Type: Articles

Jaime Buyagawan  joins the Cascade Designs team with more than 25 years of sales experience in the outdoor industry. 

Cascade Designs, the parent company of MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, SealLine and PackTowl, announced today the hire of Jaime Buyagawan  as its new National Sales Manager. In this role, Buyagawan will oversee the US Outdoor Specialty channel and will be responsible for developing and executing short and long term strategy.  He  will work closely with the Cascade Designs sales agencies to drive sales, develop and implement marketing & merchandising plans in the US. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jaime Buyagawan to our team,” said Cascade Designs President Paul Connolly. “His knowledge of the outdoor industry and sales experience — through both physical retail and sales management — will be an incredible asset to the team and will help us to continue growing and developing our brands.” 

Buyagawan brings 29 years of experience, spanning across different positions within the industry, to this role. He began his work in the outdoor industry on the sales floor at REI Co-op and has since worked in sales leadership positions for The Sherpa Group Two, CamelBak and Sea to Summit. 

In his most recent role as Senior Sales Manager (Western region) at Sea to Summit, Buyagawan monitored and analyzed sales performance metrics, developed strategic account level business plans and drove sales growth and profitability through achievement of sales goals. 

“The opportunity to work for Cascade Designs is game changing. It’s not everyday you get to interact with passionate product development teams and peek into the onsite test labs  while enroute to a production floor to witness Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads being made or MSR stoves being test-fired,” said Buyagawan. “Cascade Designs has a legacy of excellence and I look forward to contributing to the MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, Pack Towl and SealLine brands  future.”

For more information about Cascade Designs, please visit: https://www.cascadedesigns.com/

About Cascade Designs®

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.

Outdoor Prolink expands staff and grows its outdoor category offerings in its continued effort to be the most responsible pro-purchase program.

BOULDER, CO. (Aug. 12, 2022) — Outdoor Prolink, the pro-purchase program created for outdoor professionals at the heart of the industry, appoints Melissa Hess as Business Development Manager of its Hunt & Fish division. Hess was the former Account & Sales Manager at Guidefitter, an online community and e-commerce destination of choice for outdoor industry professionals and enthusiasts. Hess brings years of hunting and fishing industry expertise to the Outdoor Prolink team. 

“We are very excited to add Melissa to the team, where she will play a key role as we strive to create a stronger outdoor community,” said CEO of Outdoor Prolink Gareth Richards. “Melissa’s connections and expertise in the hunting and angling spaces will be a great asset to the team, not to mention her hunting skills!” 

Outdoor Prolink is excited about this new chapter for the company, dedicated to serving more outdoor professionals by growing into the hunting and angling spaces. Hess’ role will provide optimal growth opportunities in connecting outdoor professionals like guides, mentors, athletes, and educators to the brands that allow them to support others in experiencing the outdoors. To learn more about Outdoor Prolink’s dedication to remaining the premier channel for connecting pros, brands, and specialty retailers, check out the company’s manifesto here. 

“I am excited to help move Outdoor Prolink towards its strategic goals, focusing on expanding to new membership segments in hunting and angling,” said Hess. “I see my new role as instrumental in developing continued growth, and I am honored to be recognized by Gareth and the rest of the team as the right person to lead this charge.”

The Outdoor Prolink team is also excited to welcome Andrew Brookens as an Account Operations Coordinator working on brand account management and to promote Kelly Knauf to Marketing Lead at Outdoor Prolink. Additionally, long-time Outdoor Prolink employee Jessica Villaire is switching gears and moving into a new role as E-commerce Manager. 

To get to know the full Outdoor Prolink team, please visit: https://outdoorprolink.com/aboutus. 

To learn more about Outdoor Prolink, please visit: https://outdoorprolink.com/

 

About Outdoor Prolink

Founded in 2004, Outdoor Prolink acts as the facilitator of trust to connect qualified outdoor professionals with the best outdoor brands. Utilizing a strict vetting process, Outdoor Prolink strives to be the most authentic and responsible pro purchase program in the industry. Through the platform, brands engage trusted outdoor professionals and utilize their influence to drive retail sales growth. Qualified outdoor professionals earn privileged discounts on the outdoor gear they rely on for their work, in order to further the pursuit of outdoor recreation for everyone.

Locally owned running retailer set to open this weekend

 

Fleet Feet announced today the opening of its latest store in Fort Wayne North, Ind. Owned and operated by Jeanice Croy, Kevin Croy and Maggie Croy-Schuck, who also own the Fort Wayne Southwest store, the new location will open in the Northbrook Shopping Center at 1549 West Dupont Road and feature a modern design with images from local photographer Tim Brumbeloe.

This is the second Fleet Feet in Fort Wayne and the ninth store in Indiana. The Southwest location opened in 2013 and has been voted one of The Running Event’s Best Running Stores in America six of the nine years it’s been open.

“Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana, and it’s currently going through a renaissance. We have over 120 miles of trails and earlier this year, Fort Wayne was named a Runner Friendly Community by the Road Runners Club of America,” said Kevin Croy. “We train over 480 runners annually at our current location and are excited to be opening a second location.”

A soft opening is planned for Aug. 13 with a Grand Opening set for late September during the Fort 4 Fitness Festival. Several events and activities are planned throughout the week, including:

• Pancake Breakfast Run Sept. 24
• Fleet Feet Pub Run Sept. 28
• Store-to-Store Key Relay Run starting at the current Fleet Feet Fort Wayne Southwest and ending at the new Fleet Feet Fort Wayne North
• Shoe trials, demos and free swag throughout the week

“For nearly 10 years, the Croy family has dedicated themselves to sharing their passion for running with their community, and making a difference in keeping people healthy and active,” said John Moloznik, vice president of business development for Fleet Feet. “Fort Wayne is one of the fastest growing cities in the Great Lakes region, and we’re excited to expand with the Croys to serve more running and walking customers in their community.”

Fleet Feet Fort Wayne North will operate with the brand’s exclusive personalized outfitting experience, fit id®, which includes 3D foot scanning and dynamic pressure mapping. The pressure mapping software launched in November 2020 and allows outfitters to measure the unique foot path and weight distribution of each foot as an individual walks across a three-and-a-half-foot long force plate. These measurements give Fleet Feet the ability to offer individualized footwear solutions through Superfeet’s ME3D line of personalized insoles.  

Fleet Feet first opened its doors in Sacramento, Calif., in 1976. What began as a running store quickly transformed into a hub for the running community. Today, Fleet Feet’s network of community-based retail stores across the country are a place of inspiration, showing people how Running Changes Everything®. Fleet Feet’s continued growth is fueled by the brand’s constant innovation, including its exclusive, proprietary outfitting experience, fit id®, which allows Fleet Feet to offer personalized footwear solutions for every runner, walker and fitness enthusiast of all abilities.

To learn more about Fleet Feet Fort Wayne North and Grand Opening activities, visit the Fort Wayne website.

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About Fleet Feet

Founded in 1976, Fleet Feet is the largest franchisor of locally owned and operated run specialty stores with more than 250 locations in 40 states and a national headquarters in Carrboro, N.C. Committed to offering personalized outfitting, robust training programs and rewards, community support and outreach, and 24 / 7 brand access at fleetfeet.com, each Fleet Feet location serves walkers, runners and fitness enthusiasts based on the belief that RUNNING CHANGES EVERYTHING®. Stay inspired, motivated, and connected at Fleet Feet.

Montoya is the second elite road runner to join the North American Salomon athlete team

Today, Salomon is expanding its roster of U.S. road running athletes with the addition of professional road and track runner, Maggie Montoya. Montoya joins the Salomon team with an impressive resume of running accomplishments, including her debut marathon time of 2:29:08 from the Chevron Houston Marathon in January 2022. Her strength, tenacity and authenticity make her a valuable addition to the Salomon family.

“I’m excited to join the Salomon team and be a part of the next stages of the brand’s growing road running presence in North America,” says Montoya. “I’ve enjoyed racing in the S/Lab Phantasm in my last several road races and look forward to continuing my training in Salomon as I prepare for my fall marathon. I’m grateful for this opportunity to represent Salomon alongside my teammate Noah Droddy.”

Montoya ran Division I track at Baylor University in her collegiate years, where she led Baylor to the NCAA Championships in her final season by placing second and earning the All-Region honors at NCAA South Central Regional in a season-best 6,000-meter time of 20:21:7. Following college, Montoya moved to Boulder, Colorado to join the Roots Running Project, training with fellow Salomon athlete Noah Droddy. Within five years of training with the group, she has hit several personal records, including a 32:06:87 10K that earned her a spot in the 2021 US Olympic Trials and a recent 15:19 5K at the MT SAC Relays in April 2022.

While training with Roots Running Project, Montoya worked as a pharmacy tech at a King Soopers in Boulder, Colorado. She had just started her shift on Monday, March 22 when a gunman opened fire in the grocery store. Montoya survived the shooting and later shared a candid retelling of the events on her Instagram page. During the months following, Montoya took personal time to heal and slowly began to return to running, ultimately earning a personal record at the time and impressing many at the USATFA Golden Games in May 2021.

Montoya has her sights set on a marathon this fall, where she will be wearing a full Salomon kit and racing in the Salomon S/lab Phantasm shoes.

“We are so thrilled to finally announce that Maggie has joined the Salomon family,” says Erin Cooper, Senior Marketing Manager – Run & Outdoor, for Salomon in North America. “We’ve been really thoughtful about who we want to support and have represent the brand, and Maggie is a perfect fit. She is incredibly talented, and with a 2:29 debut marathon we know she has big things ahead. She will be an integral part of the Salomon brand and product development as we continue to expand within road running.”

Montoya will be joining the Salomon team for a 2.5-year partnership that includes representing Salomon apparel and footwear. Montoya will also play a key role in elevating Salomon’s road running brand stories through her personal platform.

To learn more about the partnership, please reach out to Corinne Baud at corinne.baud@rygr.us.

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 of 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.

Chaco Footwear, the iconic outdoor lifestyle brand, today announced the launch of its highly-anticipated, lightweight, low-profile performance sandal – the Bodhi.  

The Bodhi sandal features Chaco’s signature pass-through webbing in a minimalist pattern and an adjustable toe loop to keep your foot secure. Weighing in at only 7.24 oz for women and 9.56 oz for men, the Bodhi is nearly 50% lighter than Chaco’s Classic Z/1 sandals.  

“Chaco nation has been asking for a lightweight, low-profile sandal that delivers on the trusted durability and performance of Chaco,” said Adam Garrett, vice president of global product, Chaco. “The Bodhi has all the DNA of the original Z/sandal built onto a flexible, lightweight base – so when every ounce counts, this will be your go-to option.” 

Equipped with a ChacoGrip™ outsole for traction and a podiatrist accepted, LUVSEAT footbed for comfort and support, this low-profile option is ready for whitewater, the trail, and everything in between. Plus, it boasts webbing made from REPREVE 100% recycled polyester and is repairable at ReChaco, making it a long-lasting, sustainable option.  

The Bodhi comes in both men’s and women’s sizing and retails for $100. It is available online at chacos.com and select retail stores nationwide.  

Learn more about the Bodhi here: chacos.com/bodhi   

 

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 About Chaco:   

Born on the river in 1989, Chaco, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), builds premium footwear for the outdoor-minded. The brand’s iconic Z/sandals are repairable at Rechaco and more than 20,000 sandals a year are kept out of landfills every year. Plus, as a result of the brand’s proprietary LUVSEAT™ foot bed, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has awarded the Seal of Acceptance to all Chaco footwear styles. The APMA Seal is intended to raise awareness by identifying products of exceptional quality that are manufactured with comfort, health, and safety in mind.

Ignik, a Bainbridge Island-based brand committed to creating more heat with less waste, is proud to announce its partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW), a nonprofit focused on protecting the places where we play from climate change by turning outdoor enthusiasts into climate advocates. Ignik, which was founded to address the impacts of climate change through smarter heating product design, joins dozens of leading outdoor industry brands that have pledged their support for the organization.

 

In addition to financial support at the $10,000 donation level, Ignik will help spread the word to its audience about POW’s “Stoke the Vote” campaign. This campaign centers around efforts to create awareness, invite engagement, and ultimately rally voters to the polls for the crucial 2022 midterm elections. Through sharing inspirational custom content and in-person events like film tours, shop talks at outdoor retailers, and college tours, POW and its partners will work to create a massive climate voting block committed to casting ballots for candidates fighting to protect outdoor spaces.

 

“All of us here at Ignik are so proud to be able to partner with Protect Our Winters through our 1% for the Planet contributions,” says Brandon Ramirez, Ignik’s Creative Director. “For me personally, coming from over 20 years in the snow sports industry, I’ve been lucky enough to watch POW grow from a small idea to the most influential, inspiring, and organized group of outdoor advocates out there. There is an overriding focus and drive with POW that aligns perfectly with Ignik’s goals to continue to better this world and to give back where we can. As a small, passionate start-up with limited resources, we just feel lucky to support a company that’s doing so much good.”

 

“In 2018 we saw the highest voter turnout in history, with 49.4% of the voting-eligible population showing up to the voting booths,” says Justin Van Saghi, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Protect Our Winters. “It’s critical that we keep the momentum flowing, and we believe that the POW community, including partner brands like Ignik, has what it takes to inspire others to take action, vote and challenge the long-standing incumbents.”

 

To learn more about POW and get involved in the “Stoke the Vote” campaign, go to https://protectourwinters.org/stoke-the-vote/. For more information on Ignik, please visit ignik.com or contact suzanne@darbycommunications.com.

 

 

About Ignik

Our journey started on a family sailboat in the Arctic, where we saw the impact of climate change and human jetsam on the landscapes we love. We decided to “be the change” by creating products that actually work—and work for the planet. Today Ignik makes high quality, environmentally thoughtful heating products for the wilderness. We enable more folks to get outside earlier and remain outside longer. Ignik is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. For more information, visit Ignik.com.

The Fall/Winter 2022 Collection Will Arrive At Crazy Authorized Dealers This Fall

 

BORMIO, Italy – (August 8, 2022) – Crazy, an Italian performance apparel company known for its European heritage in ski touring, today announced it is expanding its U.S. retail presence for Fall/Winter 2022. New shops in California, Colorado, New Jersey and New York include: Inside Edge in Queensbury, New York; Hickory & Tweed Ski and Cycle in Armonk, New York; Pelican Ski in Morris Plains, New Jersey; Ptarmigan Sports in Edwards, Colorado; Ski Barn in Paramus, New Jersey; and Tahoe Mountain Sports in Truckee, California. This collection will be available at retail starting in October.

 

“This growth reflects the steadily rising U.S. consumer demand for lightweight technical apparel for backcountry skiing and active outdoor winter sports,” said Crazy International Sales Manager Gioele Franzini. “This particular network of retailers has deep roots in the skiing category and is the first choice for consumers looking for best in class fast and light technical apparel. Crazy meets this demand with proprietary technology, style and confidence. We look forward to introducing new devotees to the Crazy brand.” 

 

“This expansion reflects the brand’s momentum as it heads into its second year in the U.S.,” said Progression Brands Group President Clark Gundlach. “Crazy has such a singular value proposition that it’s a must have for the active outdoor community and the specialty retailers that service this market. The design and performance of Crazy is second to none and we’re looking forward to bringing a larger collection to the U.S. this year.” 

 

Progression Brands Group, based in Eagle, Colo., is the U.S. distributor for Crazy, having successfully introduced the brand in the U.S. last winter. Its veteran team comes from respected brands including Burton, Canada Goose, Quiksilver, and Rossignol.  

 

About Crazy: Since 1989, Crazy has been the original fast and light clothing brand, setting a new industry standard. Featuring the lightest down jacket in the world, Crazy apparel is crafted with next generation fabrics that maintain thermal protection while reducing weight and size. Founded by Valeria Colturi, a former cross-country ski athlete, Crazy reimagines ski touring and mountaineering clothing by creating unique products that are fashion-forward and eliminate unnecessary elements. Visit crazy.it/us/en/ for more information. 

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Media Contact:

Ben Pejko – CGPR

ben@cgpprpublicrelations.com

The leadership learning house opens registration for the industry’s future leaders new virtual program

(August 4, 2022, Denver, Colorado) – The outdoor industry’s newest leadership learning house, The Futurist Project, has opened registration for Leadership Lab starting today, August 3rd, 2022. Founded in 2021, Leadership Lab is a virtual three-month program for individuals ready to grow their leadership skills within the outdoor industry and adjacent industries.

Leadership Lab was founded by Greer Van Dyck, an IPEC Certified Professional Coach with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. She is the founder of Windrose, a boutique firm offering professional coaching and training to empower leadership teams to establish what a healthy organization looks and feels like.

“Leadership Lab is a unique immersive and transformative three-month experience for those who are new to (or looking to join) the outdoor industry,” said Greer Van Dyck. “The completely virtual style of the coursework and education have been curated to give each participant the chance to grow personally and professionally through deep reflection, meaningful peer engagement, and skill application. This introductory program is an excellent compliment to the other offerings as part of The Futurist Project, and I am excited to welcome the first cohort in October 2022!”

Registration is now open for the next class of The Leadership Lab. Participants will attend bi-weekly Zoom workshops throughout the three-month virtual program. The curriculum is a combination of topical teaching, peer learning, breakout groups, and self-reflection. Topics covered in The Leadership Lab include: Building confidence, managing imposter syndrome, empowering and influencing others, managing up, navigating change, strategic thinking, and mastering feedback.

The cost to participants is $1,200 and The Futurist Project has partnered with OIA to offer a discount to members interested in participating. Unlike The Futurist Project Leadership Institute, Leadership Lab is open to anyone who wishes to participate and registration for this first group is open on a first-come, first-served basis through September 20, 2022.

“We are thrilled to offer this learning opportunity to the outdoor industry. Cross-job and company learning is beneficial to every individual as well as the industry as a whole,” said The Futurist Project co-founder Stasia Raines Walker. “We believe investing in leadership development opportunities empowers individuals to be positive forces of good in the workplace and ultimately creates a community poised and prepared to lead our brands into the future with innovation, compassion, and authority.”

The Futurist Project now hosts two leadership programs: Leadership Lab which is a three-month program with open enrollment and no travel requirement, and Leadership Institute: a six-month program with an application process and multiple in-person gatherings.

To register for The Leadership Lab visit https://www.thefuturistproject.com/leadership-lab

For media inquiries or questions about the program please contact hello@thefuturistproject.com

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