Outdoor: Did you hear?…

For the week of June 21-27

>> The Access Fund and the Bureau of Land Management said they have reached a ground-breaking memorandum of understanding (MOU) that formalizes a cooperative agreement to work at the national, regional and local levels on mutually beneficial programs, projects, training and other recreational activities. The five-year agreement will have the BLM and Access Fund working together on programs, projects and activities that leverage both of their charters and are in the best interests of the public. “There is a strong need throughout the country to actively promote public and private partnerships that encourages the responsible use of public lands,” said Steve Matous, executive director of the Access Fund. “This MOU with the BLM will help assure conservation of the climbing environment and will help keep climbing areas open.” The heart of the agreement is the commitment by the BLM to encourage its local officials to work with the Access Fund to identify climbing projects on public lands within their specific Field Office areas. The MOU also promotes participation of Access Fund staff and representatives in the development of mutually beneficial work projects and educational activities. In return, the Access Fund will support educational activities, maintain a nationwide communication network, provide technical assistance to land managers, and facilitate understanding and communications between climbers and public agencies. This MOU with the BLM joins an existing MOU between the Access Fund and the U.S. Forest Service executed in 2003.

>> Forbes compiled its list of the 100 fastest-growing small public companies and Rocky Shoes & Boots — the only outdoor-oriented company — came in at No. 46. The companies on the list represent the fifth graduating class of the annual FSB 100. Forbes said they have been screened just as the others were: Zacks, a financial research firm, identified companies with annual revenue of less than $200 million and a stock price of more than $1 and ranked them based on the past three years’ earnings growth, revenue growth, and stock performance. Rocky has 1,091 employees and revenue of $132.3 million.

>> The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) is inviting outdoor industry women to the Wasatch Mountain Club Lodge for relaxation, rest, revival and networking after Summer Market ends. From Aug. 14-16, industry women will have the chance to hike with a local herbalist, fly fish or rock climbing with instructors, attend yoga classes, and even get manicures and pedicures. Pollyanna Pixton of Evolutionary Systems will be a featured speaker and talk about Collaborative Leadership models for women in the workplace, and will facilitate a group discussion. Pixton owns a consulting company, is involved with the Utah Women’s Leadership Network, and has recently co-founded the Institute for Collaborative Leadership. OIWC has also added additional professional development sessions by Strozzi Institute Associates Jennifer Van Homer and Jean Dunham. They’ll conduct opening evening exercises and offer two outdoor sessions introducing participants to practices that will help them learn to be present and relaxed at work and in their outdoor pursuits. ChillFest will take place at the Wasatch Mountain Club Lodge, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, about 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. Attendees can sleep in tents or one of two lodges. Registration is now open for 45 spaces — $85 for OIWC members and $100 for non-members, and includes two nights lodging, all meals, evening program, yoga, herbology hike, fly fishing casting clinic, and goodie bag. To register, go to www.oiwc.org.

>> Timberland is teaming up with 1,000 SkillsUSA members, City Year representatives and industry partners for Timberland PRO Service Day, a day of community service to benefit the Don Bosco Community Center and Old Northeast Neighborhood Association. The company said the Timberland PRO Service Day is a reflection of Timberland PRO’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, which is grounded in the values that define community. Timberland PRO dedicates time, resources, work boots and T-shirts to enable service. Don Bosco is a family support center in the Kansas City area that provided assistance to more than 3,325 families last year alone through clothing, food, utility assistance and case management. Projects planned for the day at Don Bosco include various landscaping, painting and building projects. For more information about Timberland’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, including a searchable database of volunteer opportunities, visit www.timberlandserve.com.

>> Outside magazine has crossed the border — quite a few actually — and launced a Brazilian edition called Go Outside. Published by Rocky Mountain Editorial Ltda, Go Outside is being distributed throughout Brazil with an initial monthly circulation of 40,000. Carlos (Caco) Alzugaray is the CEO and publisher of Go Outside, as well as the CEO of Editora Tres, the second largest publishing company in Brazil. The new publication is edited by Andrea Estevam, who has been editing sports magazines for the past five years, including Brazil’s largest running magazine O2. She is a member of team Landscape, and has participated in Brazil’s major adventure races and ultra marathons.

>> ASX magazine is set to make its debut at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Its target audience? 18 to 26 year olds — ideal since a recent study ranked magazines as the No. 1 media source for this generation. Published by RFA Media, which also does Adventure Sports magazine, management said the new magazine covers action and adventure sports for young, active readers — offering inspiration and insight into the addictive world of outdoor sports and adventure travel lifestyles. Brian Metzler will do double duty as editor in chief of ASX and Adventure Sports. ASX will start as a quarterly outdoor lifestyle publication then switch over to a bi-monthly cycle in 2006 with an initial circulation of 85,000. Distribution will also include the top 125 colleges and universities in the country, hitting more than 2 million students. In 2006, the magazine will be accompanied by the Action Adventure Tour, a new mobile tour that will reach the same demographics as the magazine through more than 40 events in the United States. For more scoop, check out www.asxmagazine.com.

>> In order to meet customers’ demands for wild adventures in exotic locations, Gander Mountain has launched its own full-service travel company, Outdoor Expeditions, offering a wide range of domestic and international fishing and hunting trips. Despite being new to Gander Mountain, Outdoor Expeditions actually has about 17 years of experience under its belt as Jay Anderson’s Outdoor Expeditions. For more information, check out www.outdoorexpeditions.com.

>> Cloudveil said it has hired several new people to further bolster areas of support and to meet demand. In its Jackson, Wyo., offices, Cloudveil has added Ned Hutchinson as product line coordinator, Casey Shaw as product line development/designer and Annie Putnam as the consumer marketing manager. Hutchinson brings experience from the retail side of the equation, formerly general manager at Westbank Anglers in Jackson. Shaw adds expertise in product research, design and development from Wingnut Designs in Santa Fe, N.M., and Putnam’s most recent work was with Jackson Hole Ski Resort where she performed market analysis for planning and development. Jeff Wogoman, formerly the direct sales and customer service manager, has been promoted to director of marketing. Katie Keane, once marketing special events assistant, has been promoted to marketing manager, and Chris Hansen has relocated from the Denver office, where he was the customer service specialist, to Jackson, where he will take on the role of marketing coordinator. In Denver, Cloudveil has brought in Dave Mahoney as assistant sales manager, Jennifer Roberts as specialty sales coordinator and Rob Fry as export manager/business analyst.

>> Isis For Women has appointed Lisbeth Kokx, as technical outwear developer, and Kristen Toy, as national sales manager, a new position. As technical outerwear developer, Kokx will be responsible for the development of various categories of technical winter and summer women’s apparel. Prior to Isis, Kokx worked as a product manager for Cornell Trading, a lifestyle boutique company and manufacturer of women’s apparel and housewares. She has also worked with Mammut Sports Group. Toy will be responsible for all aspects of Isis domestic sales including overseeing the regional sales force and dealer services. She will work to integrate and strengthen Isis’ relationship with its dealer base and continue to expand retail outlets. Toy has worked in the outdoor industry for over 10 years, building her expertise in sales most recently with Peregrine Outfitters.

>> G.I. Joe’s announced two promotions and a new buyer position. Shannon Burley was promoted to director of advertising and marketing from her position as interim advertising manager. She has been with the company since 2002 and will now direct its sales promotion, advertising, media, special promotions, events, marketing programs and store signing. She will continue to supervise both the advertising production department, graphics and sign shop. Reese Thedford, who has been with the company since 2002, was promoted to promotions manager, and will manage and coordinate all sponsorships, special promotions, store events and corporate events. Bob Leis, the current store manager of the G.I. Joe’s Hayden Meadows store in Portland, Ore., will move to the chain’s Wilsonville headquarters at the beginning of July.

>> After recently breaking away from mothership Backcountry.com — with its blessing — DogFunk.com is shooting to be a top contender in the online retail world of snowboard gear and apparel. DogFunk.com carries a large variety of lines that offer gear for freeriders, freestylers, halfpipe junkies and out-of-bounds terrain seekers. Prepping for the summer snowboard camp scene, DogFunk.com has already begun receiving 2006 inventory and is offering closeout pricing on 2005 hardgoods and softgoods. It also carries skate-influenced apparel and accessories. Store manager Jason Dyer is a former professional snowboarder who now coaches for the Park City Snowboard Team, and represents the employee standard at DogFunk.com. All customer service representatives are snowboarders, and regularly attend clinics on new products or technology evolution, making them authoritative sources for information on tech, fit, gear selection and snowboard questions. Check it out at www.dogfunk.com.

>> Walrus, a new advertising agency headed by former Mad Dogs & Englishmen Creative Director Deacon Webster, opened its doors in mid-June with Wacoal Sports Science Corp.’s CW-X Performance Conditioning Wear as one its founding clients. In addition to CW-X, Walrus will open with several national clients, including Grand Marnier, Radar Magazine and the 21 Club. For more information, contact 646-285-2363 or frances@walrusnyc.com.

>> Looking for a nice nature-friendly place to live in the United States — well, somebody has put together a list of the top 19 spots. Island Press’ new book “Nature-Friendly Communities” by Chris Duerksen highlights areas that lead the nation in safeguarding local landscapes, natural resources and wildlife. Island Press claims it is the first resource of its kind to provide a step-by-step guide to help government officials and planners protect open space and natural areas while promoting economic growth. So what areas made the 2005 list? They are — Austin, Texas; Baltimore County, Md.; Dane County, Wis.; Eugene, Ore.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Pima County, Ariz.; Placer County, Calif.; Sanibel, Fla.; Twin Cities, Minn.; Bath Township, Ohio; Charlotte Harbor, Fla.; Chicago; Dekalb County, Ga.; Farmington Valley, Conn.; King County, Wash.; Pittsford, N.Y.; Powell County, Mont.; Teton County, Wyo.; and Traverse Bay, Mich. The list would have been 20 with Loudoun County, Va., but recent political developments have undermined its nature-friendly measures. So rather than remove it, the author used Loudoun as an example of the fragile nature of well-intended plans in the face of political pressures. For more information, visit www.naturefriendlytools.org/ .