Archives: Press Releases

ELY, MN–Today a Trump appointed U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C. upheld the Trump Administration reversal of  Twin Metals’ lease termination. The reversal is being challenged through a lawsuit brought by Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and 9 Northeastern Minnesota businesses against the Trump Administration. The lawsuit challenges the legality of a May 2018 temporary reinstatement of expired mineral leases. Those leases were since officially renewed. These leases were not renewed in 2016 when, after years of study and overwhelming public comment, the U.S. Forest Service concluded that copper mining under these leases posed an unacceptable risk of irreparable damage to the Boundary Waters and surrounding Superior National Forest lands and waters.

“Today is a slap in the face to science, the rule of law, the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and the American people,” said Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters Executive Director Tom Landwehr. “This decision failed to recognize the clear, plain language of the leases and twisted itself into knots to justify the predetermined policy decision of the Trump Administration to sell out America’s most popular Wilderness to a Chilean billionaire who also happens to be the landlord of Ivanka Trump. We intend to appeal this misguided ruling.”

Minnesotans overwhelmingly oppose mining near the Boundary Waters. A recent Star Tribune/MPR poll showed that by a 3-1 margin Minnesotans opposed sulfide-ore copper mining near the Boundary Waters. Less than a quarter of Minnesotans supported new mining near the Wilderness. Significantly, responses did not vary greatly between regions of the state, with 54% of Northern Minnesota residents opposed and only 26% in favor. 

The Trump Administration has continued to hide critical scientific data on the danger of sulfide-ore copper mining, refusing calls by Congress, the media, and the public to release the data.

###

Boulder-based Momentum Media PR  will host  a series of virtual media events targeted at both core outdoor and broad-based media and influencers, kicking-off and rolling out for spring and summer 2020. Rooted in the outdoor and snow sports markets since 2001, Momentum has differentiated its agency by successfully and simultaneously immersing clients in both the core endemic outdoor and snow sports markets as well as a much broader base of active lifestyle, style, fashion, and mainstream media and consumers.

Having successfully done so on behalf of clients for nearly two decades, Momentum is bringing new solutions to bridge the gap between brands and their media and consumer audiences. The first virtual media event is slated for April 1^st and will take place live from Boulder, Colorado. Featuring national and global apparel and gear brands in an active setting with an interactive format, the event will draw media from across the country. 

An experiential event along with a virtual Outdoor Retailer sneak preview are slated for the week of June 15^th; both will be held locally while the sneak preview will broadcast nationally, and both will be open to exhibiting and non-exhibiting brands. Media is invited to attend to see and hear about current and future products from some of the most esteemed brands in the active lifestyle and outdoor space.

“We’re seeing an immediate and long-term need for a smart solution to bring the latest gear and news to our media and influencer networks, located in hubs like New York, LA and Denver, in an engaging and efficient way,” said Bethany Mousseau, PR Director for Momentum Media PR. “In keeping with our extensive experience curating and executing events that are both creative and strategic, we’re now connecting brands with media in this new virtual series to help them reach their existing and potential customer bases.”

Along with one-on-one and small group opt-in media meetings in Boulder and Denver, home to AIM Media’s Backpacker, Climbing, SKI, and the outdoor industry trade outlet SNEWS, as well as Gear Junkie and a wide network of editors, freelance writers, and influencers contributing to hundreds of outlets and channels, Momentum will be partnering with other PR agencies and individual brands to bring product launches, news and experiences to outdoor, active lifestyle, and mainstream consumer media nationwide.

“At a time when brands need extra support and new ways to reach media and consumers, we’re accelerating our media event schedule by hosting virtually as well as in person when and where possible,” said Alycia Cavadi, Momentum’s president and founder.  “We’re taking our expertise in media relations and events and extending it to platforms that will help us broaden our reach for our clients and best serve our media network who are always looking for new stories to share. To that end, we’ll be joining forces with like-minded and forward-thinking PR agencies and brands to offer even more stories and value.”

 Momentum has served as PR agency of record for many outdoor and active lifestyle premium brands, while also reaching crossover markets like natural foods, wellness and marine. The agency is also proven in successfully reaching “more than outdoor,” serving clients in various markets including golf and housewares. 

 Updates to the dates, times, brands and media participants will be found on a soon-to-launch “upcoming events” page at www.momentummediapr.com. For updates as-they-happen, subscribe to Momentum’s newsletter at www.momentummediapr.com/contact.

About Momentum

Originated in the outdoor and snow sports markets since 2001, Momentum has differentiated itself for reaching both endemic markets and a much broader base of active lifestyle, style, fashion, and mainstream media and influencers.  Current clients include BOGS footwear, Darn Tough Vermont, ECCO Outdoor, Flowbuilt Manufacturing, Noto Group Executive Search, Stanley-PMI, Superfeet, and Turtle Fur.                       

Based in Boulder and Boston, Momentum is strategically located in close proximity to outdoor and active lifestyle media as well as New York’s broader fitness, fashion and general interest media base.               

The agency has also served as PR agency of record for many more top-tier brands in the active markets, including Teva, Mammut, Icebreaker, Lole, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Eastern Mountain Sports, Mustang Survival, aladdin, Outdoor Industry Association, Justin’s, Sea to Summit, Petzl, and Leave No Trace.  To learn more about Momentum Media PR’s services and capabilities, visit www.momentummediapr.com.

prAna, creator of the Clothing for Positive Change movement and leader in sustainable, outdoor fashion, released a statement from brand President, Russ Hopcus, in response to the coronavirus global pandemic.

The statement reads:

With the continuing spread of COVID-19 we will be closing all prAna stores for two weeks — from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 27. We believe we must do our part to limit the spread of this virus and help in the recovery of our communities.

Our number-one priority is the safety and well-being of our people—our staff and our customers. We will continue to pay our staff throughout this period and offer our products to you online.

We appreciate your support and know that together we will get through this unprecedented time.

The retailer has six stores located in Boulder, Denver, Portland, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Manhattan Beach.

For updates, please visit prana.com.

About prAna
Clothing for Positive Change
We inspire you to chase adventure, thrive, and stay active in your unique way. We strive to responsibly outfit those adventures with respect for the planet and its people. We commit to education and exploration in the name of progress so we can all create clothing for positive change. Whether you’re commuting to work or wandering the globe, rest assured we’ve been there and used those moments to design better and sustainably made product. prana.com

In response to COVID-19 and concern for the health and well-being of our employees as well as the larger community, Rossignol Group North America announced proactive steps and precautions for staff over the weekend, effective immediately.

Beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020, all Rossignol Group North America employees with the ability to telecommute have been instructed to work from home until further notice. Distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada have been authorized to continue on-site operations with additional “safe zone” precautions and entry permitted to Rossignol Group employees only. Additional education and resources have been deployed to assist our employees during this unprecedented and challenging time. 

These measures are the latest in a comprehensive response from Rossignol Group’s management team, including the cancellation of events, closing of all U.S. retail locations, elimination of business travel, and self-quarantine of any employees who may have recently traveled outside of the country. 

We believe corporate social responsibility during a public health crisis means making decisions proactively and out of an abundance of caution. In light of the current situation, the best evidence and advice from global health officials indicates that adopting social distancing and short-term isolation practices can help to mitigate major risks to the health of our communities. 

Our management team would like to thank our customers and business partners for their patience during this time as we do everything we can to minimize disruption to our business while protecting our employees. We’d also like to thank our employees for their flexibility, with special recognition going to the hardworking staff in our distribution center, human resource, and IT teams for rising to meet these new challenges.

Francois Goulet

President, Rossignol Group North America

World champion ultrarunners will toe the line at the Hardrock 100 and UTMB®

OGDEN, Utah (March 17, 2020) – Salomon ultrarunning athletes Courtney Dauwalter and Francois D’Haene today announced their race plans for the 2020 running season. The star athletes have recently taken the ultrarunning world by storm, each earning Ultrarunner of the Year recognitions and podium finishes across the board. This year, the American and Frenchman will both take on two of the most iconic 100-mile trail races in the world, the Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run in Silverton, Colo. and the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB®) in Chamonix, France.

“Hardrock 100 is a beautiful mountain race in Colorado that has a rich history and family-like community feel. I am honored to be able to participate in this race,” says 2019 UTMB® first place winner, Courtney Dauwalter. “UTMB® was a race I experienced for the first time this past year and I absolutely loved it. The terrain is tough but gorgeous, and the festive atmosphere of Chamonix during race week was energizing. I can’t wait to take another lap of Mont Blanc!”

The opportunity for both athletes to finally take on the legendary Hardrock 100 comes a year later than planned, as the 2019 event was cancelled due to snow.

“Having never run Hardrock 100, it was an obvious choice for my 2020 calendar after the race was cancelled in 2019,” says Francois D’Haene. “I am very familiar with the UTMB® course, and it is a magical but grueling race. After winning in 2017, I knew I would need a bit of time to recover mentally and physically to meet my goal of going back in 2020.”

In 2017, D’Haene raced in the 106-mile tour around the Mont Blanc Massif and won what was arguably the most competitive ultra-distance race in the sport’s history, capturing his third UTMB® title. While that race gives him confidence in his return, he says every race is different.

Dauwalter, who has won a host of ultras in recent years ranging from 50- to 240-mile distances, will also race in the Big’s Backyard Ultra, a last-person-standing race in Tennessee. The grueling event takes runners around laps of the same 4.1-mile trail loop during the day and a road loop of similar length during the night. Each loop must be completed in one hour or less, and it continues until only one competitor remains. In 2019, Dauwalter won the women’s race and finished 2^nd overall.

“Big’s Backyard is one I couldn’t miss. This format provides the perfect opportunity to really push our own limits and see what we are capable of,” Dauwalter says. “It gives everyone a chance to see what is possible and to test their own limits. I am really looking forward to this race and hope to show up ready to go for 300 plus miles. It is a physical challenge for sure, but an even more interesting mental challenge.”

RECOVERY WILL BE ESSENTIAL 

Both athletes say recovery will be an important part of their season, with Hardrock and UTMB® just six weeks apart.

“It will be especially challenging to recover and manage these two big tests,” D’Haene says. “I will do everything to try to prepare myself accordingly, but it is the challenge and uncertainty that excites and motivates me at the start of the year.”

“I am not exactly sure what those six weeks will look like, but I am looking forward to figuring it out,” says Dauwalter. “How much of the time is recovery? How much training will I be able to fit in? How can I make my body and brain as fresh as possible for the next one? Ultra-running is a puzzle with many pieces and having two big races close together will add a fun twist to the puzzle this summer.” 

PRODUCT AND TRAINING

Both D’Haene and Dauwalter will start their respective seasons at the Salomon Running Camp in April, which brings together the brand’s international trail running team in the Canarias Islands, Spain. The camp will consist of product testing and development as well as logging miles before the races begin.   

For the 2019 season, Dauwalter raced in the Salomon S/LAB Ultra 2 shoe, a product originally developed for D’Haene’s fastest known time (FKT) on the John Muir Trail in California. In 2020, she will be training and racing in the S/Lab Ultra 3, which launches in Fall 2020, as well as the Sense Ride 3, available now.

Living just two hours from Salomon’s Annecy Design Center in the French Alps affords D’Haene the opportunity to work closely with Salomon’s design team across several product categories. “Whether it’s the shoes, clothes or gear, each year we work with the design team for the various product tests to develop products efficiently and effectively,” he says.

INSPIRED BY ONE ANOTHER

Dauwalter and D’Haene say they were both curious what races the other would be running in this season.

“Courtney and I have developed a friendship over the years, both on and off the trails,” D’Haene says. “Her race calendar is fun to watch, as she is able to conquer a variety of distances, terrain and new challenges overall throughout the year. It’s inspiring to see her tackle the 200-mile format, a distance I’m especially interested in racing.”

Dauwalter says that racing the same races alongside D’Haene is motivating for her as well. “Seeing what talented athletes like Francois put together for their schedules is always inspiring,” she says. “It’s also cool because I live in Colorado, where we will both run Hardrock, and Francois lives in France, where we will both do UTMB®. We get to share our home mountains with each other!”

COURTNEY DAUWALTER 2020 SCHEDULE:

APRIL – Salomon Running Camp – Canarias Islands, Spain

JULY – Hardrock 100 – Colorado, USA

AUGUST – Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB®) – Chamonix, France

OCTOBER – Big Backyard’s Ultra – Tennessee, USA

 

FRANCOIS D’HAENE 2020 SCHEDULE:

APRIL – Salomon Running Camp – Canarias Islands, Spain

APRIL – Penyagolosa – Spain

JULY – Hardrock 100 – Colorado, USA

AUGUST – Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB®) – Chamonix, France

 ###

About Salomon: Born in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon is committed to pushing the boundaries of mountain sports through the creation of innovative equipment that allows people to play, progress and challenge themselves in their chosen outdoor sports. The company produces and sells premium footwear, winter sports and mountaineering equipment, hiking equipment, and apparel specifically designed for all those disciplines. Products are developed in the company’s Annecy Design Center, where engineers, designers and athletes collaborate to create innovative solutions that continually improve the outdoor experiences of those who see nature as a vast playground. www.salomon.com

Update on The Great Global CleanupTM in Response to COVID-19

 

Creating and sustaining clean communities is a vital mission of Earth Day Network and its Great Global Cleanup. At all times, the safety of dedicated organizers and volunteers is of the utmost importance.

 

To comply with federal, state and local advisories in response to COVID-19, thousands of organized cleanups will be impacted. Some will be cancelled for now, some postponed until later in the year, while others will move forward if they meet current safety criteria.

 

We urge all organizers to consult and comply with local and federal health advisories, and to practice social distancing and sanitary awareness at any cleanups deemed safe by authorities.

 

The stated goal of the Great Global Cleanup to remove billions of pieces of litter from our environment and to build a clean and healthy future for all people will remain. Many cleanups are expected to be rescheduled in early Fall, in coordination with World Cleanup Day, National CleanUp Day and Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup.

Please stay up to date on the status of all cleanups at cleanup.earthday.org, and please stay safe and take care of one another during these unprecedented circumstances.

La Sportiva, producers of the world’s finest mountain products since 1928, announces today that Howe Sound Sales has signed on to represent the brand in Western Canada, which includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories. Howe Sound Sales is an established sales agency with three passionate outdoor industry professionals. They currently also represent Rab, Lowe Alpine, Forsake, and Maxim ropes and maintain a showroom in Vancouver.

“Western Canada represents a continued opportunity for La Sportiva to grow the brand in communities that are dedicated to the mountains,” says Wes Green, vice president of sales and marketing at La Sportiva North America. “The Howe Sound team’s goal is to offer high levels of service, regional market insights and superior technical knowledge for both retailers and vendors. As individuals they are passionately involved in the technical sports that our brand represents. We are confident that this is the beginning of a successful partnership in a key geographic region for our brand.”

Howe Sound Sales is made up of Julian Stoddart as principal, Tom Wright as associate, and Nathan Pinchak as technical and events support. Julian and Tom manage sales and support throughout Western Canada operating in the Vancouver /Squamish area with a showroom in Vancouver. Nathan provides tech rep and event support in Eastern BC and Alberta.

According to Stoddart, “The opportunity to work with La Sportiva proved too big to pass up. The quality of the products along with the brand’s demonstrated ability to attain and hold a market leading position will bring a level of focus and security to our business as we look to scale for brand growth across La Sportiva’s core categories.”

In response to the escalating coronavirus outbreak, Stio asked all corporate employees to begin working remotely effective Friday March 13, 2020. This action was taken to ensure the safety of Stio employees, vendors and visiting office guests and as a proactive step to help slow the spread of the virus. At this time, Stio is planning to have employees work remotely for a minimum of 30 days and continue to do so until further notice as the situation is evaluated.

In addition, on March 13, 2020, Stio temporarily closed all three Stio Mountain Studio® retail stores, located in Jackson Hole and Teton Village, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah. The retail locations will remain closed until further notice. Stio’s ecommerce business, Stio.com, remains open for business and their distribution facility is strictly following CDC guidelines for cleanliness and transmission prevention.

“The health and safety of our employees, our customers and our communities are of the utmost importance right now,” said Stephen Sullivan, founder and CEO of Stio. “Although this is obviously a significant business challenge for almost every company in the world right now, it is most importantly a human issue, and any effort businesses can take to reduce person-to-person contact is imperative in the near term. We are fortunate that Stio is already well organized for remote work and we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly as it evolves. We can’t say thank you enough to our entire hard-working team and sincerely hope that everyone around the country works diligently to practice proper hygiene and social distancing for as long as it is necessary.”
 

At this time Stio is not aware of any confirmed cases of the coronavirus among its employees, at its headquarters, its Mountain Studio® retail locations or distribution facility. These measures were implemented out of an abundance of caution and in following with newly prescribed best practices.

###

 

About Stio®

Headquartered in the heart of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Stio® was founded to inspire connection with the outdoors through beautiful, functional and innovative products infused with mountain soul. Stio’s mountain town style meets backcountry performance product is sold via Stio Mountain Studio® retail stores, Stio® catalogs and the Stio® website. stio.com

Balega International, a leading sock brand in the run specialty market, is expanding its popular Ultralight collection for Spring 2020 with the introduction of new colorways in the Crew and No Show models. The new styles will be available online and at specialty retail stores beginning March 15.

“The light-as-a-feather Ultralight sock is specifically designed to provide contoured protection and lasting durability that feels sheer and light on your foot,” explained Tanya Pictor, Vice President of Marketing for Balega. “Balega is committed to providing athletes with a sock that’s built to last and perform. Our fresh new colorways offer our customers bright, fun new options for Spring.”

The Ultralight Crew ($15 MSRP) combines fine performance yarns with protection-based design to create the sheerest, most lightweight performance running sock. The socks feature Balega’s proprietary Drynamix® moisture wicking fibers and reinforced microfiber mesh ventilation panels to keep feet cool and dry. The enhanced, strategically shaped cushioning that follows the contours of the heel provides maximum protection and impact resistance. In the updated crew length style, the cushioning also reaches higher over the toe area for increased comfort and durability, while the differentiated elastic bands provide compression and a superior fit. Unique to all Balega products, these socks feature a hand-linked toe closure system for a seamless, non-irritating fit. The new Spring 2020 colorways for the Ultralight Crew include: Neon Lime, Wildberry and Cobalt.

The Ultralight No Show ($14 MSRP) sock will be available in all new bright spring colorways, including Flu Orange, Neon Lime, Wildberry and Cobalt.

The new Ultralight styles will be available to consumers March 15, 2020. For more information and to locate a Balega dealer near you, please visit Balega.com.

About Balega International


A leading performance sock brand in the run specialty market, Balega is a designer and manufacturer of technical performance socks and part of the Implus family of brands. With a proud American-South African initiative, the company develops its product in both South Africa and North Carolina production facilities utilizing the best performance yarns produced in the United States. Crafted for a superior fit and unmatched comfort, Balega is committed to the technical excellence, quality, and performance expected in the Balega brand. A brand with ‘sole,’ Balega prides itself on its commitment to the community with projects aimed at enriching those less fortunate than ourselves. For more information, please visit www.balega.com.

About Implus International

A leading performance sock brand in the run specialty market, Balega is a designer and manufacturer of technical performance socks and part of the Implus family of brands. With a proud American-South African initiative, the company develops its products in both South Africa and North Carolina production facilities utilizing the best performance yarns produced in the United States. Crafted for a superior fit and unmatched comfort, Balega is committed to the technical excellence, quality, and performance expected from the Balega brand. For more information, visit www.implus.com.

February 20, 2020 (BOULDER, Colo.) – La Sportiva, makers of the world’s finest mountain footwear, today announces that climber Brooke Raboutou joins the La Sportiva ambassador team. Effective immediately, Raboutou will exclusively wear La Sportiva footwear while training and climbing. Raboutou is a lifelong climber who qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics via the Climbing World Championships. This is the first time that climbing will be contested in the Olympics and Raboutou is one of two American females to qualify for the US Team.

“Climbing in the Olympics is a significant milestone for our sport and I am honored to represent the US in Tokyo this summer” says Raboutou, who is currently taking a semester off from college to train full-time in her hometown of Boulder, CO. “I’ve been climbing since before I can remember and I have always worn La Sportiva climbing shoes so it seems natural to continue my partnership with the La Sportiva team and wear their top-performing shoes while I compete. I am very excited to embark on the journey ahead.”

Raboutou was born in Boulder, Colorado and her parents Didier Raboutou and Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou are former world-champion rock climbers. Brooke learned the sport and trained at ABC Climbing in Colorado. She became the youngest person to climb 5.14b at the age of 11 and won a prestigious Golden Piton award from Climbing magazine for the effort. She awon numerous indoor climbing competitions on her rise to qualifying for the 2020 Olympics via her ninth-place finish at the combined Climbing World Championships.

“Competitive climbing is booming and the summer Olympics will put the sport in the spotlight more than any other single event” says Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “We’ve known Brooke and her parents for many years and are so proud to see her qualify for the Olympics. We look forward to watching her compete on the sport’s biggest stage while wearing our products and we wish her the best in her training and preparation leading up to the competition.”

For more information or to request a media interview with Brooke Raboutou, please contact Cory Lowe at Cory.Lowe@BackboneMedia.net or 970-963-4873, ext. 127.