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Winners Announced for 2012 OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards Presented by adidas Outdoor

Outdoor Industry Association

BOULDER, COLO. --(Ammoland.com)- Celebrating the rejuvenation and spirit that inspires so many people to embrace the active outdoor lifestyle, the OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards presented by adidas Outdoor today announced the four winners voted to receive 2012 honors.

The winners of the 2012 OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards presented by adidas Outdoor are:

• Erik Weihenmayer – PERSON
• National Outdoor Leadership School – GROUP
• Nantahala Outdoor Center – COMPANY
• The North Face – COMPANY

The OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards presented by adidas Outdoor recognize those who inspire others to appreciate and recreate in the outdoors, and the 2012 winners were selected from hundreds of moving stories of inspirational efforts from all over the world.

Erik Weihenmayer became an accomplished mountain climber, paraglider and skier, despite losing his vision at the age of 13 with the belief that, disabled or not, you should always live your life as if there are no limits. Alongside Erik as finalists in the People category are Marilyn Price, Founding Director, Trips for Kids and Rebecca Cohen, Author of 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to get out of the House and Connect with your Kids.

National Outdoor Leadership School, the 2012 Group winner, is a non-profit group that has educated more than 200,000 students in wilderness skills and leadership, operating on the firm belief that positive, ethical leaders change the world. Paradox Sports, an organization that helps the physically disabled to participate in human-powered outdoor sports, and Skirt Sport’s Kick Start Personal Motivator program, which pairs women with barriers to fitness with female mentors to help them train for their first 5K race, were also named finalists in the Group category out of a highly competitive field of nominations.

Since it first opened as a small rafting company on the banks of the Nantahala River, Small Company category winner Nantahala Outdoor Center has worked to inspire and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to get outside, be active, and improve their lifestyles by enjoying the outdoors. Additional finalists, selected from dozens of nominations in the category, included Boardworks, a company that strives to make stand-up paddle more fun for more people, and Nevado Mountain Adventures, which offers consumers the opportunity to try new ski gear on their own terms at special demos at the nation’s resorts.

Large Company winner The North Face pushes the boundaries of innovation and design so that outdoor enthusiasts can push the boundaries of exploration, all while committing itself to protecting and preserving outdoor playgrounds and engaging communities in outdoor efforts. KEEN, recognized for their light-hearted “Recess is Back” campaign, and Merrell, with their welcome encouragement of outdoor adventures, were also named finalists in this category.

Hundreds of business and outdoor leaders will gather at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City during the evening of Friday, January 20, 2012, at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, one of the largest annual gatherings of outdoor-involved companies, to recognize each of these inspiring influencers affecting outdoor recreation today. World-renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner and 2011 International Federation of Sport Climbing World Champion Sasha DiGiulian will act as the official emcees of the OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards ceremony, and share their motivations and how they “pay it forward.” For more information on the OIA Outdoor Inspiration Awards celebration, visit www.outdoorindustry.org/inspire.

Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, CO, Outdoor Industry Association® 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

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. adidas Outdoor began in the 1970’s with the creation of the first light trekking shoe for climbing legend Reinhold Messner for his first Everest ascent without oxygen in 1978. That tradition continues today with products influenced by Messner and Alexander and Thomas Huber, the extraordinary brothers who consistently inspire the climbing community with their bold adventures in a unique style that is light and fast.

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Brands plan to ‘wow’ retailers with expanded product categories, new technology and a better brand experience.

Outdoor Industry Association

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. --(Ammoland.com)- Although still six weeks away, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market’s more than 100 new exhibitors and nearly 900 returning exhibitors, are preparing for the industry’s leading business-to-business wintersports event bringing more extensive product categories, new technology and a better attendee experience.

Building on back-to-back record breaking show footprint*, the footprint for Winter Market has already eclipsed last year’s total by more than 25,000 net-sold square feet. The expanded show floor will be busy with an expected 7,000 retail attendees.
OR Winter Market

“While retailers are in the throes of early season sales and a very busy holiday season, outdoor brands are pulling together their newest technology, best products and most compelling sales programs to introduce at Outdoor Retailer,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “Kicking off the New Year at Outdoor Retailer is a great opportunity to absorb ‘big picture’ product trends, gain industry intelligence and recharge professional connections. We’re looking forward to another awesome show.”

Retailers looking to get their hands on the latest wintersports gear at the All Mountain Demo will be thrilled by the world class conditions at Solitude Mountain Resort and the latest gear from more than 40 elite wintersports brands.

Salomon will be making the most of its time with dealers, outfitting demo attendees with a new backcountry binding mounted on a updated version of its most popular all mountain ski.

“Historically OR is not an alpine hardgoods show for us, rather, for unveiling our newest innovation in backcountry skiing products. This year, however, OR is that perfect place,” said Salomon Alpine Brand Manager Jenny Naftulin. “In addition to what we will show at the on-snow demo, we’ve significantly added on to our booth indoors to include a showcase area for the new bindings, alpine boots, helmet line and a new women’s powder ski.”

Ongoing advances in eco-minded technology means retailers will see a wider range of product offerings from distributor, Liberty Mountain. Four hundred square feet of the company’s recently expanded booth will be dedicated to representing new eco-minded sleeping bags, backpacks and more from Vaude .

Additional space also proves valuable for brands interested in providing a very specific brand experience and merchandising ideas for retailers. The expanded Smartwool booth will include a new lounge area, a wall made from Colorado beetle-kill trees with green glass embedded throughout, a “tufted” fabric wall made from Merino wool and a gallery-style garment display to help colors and patterns stand out from the crowd.

“At the heart of our brand is this joyfulness that can be found when friends gather together outside and create memories. The additional space helps bring the brand personality to life and lets each of our product categories shine,” said Jennifer Wilkinson, Smartwool global visual marketing specialist.

These exhibiting brands join a long line of core outdoor manufacturers who are exhibiting at the All Mountain Demo and Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. The extensive list of exhibiting brands is available here.

For more information on how to participate as an exhibitor, contact Outdoor Retailer Sales Manager Marisa Nicholson at marisa.nicholson@nielsen.com or 949-226-5760. Retailers and trade members of the outdoor industry interested in registering for Winter Market can review registration requirements here.

* Net-sold square feet for Winter Market 2011 was 351,251. This number represents the highest net-sold, square feet for Winter Market since its inception in 1989.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Expositions of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is a full-service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. OR is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Outdoor Retailer gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Winter and Summer Market shows.

Preview the future of the outdoor industry at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, which will bring the best of winter product offerings to Salt Lake City at the All Mountain Demo from January 18, 2012 and the trade show from January 19-22, 2012.

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