Outdoor: Did you hear?…

>> Andrea Ravinett Martin, founder and former executive director of The Breast Cancer Fund, died August 6 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. After her second diagnosis with breast cancer, Martin founded The Breast Cancer Fund, the only national breast cancer organization focused solely on prevention of the disease, with its mission to identify, and advocate for elimination, the environmental causes of the disease. As its executive director, she grew the organization from a fledgling funding body to a national advocacy force with more than 70,000 supporters. In 1995, she joined 16 other breast cancer survivors in a successful climbing expedition on 23,000-foot Mount Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes. The climb generated international attention, and was followed by three other major mountain climbs up Alaska’s Mount McKinley, Mount Fuji in Japan — which Martin also climbed — and Mount Shasta in California to raise hope, awareness and funding for prevention of the disease. Her friends and family say her climbing feat, and the expeditions that continue, define her spirit of determination and hope. Before her first breast cancer diagnosis, she had a varied career that included being a teacher, lawyer, restaurateur and political fund-raiser. She is survived by her daughter Mather Martin and her husband Richard Gelernter. A private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests that memorials be sent to The Breast Cancer Fund, 2107 O’Farrell St., San Francisco, CA 94115.

>> In recognition of Black Diamond CEO Peter Metcalf’s recent efforts to publicize the economic and recreational value of federally protected wilderness in Utah, Buff will initiate a grassroots campaign promoting Metcalf for governor at the summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. During the Aug. 14-17 show, Buff will distribute specially designed headwear that honors Metcalf’s advocacy work, and endorses him for Utah governor in 2004 (we wonder if the honorable Mr. Metcalf has any idea he’s now a candidate. In light of the recent Leavitt appointment to the EPA, there is an opening). The limited edition headwear will offer a variation on the Utah state flag. The “Metcalf for Governor — 2004” Buff headwear changes the word “industry” on the Utah flag to “outdoor industry,” honoring Metcalf’s recent efforts to promote the fact that 1.3 million Utahans participate in outdoor recreation each year, making a sizable contribution to the state’s economy. Additionally, the date 1847 (when Brigham Young led a group to the Salt Lake Valley to reestablish the LDS Church) was changed to 1991, the year Metcalf led Black Diamond’s employees to their new headquarters in Salt Lake City.

>> Hey ladies, join the Outdoor Industry Women’s Council during Outdoor Retailer Summer Market and you could win $750 worth of prizes. Raffle prizes have been donated by OIWC sponsors and include a Vertex jacket from Mountain Hardwear and W.L. Gore, Iris harness from Black Diamond, Polartec jacket from Malden, socks from Fox River and Thorlo, Diva pack from Marmot, Neptune hydration pack from Kelty and snowshoes from Tubbs. Runner-up prizes include four Marmot lumbar packs and a Malden Polartec jacket. It’s a mere $20 to receive OIWC member benefits that include access to research data, and priority access to limited capacity receptions, panels and events sponsored by OIWC. To qualify for the raffle, join OIWC’s ranks between Aug. 14-16 at booth 6068 or at the OIWC Gathering at Abravanel Hall. The raffle will take place at the OIWC Gathering on Aug. 16 from 6-9 p.m.

>> Malden Mills, makers of Polartec technical fabrics, has announced the winners of the 2003 North American Apex Design Awards. Winners are selected from companies using Polartec fabrics to offer exceptional products based on innovation, garment design, style, workmanship, fit and functionality. All winning products will be displayed throughout the Outdoor Retailer show in the Malden Mills/Polartec booth 3488. Winners this year include: Arc’Teryx Gamma AR Jacket, Maverick SV Jacket and Polartec Hardface Glove; Cloudveil Neve Pullover; Columbia Sportswear Softbloc Jacket ; Cozy Rolls; Dog Leggs; GoLite Kinetic Jacket and Propel Pant; Ground Strata Jacket; Kye Power, Power Shirt; Mountain Hardwear Micro Ozone Zip-T; Patagonia Mixmaster Pants; Naval Warfare Multi-climate Protective Uniform – NAWC; Psolar Face Mask; REI Rock Jacket; Seirus Hyperlight Glove; Sew Beautiful Cozy Rosie Stroller Blanket; Special Operations Forces Protective Combat Uniform; Sport Chief Jacket in the Chameleon System; Turtle Fur Soutache Cloche; and Wild Roses Salida Rose Pant.

>> Jim Heiden and Mike Costa have joined forces to launch InterSource LLC, an international sourcing company specializing in knits and woven apparel. InterSource will offer a broad range of sourcing services, including locating manufacturers, managing the bid process, and overseeing production and delivery. The company will also provide comprehensive consulting in product design, marketing, fabric and color directions. InterSource, LLC plans to specialize in sourcing environmentally correct fabrics and manufacturing. Heiden has more than 30 years of product development and marketing experience in the outdoor and bicycling industries, including executive-level positions at MontBell America, Performance and Nike. Costa brings with him 20 years of industry knowledge in manufacturing, product and fabric development. He has worked with manufacturers in the Far East, Canada, United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. For more information, email jdheiden@comcast.net or mcosta1348@msn.com

>> Man (and woman’s ) best friend doesn’t have to go to the kennel when you want to traipse in the wild thanks to Colorado Canines Adventure Trips. Owners and their four-legged buddies can raft, backpack and just dog-gone relax on various “Dogventures” put together by owners Alex Teller and Rick Frankel. “We wanted to create something that would become the Outward Bound or NOLS of canine adventures,” said Teller. They have three trips planned for this summer and fall, like rafting Brown Canyon, camping and hiking in Aspen, Colo., and a holistic getaway in Estes Park, Colo., which include gourmet vegetarian meals and goody bags filled with treats for pets and owners. Ruff Wear, makers of dog gear, are major sponsors of the trips and are “focused on the idea of helping people and dogs enjoy outdoor adventures together,” said Geoff Peddicord, sales manager for Ruff Wear, who also takes his dog Mack on many of his backcountry trips. Even if you don’t have a dog, you can still enjoy Colorado Canines’ trips with Teller and Frankel’s two chocolate labs and a German Shepherd, Jib, Gate, and Major respectively, who volunteer as “demo dogs.” For more info, contact Teller at major@coloradocanines.com or 877-949-5069/303-449-5069.

>> Grivel has obtained ISO 14001 certification by the International Organization of Standardization. The certification acknowledges Grivel as a business in compliance with internationally established environmental regulations, and is valid for the “design and manufacture of mountaineering equipment adopting processes of mechanical and assembling operations.” As a result, Grivel will participate in a standardized Environmental Management System that will ensure continued compliance while providing guidelines for environmentally sound practices. Grivel released the news to Europe’s outdoor industry on July 24 at the Outdoor Trade Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Grivel North America is an independent distributor of Grivel brand climbing gear and accessories based in Salt Lake City, Utah, operated by alpinists Bill Belcourt and Mark Twight. Grivel has been manufacturing alpine tools since 1818.

>> The Outdoor Industry Women’s Council hit gold recently when REI committed to become an OIWC Gold Level Plus sponsor. In addition, REI will a sponsor an OIWC seminar, “Marketing to Teenage Girls,” at the Outdoor Industry Rendezvous at the Vail Cascade Resort in Vail, Colo., Oct. 2-5. “In this tough economic climate it has been much more difficult to find sponsors,” said OIWC spokeswoman Paige Boucher. “We’re ecstatic over the recent commitment from REI, not only because of its generous monetary support at the Gold Plus level, but because the REI company philosophy mirrors our own mission to equip women to succeed in the workplace, outdoors and in life.” Other OIWC gold level sponsors are the OIA, Fox River, W.L. Gore and Associates, JanSport and Mountain Hardwear. Silver level sponsors are Karhu, Marmot, Stonewear Designs, Thorlo, Tubbs, The North Face, Black Diamond and OutdoorMind. Kelty, Macabi and Paddler magazine are Friends of OIWC. The non-profit organization uses sponsor dollars to stage a number of events that include industry receptions, seminars, the ChillFest and the annual Pioneering Woman award.