Outdoor Industry Association

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Forrest Fenn treasure update: The identity of the man who found Forrest Fenn’s iconic hidden treasure has been revealed. [Outside Online] The pandemic nature craze isn’t over: The CEO of L.L.Bean discusses why the rise in ...read more

If you want to get to know Lise Aangeenbrug, OIA's executive director who stepped up to lead the organization this March, there's no better place to meet her than on the trail. A passionate outdoor adventurer with a professional background that has included stints at the ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Lindsey Vonn’s new show: The retired skiing icon is now hosting a reality TV show on Amazon called “The Pack,” about the bond between humans and dogs. [Outside Online] Bike recall: Santa Cruz Bicycles has recalled some of ...read more

The power of the outdoor economy is no joke, and universities around the country are starting to pay attention. In the last five years, the industry has seen a spike in educational offerings geared towards jump-starting careers in the outdoor space. For those who’ve already ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web An error in the press: News outlets around the world misreported Emily Harrington's El Cap record last week, incorrectly stating that she was the first woman to free climb the iconic big wall in less than 24 hours. In ...read more

Let's get this out of the way first: The election of Joe Biden as the nation's 46th president is, without question, a positive development for the outdoor industry. If enacted, the likely policies of a Biden presidency—including forward-thinking climate action, greater public ...read more

The numbers are in.  The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) came out with its annual report today dissecting the importance of the outdoor economy across the nation. Officially an analysis of the agency's Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, which measures "economic activity ...read more

When we announced the launch of The Big Gear Show (BGS) in December 2019, we had an inkling that it signaled a shift in the greater outdoor trade show landscape by offering a hardgoods-centric show that directly competes with what is widely accepted as the Goliath: Outdoor ...read more

I am a veteran and an outdoor enthusiast who has spent the last 10 years working in the outdoor industry. Without a doubt, our industry is the first in which I experienced the same level of camaraderie and commitment to purpose as I did during my 22 years in the Navy on active ...read more

This week, SIA announced the launch of a new campaign aimed at rallying the winter outdoor community around immediate, achievable climate action. The new initiative is called ClimateUnited, and already some big brands in the winter sports industry—Burton, K2, and Rossignol among ...read more

Speaking with brands about their challenges with supply chains this year, you hear the word "whiplash" thrown around pretty often. "Roller coaster" comes up a lot, too. Both feel highly appropriate. In March and April, as retailers shut down and consumer demand for outdoor ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web A tragic loss: Janette Heung, former deputy director at the Colorado OREC office, died in a climbing accident in Wyoming this weekend. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and colleagues. Fires ravage California: The ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Exxel Outdoors, parent company to Kelty, Sierra Designs, Ultimate Direction and others has acquired Compass 360, maker of fishing, hunting, and outdoor products. Darby Communications has been tapped to head up PR efforts ...read more

Love 'em or hate 'em, virtual gatherings have likely been on your mind a lot this season. From experimental, techie affairs like the Thin Air Show to smaller, more intimate efforts at connection during the pandemic, workable replacements for in-person events have cropped up ...read more

L.L.Bean wades into U.S. wholesale: The legacy brand has announced that, for the first time, it will enter into wholesale partnerships in the U.S.—starting with Nordstrom, Staples, and the sporting goods store Scheels. [Business Insider] Coronavirus in Yellowstone: Tests have ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Yeti Cycles updates its language: In response to concerns about insensitivity toward Indigenous communities in the U.S., the brand will soon drop the word “tribe” from all its marketing material and brand language. ...read more

On June 17, 2020, the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill that guarantees mandatory, permanent financing for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million a year and sets aside $12 billion to deal with the maintenance backlog on federal public lands. The ...read more

As the outdoor industry works to rebound from the pandemic, many companies are looking for innovative ways to connect with consumers and to make back what they’ve lost in profits. The answer is simple: connect with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Nearly half of ...read more

Outdoor Industry Association will have four fresh faces at its board meeting on June 22.  Trina Fornerette-Ballard, Brand manager at Waypoint Outdoor “I’m solutions driven with a willingness to have tough conversations to look for resolve.” Alison Hill, CEO at LifeStraw “As a ...read more

As outdoor leaders begin to speak out against racial injustice in the United States—once again brought to light by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis—SNEWS is collecting their statements in one place. Our list currently includes the following voices: Access Fund, American ...read more

The meaning of anti-racism: This article, recently shared by Camber Outdoors, is a good primer on why being "not racist" isn't enough. [Mashable] Racism and public space: It’s time to contend with the reality that individuals of color have a markedly different experience of parks ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Stay safe this weekend: If you’re headed outside for Memorial Day weekend, follow this advice released by Outdoor Industry Association, REI, and other industry leaders as part of a new campaign, Recreate Responsibly. Who’s ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Ski resorts hold out hope: Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge resorts refuse to give up on the idea that late-spring skiing might be possible. [The Denver Post] A massive coalition of climate advocates: The Outdoor ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Outdoor companies speak up: Patagonia, L.L. Bean, The North Face, and others publicly joined OIA in calling for the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. [The Hill] Support the effort yourself: Sign this letter from ...read more