Osprey has sponsored our very own Sarah Harper-Burke in her endeavor to climb Mt. Shasta as a fundraiser for our friends and partners at the Breast Cancer Fund.

PLEASE HELP SARAH ATTAIN HER FUNDRAISING GOAL!!

http://tiny.cc/ljmjp


In June 2010, I will be part of a team of breast cancer survivors and others touched by this disease to climb a mountain for breast cancer prevention. Together we will attempt 14,179-foot Mt. Shasta in Northern California for Climb Against the Odds 2010, the 11th major mountain expedition hosted by the Breast Cancer Fund.

Our team hopes to raise more than $400,000, every dollar of which will support the Breast Cancer Fund’s groundbreaking work to identify and eliminate the environmental causes of the disease, including toxic chemicals found in our everyday environment. Climb Against the Odds directly supports the policy initiatives, corporate accountability campaigns and other innovative programs that aim to stop this disease before it starts.
Every little bit helps!!!! Donate as little as $10 to help me get to my goal.

Check out all the latest press on Sole insoles! The train just keeps rollin'

http://backbonemedia.net/page.php?pname=clients/archive/press-coverage&clientId=34

Check out this great story from InsideOutdoor magazine about the recent technology Sole insoles is working on:
An Out-of-stock solution: the outdoor industry's RFID experiment-
http://www.insideoutdoor.com/documents/IO_Spring10/IO_Spring10/index.html?pageNumber=26

http://scarpainthemidwest.blogspot.com/

Check out this great review on Josh Spear's blog for the new Osprey Hydraulic hydration packs!

http://joshspear.com/item/osprey-hydraulics/

Welcome to Part 2 of the 2009 SNEWS® Outdoor Retailer Survey summary, where outdoor specialty retailers get to speak their minds and offer industry observations and commentary on what is great, good, not so good and desperately needs improvement in the industry. As we announced last week in Part 1, the full survey results -- complete with expanded and detailed analysis of each category’s results -- will be presented in sections to our All Access SNEWS subscribers over the next few weeks. This week we're focusing on best-selling outdoor hardgoods, as well as underwear and sock brands, in the camping and backpacking categories. If you missed last week, click here to read Part 1 of our annual survey, the "2009 Annual SNEWS® Specialty Outdoor Retail Survey: The best and worst."

Although SNEWS sends the survey to hundreds of outdoor specialty retailers all over the country, this survey is by no means scientific in its approach. We do believe the results are quite representative of the outdoor specialty retail market as a whole, and those surveyed are consistent from year-to-year, so comparing answers from past surveys presents a useful picture of trends, market conditions and retailer moods -- one of the most useful features of this survey. It is very important to remember as you read the results for top-selling brands below that retailers are not predisposed to selecting a brand. They are each presented with a question and a blank. It is also important to note that just because a brand is not listed in this survey it doesn't mean it is not selling well. It just means that it was not a top seller in the stores which responded – either by perception or reality.

OK, enough blather. On with the results:
What are the top-selling accessory brands this year?
Well, either folks did not understand the question this year, or the concept of an accessory brand has taken on an entirely new meaning. This year, we had over 100 separate accessory brand responses, making it nearly impossible to determine a trend or overall leader. There were a few brands that received at least blocks of voting recognition. Cascade Designs and Sea to Summit garnered the most overall votes, each nabbing 7 percent of the total votes. Peregrine chased in behind with 4 percent, and Coghlan’s tucked in right behind with 2.5 percent. Folks, The North Face, Marmot and Mountain Hardwear are not accessory brands -- or are they? Seems it depends on your perception. Either way, congrats to Cascade, Sea to Summit, Coghlan’s and Peregrine for continuing to own a category that few retailers seemingly understand.

What are the top-selling pack brands this year?
Osprey – 28.5%
The North Face – 18.5%
Mountainsmith – 4%*
CamelBak – 4%*
Kelty – 4%*
Gregory – 3.5%
Arc’Teryx – 2.5%
Deuter – 2%*
Granite Gear – 2%*
Vaude – 2%*
*Tied companies are listed randomly and all are considered statistically equal in terms of ranking. All answers have been rounded up to the nearest 0.5 percent, and since we don’t name every single company name or category with a percent, the percentages may not total 100 percent.

YAKTRAX and Little Hotties have outfitted sponsored athletes, journalists and staff with products to help keep them safe and warm on the snow and ice at the Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.

...
To read the complete article, copy and paste the following link:
http://www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/17331.html

Use the following link to see the Gear Junkie newsletter and a review of the new Sole cork sandals for spring!

http://gearjunkie.com/enews-archive?p=december_18_2009.html

Saturday, October 31st, starting at 5pm, Boulders Climbing Gym in Madison is hosting our annual fall Fund "Razor" competition/party. Sponsored by NU Climbing Holds, Focus Snow & Skate, and Screen Door Studios.

We have expanded the climbing time from two to three hours, 5-8pm, and we have expanded the finals from two problems to four. PLUS, in addition to the informal "Who can climb the most?" we have added a more formal climbing comp in which there will be boulder problems for points. May the best man and woman WIN!
As always it will also be a party! Food and drinks provided!
Funds raised will go to climbing access! Last year we gave $1000 to help replace anchors in Southern Illinois. This year we are splitting up the funds and giving to bolt replacement at Barn Bluff in Red Wing, Minnesota, Governor Dodge State Park in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Outdoor Access.

Cost is $25, $20 for Boulders members, and there is a $5 discount if you bring a dish of food to pass! If you want to just come observe that's free but there is a mandatory donation of at least $5 if you are going to partake in the food.

If you're into the Facebook thing see here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163428734923to RSVP.

To keep updated to all the latest and greatest Osprey hits in the media, check out the Osprey Media Blog, a one-stop archive of the PR placements.
Some Highlights:

June: Elevation Outdoors <http://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/06/elevations-outdoors-online-names-exos.html>
June: Backpacker Magazinehttp://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/06/osprey-exos-58-recommended-by.html
July: Men's Journal http://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/07/osprey-product-pictured-in-mens-journal.html
July: Outdoor USA http://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/07/aether-70-and-stratos-36-in-outdoor-usa.html
July: Summer OR Dailyhttp://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/osprey-launched-hydraulics-line.html
August: Climber Magazinehttp://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/08/osprey-mutant-reviewed-in-britains.html
September: Mountain Gazettehttp://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/09/mountain-gazette-says-kestrel-is-solid.html
October: Skiing Magazinehttp://ospreymedia.blogspot.com/2009/09/osprey-kode-38-nails-spot-in-skiing.html

http://fabriziozangrilli.blogspot.com/2009/09/aao-dealer-employee-incentive-week.html

Check out some info on our recent Sales Promotion Trip! More details will be coming to you shortly regarding how to participate in this current promotion. You can email Vanessa at vanessa@goaao.com to get more information now if you are anxious!

SCARPA said five new models of trail runners and light hikers from its Spring 2010 collection embody the footwear brand’s new 'SCARPA Planet Friendly' initiative, a commitment to sourcing and employing recycled content materials and finding other ways – such as midsoles that biodegrade in landfills – to lessen its carbon footprint.

The new 'Planet Friendly' initiative for Spring 2010 not only marks SCARPA’s most comprehensive effort at building footwear using recycled and biodegradable technology, it also marks the beginning of an effort to let consumers know what it is doing to try to use less, and what it is doing to make materials purchases count in terms of supporting lower-impact technology. Five new shoes, the Pursuit and Pursuit GTX (trail runners), the Epic (hiking/approach shoe built on a trail runner chassis) and the Moraine and Moraine GTX (light hikers), incorporate the following ‘Planet Friendly’ materials choices.

• Midsoles use EcoPure, an additive that helps the EVA break down in roughly 20 years under landfill conditions versus more than 1,000 years for normal EVA
• 100 percent recycled webbing and lace
• 100 percent recycled lining; 70 percent recycled strobel
• 40 percent recycled synthetic leather
• 29 percent recycled polyester mesh
• 25 percent recycled rubber outside

Moving forward, the SCARPA Eco ski boot program, telemark and alpine-touring boots made from Pebax Rnew, a version of the Pebax plastic that is made 90 percent from oil derived from the castor plant instead of petroleum-based oil, will also fall under the SCARPA Planet Friendly designation. Pebax Rnew is the same material as Pebax, with the same high-end performance characteristics, except that it requires 29 percent less fossil fuel and puts out 32 percent fewer emissions in the process taking Rnew from raw to useable material.

"Sourcing new technologies that help us lessen our impact is an ongoing process, and the Planet Friendly initiative is about letting our customers know in very specific terms how we’re trying to incorporate these emerging technologies into our line, not about 'another green story' or about congratulating ourselves," said SCARPA North America CEO Kim Miller. "SCARPA Planet Friendly is a continuous effort to reduce our impact on the environment. If we do our job right, we’ll help drive demand for better and better technologies that help us continue to lessen our footprint."

It’s been a bit since we’ve updated you on SCARPA media coverage. If you’ve got the Flickr site fed through your RSS reader, you’ll have noticed that with the addition of a staff position here at Base Camp Communications, we’ve been getting these up on the site more quickly as soon as they come in the door, rather than in batches as in the past.

So, if you’ve not got the site RSS fed, now’s a great time to do it.

That said, there’s lots of new coverage available for download, viewing and sharing at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/basecampcomm/sets/72157594538267268/detail/

A couple highlights:

• Lots of good ski boot coverage the last month of two in the likes of Skiing, Backcountry, Powder and Freeskier, including Editor’s Choice Awards for the Skookum, Domina, TX Comp and TX from Backcountry Magazine. Of 12 ‘Editor’s Choice’ awards handed out, SCARPA won four, two each in AT and tele – more than any other brand.
• Trail Runner gave the Raptor a great review in its Fall 2009 shoe guide, and Vermont Sports called out the Raptor in a fall trail-running-themed piece.

Chicagoland outdoor retailer Uncle Dan's Great Outdoor Store has been named retailer of the year by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

The award was presented to Uncle Dan's CEO Brent Weiss, Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at a luncheon at the Palmer House Hotel.

"Brent understands the true nature of retailing," the association's president, David Vite, said. "His stores focus not only on serving the customers, but serving the community. He knows if he takes care of his customers on every level they will keep coming back.

Uncle Dan's was founded in 1972 and has four stores in Chicagoland. Locations are Highland Park, Evanston and in Chicago's Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville neighborhoods.

You really need to try these sandals! Another rave review from an online trail running site:

http://trailrunningsoul.com/trs/2009/08/26/gear-review-sole-platinum-sandals-sport-flips/

Still not carrying Sole Sport Flips? Need more proof of their ingenious design and amazing benefits? Check out the review from Outside online below!!

http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/08/throngs-of-thongs.html

A few highlights:

• Backpacker gave the Axis a great review in the August issue (just out) in a story about light hikers that offer performance for less than $100.
• Running Times gave the Raptor a solid review, as did a review that ran in several of the National Sports Network/Gen A Media regional publications (Windy Sports, Competitor Colorado, formerly Rocky Mountain Sports, Competitor SoCal, and Competitor Northwest).
• The Force was reviewed in Rock and Ice (stellar review) and Men’s Journal.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/basecampcomm/sets/72157594538267268/detail/

Sole Sport Flips received an honorable mention in I.D. Magazine's 2009 Annual Design Review in the 'Consumer Products' category.

I.D Magazine selected the Sport Flips for this award based on the product's comfort, fit and orthopedic support.

Since 1954, the I.D. Magazine's Annual Design Review has recognized the best in design, from the iconic to the obscure. Throughout the years, this annual showcase has chronicled the evolution of design and highlighted its impact on today's material and visual culture. Contest winners are chosen by a panel of distinguished design professionals and the I.D. Magazine editorial team, and demonstrate a clear survey of the state of design.

According to the design review, the SOLE Sport Flips are, "perfectly comfortable, you can run in them, they don't smell. They're just totally rad--the best flip-flops ever."

Read more at
http://www.yoursole.com/content/blog/2009/jun/26/sport-flips-id-magazine-design-award/

Little Hotties and Yaktrax, both owned by Implus Footcare, have signed on as sponsors of the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding. Little Hotties will provide the athletes, volunteers, media and support staff with products as the exclusive supplier of hand and foot warmer products. Yaktrax will serve as the exclusive ice traction supplier, providing traction and stability on snow and ice to all athletes and support staff.

"Winter athletes and spectators are forced to compete in extremely cold and icy conditions," said Todd Vore, President of Implus Footcare. "Little Hotties and Yaktrax are necessary winter accessories that return the focus to the sport and not the cold environment. We are proud to do our part in helping them bring home the gold!"

"Little Hotties and Yaktrax are a welcome addition to the Team", said Ted Morris, vice president of sales and marketing for the Team. "We are excited to partner with Little Hotties and Yaktrax as we launch into the Olympic season and beyond."