelly Wakefield, WildRock PR & Marketing

• Location: WHEAT RIDGE, Colo.

Test PR – 3/30

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• Location: Location, Here

Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a store in Sarasota, Florida in fall 2023. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics.

“Ten years ago, we opened our first store in Florida with a Jacksonville location. We’ve long recognized the opportunity to better serve our customers who live and play in the Sarasota area, as they have been driving an hour to our Tampa store,” said Les Hatton, REI regional director. “Incredible natural places such as Alafia State Park, Myakka River State Park, Robinson Preserve and many others offer some of the best cycling, paddling, hiking, bird watching, and outdoor activities in the state. We look forward to being a resource to the community and building lasting relationships with regional nonprofits.”

Store Facts                 

• Location: University Town Center, 161 North Cattlemen Road
• Store Size: 25,000 square feet
• Store Features: Full-service bike shop, buy online-pick up in store, curbside pickup
• REI Co-op Membership: 114,000 members in the Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) DMA and 512,000 members in Florida
• REI Stores in Florida: Tampa (56 miles away, opened 2021), Winter Park (128 miles away, opened 2017), Palm Beach Gardens (165 miles away, opened 2022), Gainesville (173 miles away, opened 2020), Boca Raton, (222 miles away, opened 2020), Jacksonville, (256 miles away, opened 2013), Tallahassee (299 miles away, opened 2022)

As the country’s largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to tap into the expertise of REI’s store staff and online resources such as its Expert Advice library to learn or advance skills, plan adventures, and more. Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program called Re/Supply; discounts on shop services and experiences; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the co-op’s bike shop, REI members receive free flat-tire repair (labor only).

REI believes deeply in supporting the long-term health of the outdoors. The co-op has invested millions of dollars in local nonprofits to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. Over the last five years, Florida land agencies and nonprofit partners have received more than $450,000. Last year, $102,500 was distributed to 15 nonprofits across the state, including Alafia State Park, Florida State Parks Foundation and Florida Trail Association. Complementing REI’s community investments, REI’s Cooperative Action Fund invests in nonprofits to build a more equitable and inclusive outdoor community. Florida recipients include Adaptive Adventures (Tampa and Miami), Black Girls RUN! Foundation chapters throughout the state, and HBCUs Outside (Tallahassee).

Join the REI team 
REI expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Sarasota. Candidates interested in joining the team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and learn about the general hiring timeline. Candidates can set a job alert on the co-op’s career site to be notified when positions post. All employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, such as two paid annual “Co-op Way Days” that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to encourage all employees to #OptOutside. REI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables a life outdoors for everyone. The co-op seeks candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.

About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 21.5 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 181 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.