Outdoor: Did you hear?…

>> Cloudveil tells SNEWS the company is bursting at the seams necessitating expanded digs, in large part because of increased business. Cloudveil reports the company has seen a 34-percent increase in preseason bookings. In addition, the company has added 39 new Cloudveil retailers and reports a 27-percent increase in average per store order. To accommodate this growth, Cloudveil is moving into new offices in Jackson, and concurrently opening a Denver Operations Center. The Denver Operations Center is located in the LoDo district near Coors Field and will focus on dealer services and inventory and distribution management. Staffed by Jon Boris, vice president of finance, and Michael McGregor, vice president of operations, the Denver office will likely expand as other structural components are added in the future.

>> Perhaps a sign of the times, Princeton Tec issued a press release announcing that the company has joined the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). “At Princeton Tec, our employees share the outdoor industry’s passion and respect for the outdoors,” said Michael Fattori, vice president of marketing and sales for Princeton Tec. “Our business was founded on those values, and we are committed to extending that philosophy to consumers. By joining our efforts with other members of the outdoor industry, we feel that our combined voices will have so much more impact on our objectives.” SNEWS View: Never before have we seen a press release announcing membership to an association, but given the recent stand by OIA taking Gov. Mike Leavitt to task for backdoor deals that affect our industry, and the national buzz it is creating, membership is suddenly becoming quite important. Good for Princeton Tec!

>> The American Alpine Club (AAC) will provide financial support to a major new conservation initiative in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, home of Mount Everest. Dubbed the “Community-Based Conservation and Restoration of the Mount Everest Alpine Zone,” the program will seek to address the increasing impact of trekkers and climbers on the high-altitude alpine landscapes. The project will be implemented in partnership with local Sherpa communities, Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and The Mountain Institute (TMI). The five-year project will be based on solutions proposed and directed by local Sherpa communities. Activities will include strengthening community planning and implementation skills through training; the restoration of high-impact areas; and increased education of both local people and tourists. Other examples include forming local Alpine User Groups; building porter shelters on trekking routes and stocking them with alternative fuels; constructing enclosures that protect the hillsides from overgrazing while promoting plant re-establishment; and establishing restrictions on the harvesting of juniper shrubs.

>> Hooked on the Outdoors magazine is seeking nominations for the first annual Outdoor Person of the Year award. The winner will be profiled in the December issue of the magazine, and will also receive a $1,000 contribution in their name made to the cause of their choice. Eligible nominees include those that “live and breathe the outdoors, have accomplished a significant outdoor achievement, have given back to the outdoor community, and remain selfless in their pursuit of their love for the outdoors,” according to the magazine publishers. The deadline for submissions is July 7, 2003. Nominees and a brief description (500 words or less) may be submitted via email or regular mail. Email entries should be sent to editor@ruhooked.com with “Outdoor Person of the Year” as the subject head. Regular mail entries should be sent to Outdoor Person of the Year, Hooked On the Outdoors, 2040 30th St., Ste. A, Boulder, CO 80302.

>> The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is conducting an online survey about running programs, techniques, instruction and injury prevalence to determine the most common types of injuries related to running for men and women. This information will then be used to determine what additional injury prevention guidelines need to be developed. To participate in the online survey, which runs through July 31, log onto www.aaos.org, and select “On your mark, get set, take the 2003 AAOS Running Survey.” The survey rates knowledge about running techniques, instruction and safety issues. The survey also asks participants the types of injuries that were sustained, the severity of the injury and how the injury was treated. Results of the survey will be released in September.

>> Sugoi is moving to its newest and biggest digs yet — 75,000 square feet of renovated space in Vancouver’s industrial eastside heartland. The new space will allow for the consolidation and integration of all Sugoi’s administrative and warehouse functions into one space, while Sugoi’s production departments will remain in the 45,000 square feet of Sugoi’s current primary building. The renovations and move-in should be nearing completion by June 30 — just in time for a big July 1 Canada Day party, eh!

>> Outpac Designs, Inc. has added a new addition to its website, www.pac-safe.com, providing detailed travel tips to help educate travelers about important information and news regarding domestic and international travel. The comprehensive Travel Tips section includes everything from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines to up-to-date travel news.

>> REI, in cooperation with the National Park Foundation, has begun selling the National Park Pass in all 66 REI stores and REI.com. The National Park Pass provides unlimited entrance to National Parks for one full year starting from the month it is first used. The $50 pass is available to REI members for $39.99 from June 2 through Sept. 1. Proceeds from sales of the National Park Pass fund vital park projects.

>> GoLite has named Keith Reis, founder of Sanitas Sales Group, as its new Rocky Mountain sales rep. Reis’ territory includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska and Kansas. Prior to launching Sanitas, Reis served as the sales and marketing director for Mountainsmith and as a marketing coordinator for Pearl Izumi. Sanitas Sales Group can be reached at 303-404-2749 or via email at keith@sanitassalesgroup.com.