Finalists Announced for 2013 Outdoor Inspiration Awards

Finalists Announced for 2013 Outdoor Inspiration Awards, Presented by adidas Outdoor
Event Takes Place Jan. 24 During ORWM

Fred Beckey, Iconic Mountaineer, to be Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – January 16, 2013 – Finalists for the third annual Outdoor Inspiration Awards presented by adidas Outdoor were announced today following a round of voting by a judging panel comprised of representatives from adidas Outdoor, Outdoor Retailer (OR) and the Outdoor Industry Association’s (OIA) Board of Directors. These awards celebrate inspiring individuals, companies and non-profits that have played a role in increasing participation in outdoor activities. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday evening, Jan. 24, at next week’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2013 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 250.

All show attendees are invited to join the festivities that will showcase winners’ engaging stories of how they have impacted those around them to experience the outdoors for the first time or more often.

Finalists include the following companies: Boy Scouts of America, Outdoor Afro, Powertraveller, REI, Sierra Club, Soldiers to Summits, SOS Outreach and Suunto.

Finalists in the individual category are: Paul Fejtek, inspirational adventurist and first person with Brachial Plexus Palsy to reach Mt. Everest summit; Laura Jones, passionate outdoor devotee and manager at River Sports Outfitters; Marilyn Price, founder of Trips for Kids, and Bill Sweasy, chairman and CEO of Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc.

This year, a special Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to American mountaineer and author, Fred Beckey, who has made more first ascents than any other North American climber. Fred, also known as “Beckey” by his climbing companions, turned 90 this year and is an active climber to this day.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to mingle with fellow outdoor devotees. The presentation will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Questions about the Outdoor Inspiration Awards can be answered directly through Outdoor Retailer senior marketing director, Liz Crawford, at 949.226.5746
or liz.crawford@nielsen.com.

Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities with the awards should contact National Sales Manager Marisa Nicholson at 949.226.5760 or via email at marisa.nicholson@nielsen.com.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR) brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through tradeshows, product demo events and web-based business solutions. Produced by Nielsen Expositions and based in San Juan Capistrano, California, Outdoor Retailer also provides and promotes retailer education, advocacy, responsibility and critical face-to-face business initiatives within the outdoor industry. Recently named among Trade Show News Network’s 25 fastest-growing tradeshows by attendance, Outdoor Retailer (www.outdoorretailer.com) connects approximately 46,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Summer and Winter Market shows, and thousands more through its year-round online resources and platforms.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services. For more information, go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

About adidas Outdoor
adidas Outdoor is the athletic brand in the outdoors. The company’s founder, Adi Dassler, designed equipment solutions for athletes that improved their performance. The long history of adidas Outdoor began in the 1970’s with the creation of the first light trekking shoes. Climbing legend Reinhold Messner helped adidas design super light and fast approach hiking shoes for his first Everest ascent without supplemental oxygen in 1978. The tradition continues today with products influenced by Messner, as well as Alexander and Thomas Huber and many additional extreme outdoor adventurers from around the world.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maura Lansford, SOAR Communications, 801.656.0472 x2, c. 817.929.8123, mlansford@soarcomm.com or
Chantal O’Connell, CGPR, 781-639-4924 ext. 115, chantal@cgprpublicrelations.com