PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Inov-8 presented a new ultra trail running shoe, the Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max, that is the first one to use graphene in the midsole, claiming it offers 25 percent more energy return than an industry-standard EVA midsole, plus more comfort and durability
+++ Blackroll is helping this year’s participants in the world’s toughest international paragliding adventure race, Red Bull X-Alps, with their training and recovery
+++ Merrell has expanded its best-selling hiking shoe franchise, the Moab, which debuted in 2007 and has since sold more than 20 million units in all its versions, with the Moab Speed and Moab Flight, a lightweight hiking shoe and a trail running shoe that fall into the category of athletic outdoor hybrids
+++ GivenGain, a global provider of cross-border crowdfunding for nonprofit organizations, has signed a multi-year exclusive agreement to be the official fundraising partner of the Boston Marathon
+++ Vibram will be an official sponsor of the 46th edition of the International Ski Alp Race Dolomiti di Brenta, the final of the ISMF World Cup, which will take place in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy on March 25-28
+++ Mips has added the entire Scott-SRAM MTB racing team to Team Mips, including an individual ambassadorship for the American mountain bike cross-country cyclist Kate Courtney, who also is a member of the U.S. Olympic team for Tokyo 2021, won the MTB XC World Championships 2018 and the overall World Cup 2019
+++ Mountain Equipment, partner and official outfitter of the Youth of the German Alpine Association (JDAV) since 2009, is now also official backpack partner of the same organization
+++ 25-year-old Ukrainian sports climber Jenya Kazbekova is the newest member of the Rab and Lowe Alpine athlete team
+++ Swiss footwear company On is expanding its hiking collection with the Cloudridge, a lightweight and versatile mid-top shoe made with vegan suede and equipped with On’s FlexLock lacing system +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Cascade Designs, the parent company of Therm-a-Rest, MSR, Platypus, SealLine, PackTowl and Varilite, has appointed industry veteran and former Klean Kanteen CEO, president and board chairman, Jim Osgood, as the organization’s president of North America and the Pacific Rim
+++ Senior Google executive Caesar Sengupta, the tech giant’s Singapore-based head of payments initiatives and one of the key figures behind the launch of Google Pay in India and the relaunch of the payment app in the U.S. and Singapore, will leave the company in April after 15 years +++
CORPORATE & M&A
+++ U.S. pro snowboarder Shaun White has joined Krave, a producer of meat and plant-based jerky and protein snacks founded in 2009, as investor and brand ambassador
+++ On March 21, the Japanese company Shimano, which was founded in 1921 by Shozaburo Shimano as a small ironworks in Sakai, Osaka, and is now a multinational manufacturer of bicycle components, fishing tackle and rowing equipment, celebrated its centennial anniversary +++
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL
+++ Arc’teryx has entered into a multi-year agreement with Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) to support the development and growth of competitive climbing in Canada over the next four years and to support competitive climbing at the national level as well as international podium pursuit +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ In addition to the partnerships with the German Alpine Association (DAV) and the International Adventure Park Association (IAPA), the German Professional Association for Rope Assisted Working Techniques (FISAT) is also collaborating with the premiere of the Vertical Pro trade show, which will take place Nov. 19-20 in Friedrichshafen, Germany
+++ Because of the pandemic, Messe Erfurt (Germany) has canceled the sport.aktiv sports and outdoor consumer show scheduled for April 10-11; the next event is planned for April 23-24, 2022
+++ The new edition of the international climbing film festival Reel Rock arrives in Italy with a three-day-only event on the streaming platform ItacaOnDemand from March 22- 24 +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ In an effort ”to remove barriers and ensure equitable access,” Canada Goose announced that it offers all employees across its global operations up to four hours paid leave to receive Covid-19 vaccinations as well as access to on-demand information regarding the vaccines
+++ The organizers of Paris 2024 have pledged to host the world’s first climate-positive Olympic and Paralympic Games +++
RETAIL
+++ California-based travel and outdoor brand Royal Robbins, which was acquired by Swedish group Fenix Outdoor in 2018, has opened a retail store in downtown Boston at 304 Newbury St., just down the street from its sister brand Fjällräven +++
OTHER
+++ Outdooractive, the European digital platform dedicated to outdoor sports and tourism, will collaborate with First Avenue, a Bolzano-based specialist in outdoor and digital advertising, to expand and promote outdoor tourism in Italy +++
