EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Academy Sports + Outdoors has appointed Michael Dastugue, Shannon Hennessy, and Clay Johnson to its Board of Directors
+++ Baffin has promoted company veteran Jessica Liut, who most recently served as Director of Marketing, to Vice President, Marketing
+++ Christian Dahlheim, CEO of Volkswagen Financial Services for nearly four years, will succeed Janus Smalbraak as CEO of Pon Holdings +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Giant Group will move its US headquarters from Newbury Park, California to Boulder, Colorado in early 2026 +++
TRADE SHOWS & EVENTS
+++ Surf Expo will mark its 50th anniversary in January 2026 with an expanded show in Orlando, highlighted by a significantly enlarged Shoreline Outdoor category and a strong lineup of participating brands and retailers +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Ayaq, a French brand specializing in high-performance, eco-friendly outdoor and mountain apparel, has entered the Japanese market +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Salomon has become the naming partner of EcoTrail Paris, an event for trail runners in France’s capital city - now renamed Salomon EcoTrail Paris, for the next four years
+++ Deuter has partnered with US Biathlon to supply the entire national team with PFAS-free backpacks, duffels and accessories for the 2025–26 season and beyond
+++ Vallon has introduced two low-light, yellow-tinted performance sunglasses – Heron Low-Light and Ski Aviators Low-Light – designed to enhance contrast and clarity for mountain users from dawn to dusk
+++ HoverAir has partnered with the Freeride World Tour 2026 to showcase its enhanced hands-free Ski Mode on the X1 Promax self-flying camera, enabling autonomous 8K aerial filming for athletes and everyday snow-sport users
+++ Veia Supplies is expanding into winter sports with a new line of snow gloves, bags, and accessories launching December 2025, developed in collaboration with snowboarder Bode Merrill +++
ADVENTURE TRAVEL
+++ Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, visitors aged 16 and older must show a government-issued photo ID at 11 major US national parks to verify residency for a new $100 nonresident surcharge +++
Click here to access our Short Stop archive
