For roughly four decades, the ski industry has grappled with getting more people out on the hill. Conventional wisdom says that Baby Boomers are retiring; young people aren’t picking up the slack; there’s not enough diversity; skiing is too expensive or inaccessible; and ...read more
If it’s not a big-box store and it’s not an independent specialty retailer, then what exactly is it? REI Co-op defies easy definition. It’s a builder of brands and a risk to them. It competes with smaller shops around the country while throwing its weight around to protect ...read more
This show marks the first time that Outdoor Retailer Winter Market has been held in November, a change that was made to help retailers and brands sync up during the seasonal buying cycle. We talked to people on the show floor to see how that translated in real time. Naturally, ...read more
If you visit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club on any given snowy day after school, the entire place is full of kids munching on Honey Stinger snacks. “It feels great, but our backyard is pretty small compared to some of our competitors,” President Bill Gamber said. His ...read more
Crazy good. I could end this review right here. But I won’t. It’s fair to say that I’ve sampled hundreds of energy bars and trail snacks in my day, but these are in a whole new league. Cracker N’ Nut Butter Bars are crunchy, savory, chocolate-covered slabs of heaven, and way too ...read more
Oh, 2017 you were a wild one. The outdoor industry made a loud, cohesive stand for public lands, our trade show landscape got a major shakeup, women raised their voices on gender issues, and retailers across the country struggled to stay relevant in a world where consumers are ...read more
Outside the outdoor industry, in cities where people wear dress shoes to work and their blazers are blazers, not technical jackets in disguise, “dirtbag” is a dirty word. It’s an insult not taken kindly. But here, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, it’s a badge of honor and ...read more
It’s 6 a.m. on a Wednesday morning on a 2,000-vertical-foot catwalk trail leading to the top of Colorado’s Steamboat Ski Area. Before the groomed corduroy ridges have a chance to reflect the early morning light, a lone figure scars the parallel lines. While most locals are still ...read more
