Outdoor: Did you hear?… Stonewear Designs will raise funds for cancer research, plus Isis, Ute Mountaineer, Polartec, Yakima, Tubbs, Access Fund, Timberland, Chaos, Royal Robbins and much more…

>> Looking to reward the unrecognized woman who brings strength, grace and determination to others, Isis has established the Isis Goddess Scholarship Fund. The fund offers one woman each year the opportunity to take part in a transformational retreat free of charge at Mind Over Mountains in Ridgeway, Colo. Mind Over Mountains (www.mindovermountains.com ) offers adventurous retreats for women, combing activities such as hiking, yoga, rock climbing and spa services. To nominate an individual, send a story of 500 words or less describing someone you know that should be considered as a candidate. It can be a woman that is going through a difficult time, someone who gives to her community, or someone who has inspired your own life. Email stories to ISISFund@isisforwomen.com. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2006. Isis co-founder Carolyn Cooke and Mind Over Mountains owner Kim Reynolds are among the panel reviewing the submissions

>> And the winner is…Ute Mountaineer of Aspen, Colo., in the Polartec Retail Window Contest. During November, participating retailers dedicated window display space to the Polartec brand, including sub-brand fabric styles and finished garments made from Polartec fabric. Entries were judged on creativity, an accurate depiction of the Polartec brand and impact. Ute’s owner Bob Wade said his store has followed the evolution of the Polartec product line over the years, and its window display reflected that. Second place went to Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs, Colo., and third place to Wild Iris in Lander, Wyo. As the first place winner, Ute Mountaineer receives $10,000 and a full Polartec layering system for all shop employees. Second prize is $5,000, and third prize is $1,000.

>> Yes, it is true, Amy Buckalter, senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Yakima, has resigned her position. Despite a few whispers around the industry water cooler as to underlying reasons, Buckalter told SNEWS® that her resignation is something that she and company CEO Jim Clark have talked about for a while and it is not an indication as to the health of Yakima – quite the opposite. “When I joined the company, it was a $100 million, multi-brand portfolio with visions to grow the biz, but since our owners decided to sell the paddlesports division, the model has changed,” Buckalter told us. “Even though I still oversee a lot, my role has been reduced in scope, and this job really needs someone who is on site. For the last 16 months, I have been on the road every week but two,” she said. Buckalter, who resides in Seattle, told us that she takes a lot of pride in the last year of rebranding, rebuilding and repositioning efforts of the past year, which has been like “running a $50 million start-up.” However, she said it’s time to move on. This is not a two-week notice, as Buckalter will be involved in the selection process for her successor, and will not depart until that successor is on board and running the show. “The biz is in fabulous shape with terrific momentum,” Buckalter told SNEWS®. As to her next move, she stated simply, “I want to continue to be inspired and to inspire. Perhaps I will do some consulting.” Or, she’ll be snapped up by another company, one with the size and diversity to capture her imagination and energy.

>> Has it already been 100 years since Walter F. Tubbs sold his first pair of snowshoes? It seems so as Tubbs Snowshoes will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2006. It’s come a long way from the wooden snowshoes used by Admiral Byrd and Norman Vaughn on their first expedition to the South Pole in 1930. 1990 was a pivotal year when Tubbs introduced the lightweight aluminum snowshoe, revolutionizing the industry and spurring snowshoeing into a recreation activity boom. For 2006, Tubbs said it’s launching its most radically innovative product line in history with state-of-the-art graphic and innovative design.

>> Stonewear Designs is partnering with the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and money for research. The apparel maker plans to donate a portion of sales from its spring 2006 teal-colored, heart-patterned tank top to HERA, and 100 percent of these funds will go to ovarian cancer research. A teal ovarian cancer awareness bracelet will be included with the top’s purchase. The bracelets read “HERA C4L – One Foot at a Time!” C4L stands for Climb for Life, which is a series of organized climbing events that raise money for HERA. The color teal represents “Think T.E.A.L. -Tell Everyone About Listening,” encouraging women to listen to their bodies and know the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer. Stonewear Designs will also attach HERA hangtags to its entire spring 2006 product line to raise more awareness of the disease.

>> ASTM International, the largest standards development organization, has released the latest volume of its snowsports safety publication. The eight peer-reviewed papers contained in “STP 1464, Skiing Trauma and Safety: 15th Volume” are a resource for binding, boot and ski manufacturers, as well as ski instructors and ski area managers. Copies are available for $43 by contacting ASTM at 610-832-9585 or service@astm.org. For more information, check out www.astm.org.

>> After a communication onslaught by the Access Fund, its affiliates and members of the Outdoor Alliance, U.S. Congressman Jim Gibbons pulled his mining reform provisions from the Budget Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4241). According to the Access Fund, the provisions would have impacted climbing areas on millions of acres of public lands across the country. If the provision had been included, it could have resulted in the largest sell-off of public lands since the Homestead Acts, the Access Fund said. Joining forces with other outdoor recreation groups, hunting and fishing advocates and environmental organizations, the mining “reform” legislation was halted for now, but will likely reemerge next year, the Access Fund added.

>> This holiday season is shaping up to be a jolly one with retail industry sales for November up 7.4 percent unadjusted over last year, and up 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from the previous month, according to the National Retail Federation. The increase is in line with NRF’s holiday sales forecast of 6 percent growth. The numbers exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants. November retail sales released by the U.S. Commerce Department show that total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) rose 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted from November, and increased 6.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year. NRF (www.nrf.com) said it expects retail industry sales to increase 5.6 percent this year over 2004. Holiday sales, which are defined as retail industry sales in the full months of November and December, are expected to rise 6.0 percent to $438.5 billion.

>> Timberland enacted several organizational changes aimed at strengthening its sales and marketing effort globally. Mike Harrison has been promoted to senior vice president, worldwide sales and marketing. He joined Timberland in 2003 as the senior vice president of Timberland’s international business. In his new position, Harrison will continue to lead Timberland’s businesses in international markets and will assume responsibility for the company’s North American sales and marketing efforts. Scott Thresher has been named group vice president of North America with wholesale responsibilities for North America and the Timberland PRO series business. He joined Timberland five years ago as the senior director for strategic initiatives and was responsible for the launch of the company’s e-commerce business and was most recently the vice president and general manager for the Timberland PRO series business. Stewart Whitney has been promoted to vice president and general manager for the Timberland PRO series business. Stewart has worked on the Timberland PRO series business since its launch in 1999.

>> Marking its second year as the hat sponsor for the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA), Chaos will keep competitors, staff and thousands of shredders cozy and cool at the 2006 USASA National Championship, as well as 30 qualifying events nationwide. Considered the largest snowboard event, it features 25 competitions in five disciplines, and is expected to attract more than 8,000 people.

>> UK Gear, the first company to design and develop a commercial product in association with the British Army Physical Training Corps, has recently expanded its distribution of the PT-03 running shoe to the U.S. market. To create the running shoe, UK Gear enlisted a group of the British Army Physical Training Corps — the physical training program for soldiers within the British Army — for feedback. The PT-03 took over 18 months to develop from start to finish, and is now the official running shoe of the Carlsbad Marathon. For more information on sales and availability of UK Gear in the United States, contact Rachel Berglund, sales director, at 412-370-4726.

>> The Royal Robbins winter 2005 line has been chosen as the official apparel for Team Rossignol, a Nordic team on the cross-country circuit. Athletes will wear the pieces when off the slopes at indoor ski clinics, awards events and public gatherings. The team said it selected Royal Robbins apparel for its innovative performance fabrics, great fit and comfort, and strong heritage in the outdoor industry. Each piece will bear the Team Rossignol logo.

>> To give the Europeans a run for the World Championship title, the first-ever U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team has been formed. Culled from the Mountain Hardwear/Life-Link/Dynafit Ski Mountaineering Annual Race Series, the team is made up of four men and three women who will be eligible to compete in the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in Cuneo, Italy, Feb. 27-March 5, 2006. The men’s team is represented by: Chris Kroger of Jackson Hole, Wyo., who was the overall winner of the race series for the last two years; Mark Santurbane of Salt Lake City, Utah, who finished second in the overall race standings in 2005; Cary Smith of Jackson Hole, who finished second in the North American Championships last year and fourth overall; and Steve Romeo of Jackson Hole, who placed fourth overall in 2004 and fifth in 2005. The women’s team will include: Jeannie Wall of Bozeman, Mont., who finished in fifth place in the World Championships held in Spain in 2004. Jeannie has both a fourth and fifth place finish in World Cup competition, and she has won the women’s division of the North American Ski Mountaineering Championships held in Jackson Hole, four years in a row; Monique Merrill, of Breckenridge, Colo., who finished first in the women’s overall standings in 2005 and third in 2004; and Karen Kingsley from Ophir, Colo., who finished fifth in the Women’s Overall standings in 2005. The team is sponsored by Dynafit, Patagonia and Colltex. Accompanying the team to the World Championships will be Andrew McLean, a board member of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA), who will also be a technical judge of the event. For more information, visit www.ussma.com.

>> Ibex Outdoor Clothing announced the hiring of Andrew Caughey, a New Zealander, as vice president of sales and marketing. This important new position is being introduced to manage the company’s significant growth rate in sales. Relocating to Vermont, Caughey will be responsible in for the overall communications of the company, including brand messaging, dealer support and retailer education as part of the company’s strategic marketing plan. He was most recently employed as the international marketing manager for the New Zealand Merino Company Ltd. based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

>> Mountain Khakis has added Russ Roth to its national sales rep team to handle the New England region. He is the founder of Roth Sport Sales and also represents Limmer Boot, Ibex Outdoor Clothing and Descente North America. Roth will cover Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island.

>> Mark Hrubant is the new international sales manager for the Canadian company, G3 Genuine Guide Gear. Hrubant, with 17 years experience in the outdoor industry, was most recently with Mountain Hardwear in international sales. Prior to that, he spent 12 years with W.L. Gore & Associates. For more on the company, go to www.genuineguidegear.com.

>> For the fifth year in a row, the G3 Targa Telemark binding has earned an Editor’s Choice award from Couloir magazine. Also, its Targa Wedge has also received an honorable mention for best accessory.

>> The Sports Group for VNU Expositions has moved
its offices to San Juan Capistrano
effective Monday, December 19. To reach organizers for each of the various
trade shows, use the following new numbers: Outdoor Retailer – 949-226-5722;
Interbike – 949-226-5712; ASR – 949-226-5744; Fly-Fishing Retailer –
949-226-5770; and Health & Fitness Business – 949-226-5743. Mailing address
is now: 31910 Del Obispo, Suite
200, San Juan
Capistrano, CA92675.

>> After 25 years in the trade fair business, it certainly wasn’t an easy decision for Rolf Mohne, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen. In August 2006 he will have been in the trade fair business for 25 years and in February 2007 he will celebrate his 60th birthday. He will then take early retirement. At the end of October he asked the Chairman of the Supervisory Board to arrange for a successor, and the Board managed this in the last few days. Klaus Wellmann is to be the new CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen. The 41 year-old business management graduate and trade fair expert gained his experience at the KoelnMesse and will take office at Lake Constance in April 2006.