Outdoor Retailer Summer Market '07 Preview: SNEWS® recommendations for must-attend events, parties and good causes

As you have come to expect and ask of us, the SNEWS® team has been tirelessly weeding through all the press release fluffery and mounds of show announcements to bring you only the events we believe are really worth the time. To that end, mark your calendars for the following events, seminars, clinics and parties we recommend in this SNEWS® Summer Market preview:

Open Air Demo Moves – but still promises to deliver great fun and camaraderie
*SNEWS® tip – it’s about the same distance away as Willard Bay, but Pineview Reservoir has the same limited nearby parking and potentially clogged up freeway system. Save yourself some aggravation and take Outdoor Retailer up on its excellent shuttle system. Looking for food? Wednesday, find your way to Thule’s barbecue – scrumptious we assure you, but get there early ’cause food does run out.

>> Location change — due to poor waterfront conditions at Willard Bay State Park, the 2007 Open Air Demo will relocate upstream to Pineview Reservoir near Ogden, Utah. The event dates, August 7-8, remain the same. The specific location is Cemetery Point, a peninsula reaching into the heart of Pineview Reservoir where the waterfront is currently in excellent condition, SNEWS® has been told. Cemetery Point features a large, clean, sandy beachfront area. All Open Air Demo events are proceeding as planned with the exception of the trail run, which will now require a short shuttle trip.

>> Directions to Pineview Reservoir at Cemetery Point — From SLC go North on I 15, exit 324 onto 89 just past the Lagoon in Farmington. Continue North to 84 East toward Huntsville. Exit (left) at the Huntsville, Mountain Green exit 96 on to Old Highway. Make sure to follow signs directing you to Snow Basin, Powder Mountain. Turn North (right) onto Trappers Loop Rd. 167 at the Sinclair gas station. Turn East (right) onto SR 39 toward Huntsville. Turn West (left) into Huntsville on 100 South (third left from bottom of Trappers Loop). Road dead ends at event location.

Complimentary Outdoor Retailer Shuttle Service:
August 7, 2007
Departure times from the Salt Palace: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Departure times from Pineview Reservoir: 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m.

August 8, 2007
Departure times from the Salt Palace: 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.
Departure times from Pineview Reservoir: 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Climb On! Mammut-EMS Bouldering Championships in SLC
>> This summer, large-venue competition climbing returns to American soil with the Mammut/EMS Bouldering Championships to be held at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. More than 200 climbers including many of the world’s best will vie for cash in an on-sight bouldering format held Saturday, August 11, on the rooftop of the Shilo Inn’s parking complex. Pro Finals begin at 6 pm, doors open at 5:30 pm. Now in its third year, the Mammut Bouldering Championships (MBC) is a three-part series with annual cash prizes in excess of $20,000, and is the only Pro Climbing Tour in the U.S.

All events are held on the Pyramide-Thunderdome, a massive custom climbing wall built by Pyramide-USA. During the Outdoor Retailer Salt Lake City event, hundreds of climbers will compete in qualifying rounds at the Front Climbing Club on Friday, with live, real-time scoring broadcast to the Summer Market’s Climbing Zone throughout the day. The top 10 men and women will then compete in a fast-paced showdown Saturday night on four bouldering problems from V9 to V11. Complete with great music and good food, this is a must-attend venue to include in your evening plans. An après-competition party will follow, hosted by Mammut and Revolution Climbing.

Our hat is off to Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer’s new show director, for being instrumental in bringing this event to Summer Market.

Events, good causes, free food and most excellent parties

Free Breakfast and Starbucks Coffee?
>> Nothing starts off an Outdoor Retailer trade show better than a free breakfast session brought to you by the Outdoor Industry Association. This breakfast will include a morning coffee tasting with Ben Packard, director of environmental affairs of Starbucks Coffee Company. Packard will share stories of how Starbucks infuses its corporate philosophy and vision into the brand, and provide examples of Starbuck’s holistic approach to sustainability, including criteria for quality, social, environmental and economic aspects. To help you improve your business, Packard will explain how Starbucks works to improve its operations all along the supply chain, from growing coffee beans, providing a great work environment for employees/partners, to developing satisfied customers and contributing positively to communities and the environment. Space is limited and you are asked to RSVP by emailing imalmberg@outdoorindustry.org.

The Conservation Alliance Breakfast: Arrive Tired…Leave Inspired
>> OK, so the breakfast is along the lines of muffins, fruit and coffee, but who cares when you get to see Arctic Warming, a slide presentation by Jonathan Waterman. Mark your calendars for Friday, Aug. 10, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Marriott, Salons E&F. Jonathan Waterman is an adventurer, author and photographer who has explored the Arctic 18 times over the past two decades. Waterman will present his talk Arctic Warming, an account of his recent expedition to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with famed biologist George Schaller. The trip was sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Together, Waterman and Schaller surveyed the impact of global warming on the region. The expedition discovered melting permafrost, unnatural predation of nesting birds, brushed-over tundra, disappearing glaciers and dying forests. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how global warming is already impacting this special wild landscape.

Celebrity Appearances
>> On Friday, Aug. 10, from 10 to 11 a.m., stop in to learn why 11-year-old Jordan Romero is one tough nut. Jordan just returned from Russia where, on his 11th birthday, he bagged the third peak in his quest to become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits. The boy wonder will share a slideshow and talk about his training for Aconcagua this winter. SOLE booth 50002.

>> Also on Friday, Aug. 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., stop by the SOLE booth 50002 to hear from Ed Viesturs on global warming. This past spring he spent a month on Baffin Island with the Global Warming 101 Expedition and learned how climate change is affecting his favorite cold places. Ed and the folks from SOLE will also present a big check to Big City Mountaineers…oh, and yes, there will be at Ed’s request, free beer for all. After all, you can’t be a world class mountaineer and not like beer.

>> Peter Whittaker, the renowned mountaineer who has collaborated with Buck Knives to create some of their most recent innovative knives, will be in the Buck Knives booth 18050 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. Stop in to talk knives, mountaineering, outdoor adventure, and get an autograph or two.

Rejuvenation
>> Take your tired dogs to Fox River Booth 18001 for foot massages. While you’re there, exchange your stinky socks from some fresh ones. 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Aug. 10-11. Open only for media and retailers — sorry exhibitors and reps.

Party Down
>> Peregrine Outfitters and MTI Adventurewear are combining forces to host “The Après Place to Unwind” Summer Outdoor Retailer Reception at Lumpy’s Downtown. On Friday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m., retailers (and important members of the media – unimportant ones are apparently not welcome) are invited for complimentary beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres, sweet paddling DVDs, great raffle prizes and plenty of schwag. Lumpy’s Downtown is located at 145 W. Pierpont Ave., only a half block from the Salt Palace. Stop by the Peregrine Booth 32031 or the MTI Adventurewear Booth 36111 for more information and your official invite.

Cool S*%T Giveaways
>> MK Family National Parks Getaway Giveaway — To celebrate the new MK Family of brands, promote the idea of parents and kids getting outdoors together, and highlight the declining attendance to our national parks, Mountain Khakis (booth 14005) and Mountain Sprouts (booth 35158) will host the MK Family National Parks Getaway Giveaway by giving away America the Beautiful park passes during the show to 30 winners. An America the Beautiful park pass includes one full year of access to the pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at federally operated recreation sites across the country. The pass covers the pass holder and three accompanying adults age 16 and older at sites where per-person entrance fees are charged. To be eligible for the daily drawing, show attendees must obtain a map of the route between the Mountain Khakis and Mountain Sprouts booths. Maps will be available at both booths and must be dropped off at the opposite booth and filled out with attendee’s contact information. Five winners will be drawn in each booth at the end of the show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

>> Celebrate GoPro’s new Digital HERO 3 mounting accessories with free beer and camera giveaways each day at 3 p.m. Righteousness awaits we’ve been told, but we’re not exactly sure what that means. Sounds intriguing though, so head to booth 53013 to get some…of whatever it is.

Just Plain Fun
>> MK Kids/Mountain Sprouts Yo Yo Promo will help you to get in touch with your inner child. Mountain Khakis Kids and Mountain Sprouts will host new-school yo yo prodigy Seth White during Summer Market to demonstrate tricks using ball bearing yo yos as well as traditional yo yos. White, originally from England, is currently residing in Salt Lake City and has studied under National Grand Master Yo Yo Champion Dale Myrberg…who knew there was such a thing? Plentiful amounts of complimentary professional grade yo yos will be available in the Mountain Khakis and Mountain Sprouts booths, and Seth will also provide instruction on old school yo yo tricks including “Walk the Dog” and “Around the World.” The schedule is as follows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Mountain Sprouts booth 35158, and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Mountain Khakis booth 14005.

One Affair You Will Want to Know About
Thanks to OIA’s Policy and a Pint meetings at the OIA booth 5600 from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you can find out about government affairs that affect your business, and ways you can work with OIA to ensure issues get resolved. Trade, land management and outdoor recreation policy are just some of the topics that will be addressed at Policy and a Pint. The format will be informal, allowing you to ask questions and engage in dialogue on the issues that affect you and your business.

Premiere Event
>> Ya gotta love a premiere, and this one is no exception…a premiere showing of the first hour of the historic documentary on the Continental Divide Trail on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown, Salon E (limited seating). Award-winning film producer Mark Flagler set out to do something that no one has ever done before: create a comprehensive television production of the official Continental Divide Trail. Walking the Great Divide – A Journey along the Continental Divide Trail is a two-hour program about this 3,100-mile National Scenic Trail that stretches from Mexico to Canada. Follow Flagler as he travels along the CDT. The program takes in the most spectacular places along this King of Trails and focuses on some of the issues that have surrounded this trail since its inception. Share the trials and triumphs as Flagler and his fellow hikers brave high altitude trekking, intense desert heat, cross-country navigation, steep ridges and deep canyons. Tickets available at the CDTA booth.

Donations and Charity Benefits Are Good for the Soul
>> Mion Footwear is sponsoring the Mion Speed Rolling Contest at Summer Market on Aug. 9 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the paddle tank. Mion’s own Amphibious Athletes Ambassador (Team A3) member Tao Berman will serve as emcee for the event. Paddlers will compete head-to-head in 30-second heats attempting to tally the most rolls before time runs out. Two semifinal heats and a finals race will determine top-place finishes. Spots in the event are available for the first 16 eager kayakers who sign up ready to showcase their rolling abilities. The top three finishers in the event will be awarded cash prizes of $200, $100 and $50, respectively, in addition to kayak rolling glory. Each participant will also receive a certificate for a free pair of Mion shoes. Additionally, for every roll tallied by the top three finishers during the event, Mion will donate $5 to Utah Rivers Council.

>> Big Agnes 3rd Annual Outdoor Retailer Bowl-O-Rama at the Ritz Classic Lanes on Thursday, Aug. 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m., is a must-attend great time. You do have to sign up in advance if you want to reserve a lane, so sign up at the Big Agnes booth 32099. Lane reservation costs $225, which goes entirely to Leave No Trace. The entry fee includes one lane, shoe rentals for all bowlers, one large pizza, one beer and one raffle ticket per person. Each lane will include up to five people per team. Walk-in bowlers are encouraged to join the fun as well (entry-fee of $10), and additional raffle tickets will be sold for $5.

>> Join McNett on Friday, in booth 29027 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. to help the company launch its Take a Kid Outside program. You’ll have an opportunity to meet some of the OIF’s 2007 Outdoor Idols, youth athletes that are not only doing amazing things in their sport, but also inspiring fellow youth to get active. You can also meet legendary climbers and McNett sponsored athletes Ed Viesturs and Conrad Anker. All revenue from sales of limited edition Take A Kid Outside MicroNet Towels for $10 each will be donated to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s Teens Outside Program, and OIF will make a matching donation. The towels will be for sale throughout the show as well. Naturally, there is free beer.

>> On Aug. 9, Adventure Medical Kits will kick off its Outdoor Retailer All Stars Bash at 3:15 p.m. in booth 12019, and it hopes this will become an annual event. To help raise money for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to the completion, management and protection of the Continental Divide Trail, the event will bring together a who’s who of outdoor industry athletes and personalities. Outdoor industry luminaries attending the event include author and world renowned mountaineer Ed Viesturs (the first American to climb 14 mountains in the world higher than 8,000 meters), adventure racing champ Rebecca Rusch, adventure climber Heidi “Almighty” Wirtz, as well as members from the 2007 Adventure Racing World Champs Team Nike. The All Stars will be on hand to sign books, posters, limited edition Team Nike Jerseys and AMK’s specially priced Ultralight & Watertight .9 first-aid kits. Attendees will be able to purchase the kits ($15 each) from AMK as well as autographed hardbound copies of Ed Viesturs’ latest book No Shortcuts To The Top at the event. AMK will donate all proceeds to the CDTA, and the company promises a variety of Utah’s finest brews will be available for quaffing.

>> Highgear will host New York City based musician Don McCloskey live at the company’s booth (38173) from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, to celebrate Everest Rocks, an expedition and concert in support of the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation (LHS). To learn more visit www.lovehopestrength.com. This special acoustic performance by McCloskey is to bring attention to Everest Rocks, the first multi-artist concert to be held at Everest Base Camp. In October, the 40-member team, including Mike Peters of the Alarm, Slim-Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, Billy Duffy of the Cult, and mountaineering greats Jake Norton, Alan Hobson and Sean Swarner, will trek to Base Camp in the name of cancer research. Funds raised from this historic concert will be donated to the Nepal Cancer Society. A documentary of Everest Rocks is being filmed by the BBC and MTV. Love, Hope, Strength T-shirts and wristbands will be available for purchase at the Highgear booth during the party, and the proceeds will support the LHS foundation and cancer research.

>> Mountain Hardwear is hosting Beer-thirty (4:30 p.m.) on Thursday and Friday in booth 27001, and you are invited to unwind with the Latin tunes of Mountain Hardwear’s very own in-house DJ, Rock-Daddy. The company will be selling a limited number of its new S08 Sentinel messenger bags from the urban-inspired Reality Check line for $40 (retail is $120). They’ll be donating 50 percent of the proceeds from the bags sold at the show to the Women’s Wilderness Institute, which provides scholarships for girls to attend wilderness programs.

>> Ready to sprint for The Conservation Alliance? Lace up your running shoes and on Friday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in booth 5050 you’ll be able to compete side-by-side with other industry friends on FreeMotion Incline Trainers in the third annual Uphill Challenge, sponsored by Trail Runner magazine and GoLite. The title of king and queen of the mountains will be awarded to anyone who can cover the greatest distance in 15 minutes on the treadmill set at a 15-percent grade…that hurt us just to type. GoLite will contribute $5 to the Conservation Alliance for every mile athletes complete.

>> Nonesuch recording artist Laura Veirs will be performing a benefit concert to support Save Our Wild Salmon on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Pierpont Place, 163 Pierpont Ave. in Salt Lake City. Doors open at 8 p.m. with a pre-show gear give-away. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance online at www.wildsalmon.org (until Aug. 1) or at Osprey booth 11013, Patagonia booth 7008, and Chaco booth 26015.

>> In honor of Earth Day, SIGG USA launched a design contest in April under the theme: “What’s Your Eco-Style?” The contest asked designers to show off their own eco-minded designs for a new SIGG bottle that will be sold exclusively by Patagonia during the holiday 2007 season. Nearly 200 designs from around the world were submitted during the course of the 40-day contest and more than 80,000 Internet votes were cast to identify the top 10 bottles. A panel of judges then selected the winning bottle from the finalists. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this bottle will go to the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization that keeps our beaches and oceans clean. To celebrate this inaugural program, the winning designer, Jessica Weninger, will be at the SIGG booth 22039 Friday afternoon to display her bottle “Thinking Green.” The first 50 people to tell the company, ‘I want Eco Style,’ will win one of the cool new SIGG bottles.

>> Gregory Packs will host an Aug. 10 slide show at 4 p.m. in booth 23027 with climber Joe Kinder talking about his recent climbing trip to Spain. Beer will be served and, during the event, Gregory also will raffle off six of its newest backpacks — Z35s, Z55s and Jade 50s. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Outdoor Outreach, a nonprofit that helps at-risk youth by building self-esteem through outdoor activities.

Go Learn Yerself Sumthin
>> Want to know more about your consumer and what they value? Join Outdoor Industry Foundation on Thursday, Aug. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Downtown Marriott for an in-depth look at participation in outdoor recreation. For eight years, OIF has gathered trends in more than 20 activities. In 2007, OIF expanded its research and analysis to include many more activities and a focus on youth. This interactive presentation will include a first look at the free time activities of kids, teens and adults and the implications for your business. Bring your questions.

>> In today’s business climate, organizations of all sizes are striving to find a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Companies now need the right ingredients to create a special advantage in the face of fierce competition. The ability to find and retain key talent is becoming a top priority to ensuring a successful business. As a retailer in this dynamic hiring climate, it will be important to build a hiring process that will catch the right people for your company culture, and Enrique Washington of The Generator Group will clue you in to secrets in the hiring and selection process. Sponsored by OIA, the seminar is on Thursday, August 9, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Downtown Marriott.

>> The Fair Labor Toolkit was launched to the outdoor industry in 2006 to give businesses guidelines and strategies to enact socially responsible actions in monitoring their production processes. If you are using this toolkit or your own in-house tools, the OIA Fair Labor Seminar, Social Justice as the Foundation of Your Green Business, will be a valuable resource. It will explore current compliance issues in developing countries and is a wonderful opportunity to bring you up to date with the major issues in supply chain management. James McMichael of LevelWorks, one of the leading independent audit companies with a special focus on sustainable compliance practices, will discuss wage and hour violations, record falsification, and root cause analysis. The session will also explore current best practices. With many stakeholders now expecting this as part of the way we do business, this seminar will enable you to focus on the key issues and how to effectively address them. Friday, Aug. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Downtown Marriott.

>> On Friday, Aug. 10, from 3 to 4 p.m., the Outdoor Industry Association will present the findings of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s comprehensive study of U.S. domestic production of performance outerwear pants and jackets and how the report will impact your business. If you produce performance outerwear, please join the OIA in The Board Room (second floor) of the Marriott Downtown, directly across the street from the Salt Palace. Every attendee will receive a copy of the report. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the report’s findings and discuss how OIA will use the report in Washington, DC.

>> Learn about Driving Your Business Through Community Outreach on Saturday, Aug. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Downtown Marriott Hotel. During this informative and practical one-hour session, you will learn about industry-wide initiatives designed to get members of your community more involved in outdoor activities – and into your store! Outdoor Industry Foundation will guide you through a step-by-step process of how your business can implement and be part of successful national programs like The Great American Backyard Campout, Teens Outside! and Outdoor Idols.