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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 Opens with Open Air Demo

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 Open Air Demo

Outdoor Industry Association

SALT LAKE CITY, UT --(Ammoland.com)- Close to 2,000 attendees, including 20 percent more retailers than last year, tested the latest outdoor gear on the water and trails at Jordanelle State Park in Park City, Utah on Wednesday, August 3 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Open Air Demo (OAD).

A record-breaking 153 exhibitors (over 200 brands) showed retailers a sneak peek of next year’s paddlesports, endurance sports, cycling, fly-fishing, footwear, camping, apparel, and other outdoor equipment and accessories.

Attendees participated in events like It’s A Shore Thing Trail Run, Paddle/Pedal Challenge, Sustainable Living Roadshow, GPS Treasure Hunt, Fly Fishing competition and the chance to set a world record by paddling the largest SUP (stand up paddleboarding) board with SUPzilla.

“This is an outstanding event and a great location for it; it’s absolutely beautiful out here. We’re seeing a lot of retailers and a lot of people interested in paddling and growing the excitement and enthusiasm for the sport (SUP). It’s clear that when people try this sport they become interested in buying what we’re selling, so it’s an incredibly important thing for us to be able to get people on the water.” Huntley Dornan, Surftech President/CEO

“We’re reaching a lot of new customers here we wouldn’t have anticipated. People are walking by saying ‘Hey, I’m interested in a bike,’ and some of these people are wobbling out of here, but they’re getting excited and taking an interest in bikes again. I think it’s really important to be involved in this event.” Dennis Holliday, Raleigh America Utah/Nevada Territory Manager

“I think the show stepped it up this year, there’s definitely more brands here at the lake, which makes it really nice. The touchy-feely, that’s what you want. The Salt Palace is nice, but I can’t ride a paddleboard down the hallway. Even if a product I see here doesn’t fit into my niche and I don’t carry it, I can try it and tell other people about it.” Wayne Bair, Search Gear, Dan Diego, Ca.

“It’s so important to be at this event, because you never really know unless you do it. You can get out there and try things and compare and see what’s new. It’s nice to be able to test products back-to-back and do an apples-to-apples comparison. I think everybody you need to see is here.” Wes Morrison, Kittredge Sports, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Attendees now head to the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City for Summer Market 2011, four days of business education, events, networking and finalizing buying decisions.

For photos of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (including Open Air Demo) and the most recent show happenings, visit www.facebook.com/outdoorretailer or www.twitter.com/outdoorretailer and #orshow.

Photo: Thirty paddlers bring “SUPzilla” to shore during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market open Air Demo. The enormous board built by C4Waterman established a new world record for the largest standup paddleboard.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer (OR) brings together retailers, manufacturers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation through trade shows, 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.

Now celebrating 30 years, Outdoor Retailer (www.outdoorretailer.com) connects approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Summer and Winter Market shows, and thousands more through its year-round online resources and platforms.

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Outdoor Industry Association Announces 2011-2012 Board of Directors
Past Chair Peter Metcalf Awarded Chairman’s Award from Outgoing Chair Dan Templin.

Outdoor Industry Association

Boulder, CO --(Ammoland.com)- Outdoor Industry Association announced today the newly elected 2011-2012 board of directors. The board also elected its new officers including incoming Chair, Will Manzer, CEO of Eastern Mountain Sports.

“It is an honor to serve as chair of the OIA Board,” said Manzer. “After serving the last seven years on the board, I feel we have seen real traction in growing the industry. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and continuing that progress.”

Chosen by the membership, the OIA board consists of 18 voting members and 10 appointed non-voting members, who may serve up to two consecutive, three-year terms. In addition, this year, the outgoing chair Dan Templin, CFO at VF Outdoor Inc. exercised his right to appoint a one-term second vice chair.

As his first responsibility as the incoming chair, Manzer will award Peter Metcalf, co-founder, CEO, president and chairman of Black Diamond Equipment, with the rarely presented OIA Chairman’s Award for his unprecedented leadership, commitment and inspiration during service to the OIA board.

“For our industry, Peter has been both guiding light and driving force,” said Manzer. “As an OIA board member, Peter helped us find our economic voice and set a high standard for active engagement. Whether in the field, the board room or the halls of Capitol Hill, Peter represents our industry with unparalleled passion and we are grateful for his service.”

Newly elected voting members include:

• Carolyn Brodsky, President, Sterling Rope
• Fred Clark, CEO, Thule
• Bob Holding, Co-Founder, Waypoint Outdoor
• Gordon Seabury, CEO, Horny Toad
• Brian Unmacht, EVP, REI
• Zohar Ziv, COO, Deckers Outdoor Corp.

Newly appointed non-voting members include:

• Travis Campbell, President & CEO, Far Bank Enterprises
• Mark Taylor, Amer Sports
• Andy Vecchione, Polartec

Continuing to serve on the board are:

• Sutton Bacon, President & CEO, Nantahala Outdoors
• Tom Barney, CEO, Osprey
• Todd Bradley, Co-Founder, C4 Waterman
• Peter Bragdon, Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Columbia Sportswear Company
• Mark Bryden, Vice President and General Manager, The Timberland Company
• Darren Bush, Owner, Rutabaga Paddlesports
• Estelle DeMuesy, President, Title Nine Sports
• David Kulow, Owner, All Terrain (Rosemont Ventures, Inc.)
• David Labistour, CEO Mountain Equipment Co-op
• David Loechner, Senior Vice President, Nielsen Business Media
• Will Manzer, CEO, Eastern Mountain Sports, Chair
• Ed McAlister, Owner, River Sports Outfitters
• Jennifer Mull, CEO, Backwoods Equipment
• Casey Sheahan, CEO, Patagonia
• Steve Shuster, W. L. Gore, Gore Enterprise Communications
• Bill Sweasy, Chairman & CEO, Red Wing Shoe Company
• Dan Templin, CFO, VF Outdoor Inc. (Past Chair)
• Sue Rechner, President, CEO and Director, Confluence Watersports
• Kim Walker, Founder & President, outdoor DIVAS
• Jim Zwiers, President, Wolverine Outdoor Group, Wolverine World Wide Inc.

The board also elected the following people to serve as board officers:

• Will Manzer, CEO, Eastern Mountain Sports, Chair (pictured)
• Brian Unmacht, EVP, REI, Vice Chair
• Bill Sweasy, CEO, Red Wing Shoe Company, Vice Chair
• Zohar Ziv, COO, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, Treasurer
• Jennifer Mull, CEO, Backwoods Equipment, Secretary

The OIA Board of Directors responsibilities are to develop policies, procedures and regulations for the operation of OIA; to monitor OIA’s financial health, programs and overall performance; to develop, maintain and approve a long-term strategic plan that prepares the industry and association for the future; and to provide the OIA president with the resources to meet the needs of OIA members.

About 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.

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