Americans Go Green - Easy Purchase Decisions Is The Big Plan for 2008

GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media released a Survey earlier this month that shows 49% of Americans plan to make eco-friendly resolutions this New
Years Day. There are noble intentions in these changes, but the survey also reveals that people are seeking easy and painless ways to lessen their carbon footprint, including recycling more (66% of respondents) and using reusable or recycled materials.

White Sierra recently introduced their new Spring 2008 eco-friendly collection, which includes Happy Planet Earth Friendly fabrics made from bamboo and recycled poly and linen blends that are designed to be easy on the earth and an easy decision for this growing population of conscious consumers.

White Sierra’s new proprietary earth friendly fabrics for Spring 2008 include:

Soda Bottle Weave™
Made from recycled poly and polyester, this sun protection shirt is also wicking.
One shirt made from this fabric keeps the equivalent of five soda bottles out of landfills

Bam Bam Weave™
Made from bamboo fiber and polyester, this technical fabric is naturally moisturewicking and features antimicrobial properties as well as sun protection. Bamboo is an earth-friendly, sustainable fiber, and grown without pesticides.

Zahara Linen Cotton™
One of the oldest textiles in the world, linen is naturally easy on the environment,
with only half the water input of cotton. It’s also highly absorbent and cool in
garments.

Phoenix Poly Linen™
White Sierra introduces a technical Poly Rayon Linen performance fabric for men and women. This poly rayon linen blend features UPF 30 sun protection, moisture management and quick drying properties.

For a functional top that is equal parts stylish and practical, check out White Sierra’s Cayuga top for women. With all natural colorways in Oregano, Faded Denim, Stone and White plus decorative appliqués at the waist and sleeve, all the style is rolled into one attractive package. Performance features include the White Sierra’s earth-friendly Bam Bam Weave™ made from a bamboo blend that contains natural moisture management, antimicrobial qualities and UPF 30 sun protection.


Of the many cool highlights of the men’s Plaid Palmer Shirt, surprisingly the plaid print comes in second to the innovative Soda Bottle Weave™ fabric. The Soda Bottle Weave is aptly named because it is made from recycled polyester, keeping the equivalent of five small soda bottles out of landfills. This fabrication includes performance features such as moisture management and UPF 30 sun protection.


“The Happy Planet series is part of White Sierra’s efforts to better serve our outdoor customers by offering performance fabrics that have a lesser impact on the earth,” said Al Whitworth, White Sierra’s director of marketing. “We’re taking small but definite steps in our journey to become part of the solution.”

White Sierra is a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based outdoor apparel brand with a successful 27 year heritage of serving the outdoor and sporting goods markets. For additional information, visit www.whitesierra.com or call (800) 980-8688.




For more great information about Verde’s family of eco-friendly clients, subscribe to their RSS feed by clicking the icon to the left, and check out their group on Facebook.

Contact:
Julie Evans
Verde PR
(970) 259-3555
Julie@verdepr.com

GoPro Partners with The North Face to Promote TNF Video Contest

Calling all snowboarders, skiers, and videographers- here’s your chance to score industry recognition, the latest gear, and win a trip to the 2008 Powder video awards! Take advantage of the first snowfall this season by posting videos of your best lines at The North Face's new online video channel, Defy.TV.

The North Face has partnered with GoPro, a designer and manufacturer of wearable digital cameras, for The North Face Video Contest at www.defy.tv. Now through the end of January, The North Face is giving away GoPro’s Digital HERO 3 camera to customers who purchase a minimum of $399 of snowsports product at The North Face retail stores.

Use the camera to capture all your coolest jumps and tricks on the slopes. Then post your footage online at Defy.tv, alongside videos from The North Face’s team of snowsports pros, including Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Ingrid Backstrom.

If your video stands out among the pros, The North Face will hook you up with a head to toe product package and a trip to the Powder video awards to receive your prize in front of industry bigwigs. Visit www.defy.tv for all details on prizes and contest rules. Get out there while the snow’s still fresh and start riding, skiing, and shooting!

Dirt Bikers Take Their GoPro to the Skies

Chilly is ready for her close-up

Chilly is so stinkin' cute we've added her as a screensaver. Hot Chillys is supporting ProPeninsula, a non-profit group that works to protect and rehabilitate the fragile Baja California ecosystem. They, in turn, work work a group called Grupo Tortuguero that protects sea turtles and sea turtle habitat around the world. It's a noble goal and Hot Chillys is actively supporting it by "adopting" a black sea turtle named 'Chilly'. If you'd like to adopt a sea turtle, visit this link.

K2 Ascent From Shared Summits and eVent fabrics

Getting Technical

A six-man team set out to conquer K2, a 28,250 ft. peak in the Karakoram Range of northern Kashmir in the region controlled by Pakistan, which makes it is the second-highest mountain in the world.

Check out these videos from the expedition itself. The first video showcases the team as they push through the "bottleneck" in the pre-dawn gloom and to cross the "traverse" during the first glimpses of the morning sun.

And, the second video takes you on that treacherous last leg to the summit itself. From base camp four, this last leg of the journey took 9 weeks, 3 routes, 5 attempts, and 15 ½ hours.

Powered by gear provided with the eVent fabrics technology, the expedition was a true success. NBC is airing a special on the expedition on December 16th. Be sure to check it out!

The Summit

GoPro featured on DailyCandy.com

GoPro's Digital HERO 3 wrist camera was featured today on the trend spotting shopping daily email newsletter DailyCandy.com.

This prominent shopping website suggests the Digital HERO 3 as the ideal gift for the man in your life:

Strap him with a waterproof wrist camera and he’ll never have to embellish (insert extreme sport or crazy antic) stories again.

check out the entire gift guide here: http://www.dailycandy.com/san_francisco/article/33983/Boys+to+Men

Hot Chillys Celebrates the Coming of Winter

Perhaps it was the 60-degree days in November that really made us question if winter would arrive at all. Eager skiers and powder-hounds who dug out their gear for the season, did so prematurely, and witnessed their freshly waxed skis collect freshly deposited dust. I should know, I was one of them. Countless hours of wall sits and back squats seemed to be in vain as the skies and mountains remained dry.

But all that has changed in the past few days as winter has decided to rear itself once again with snow abounding in some areas. Of course, winter only reinforces the cool weather vibe that is felt year-round over at Hot Chillys. These guys live for those first flakes to come down. They even have link for snow reports on their website.

Over here at Verde we are celebrating as well. Southwest Colorado finally got its share of the white stuff, helping a few ski areas open more terrain than the man-made strip under the lift. I never want to hear the phrase "rip the strip" again.

La Sportiva Kicks Off Ice Festival Tour in Bozeman

La Sportiva made its first tour stop at the Bozeman Ice Festival past weekend. The festival included the Grivel North America Ice this Breaker Pro Invatational, ice climbing clinics, some nighttime slide shows and opportunities to mingle with athletes and sponsors. La Sportiva helped to sponsor the event and provided folks with the chance to try a pair of La Sportiva Mountain Boots that came to check out the event. Check back for more La Sportiva ice festival tour dates and events.

Dr. John Francis, aka The Planetwalker, Set To Speak At Conservation Alliance Breakfast

Dr. John Francis is a true practitioner of what he preaches, giving up fossil fuels for more than 22 years and continually advocating for oil spill prevention.

Guaranteed to pack the room at OR again this Winter, John will share his experiences and tell his story of conservation, environmental awareness and living an eco-friendly lifestyle.

How can we translate these grand ideas into our daily lives? See you there to find out. Read up more about John and the Conservation Alliance Breakfast on their website.

Where in the World is Chilly?

***Missing Turtle Alert***
***Missing Turtle Alert***
Please be advised we have an all points bulletin out for Chilly, the Hot Chillys' wonder turtle. Last seen in mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire, Chilly is a black sea turtle whose native range is off the coast of Baja California. Eyewitnesses claim to have spotted Chilly golfing in the Arizona desert and communing with the snow gods of the East coast. We believe her partner in this daring escape is friendly. Please bring our girl home. We love you Chilly.

Please note: this picture (courtesy of gummylump.com) is of Chillys' sister, as we have no recent images. But she's a turtle - how can you tell the difference?

Mion Footwear Gains APMA Seal of Acceptance

We all knew that Mion made supremely comfortable footwear. Now experts agree!

Mion Footwear has been awarded the prestigious American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance. The APMA Seal of Acceptance recognizes products that contribute to better foot health.

Mion was awarded the seal for its beneficial attributes that promote quality foot health. Mion can address minor foot issues with its customized and personalized fit attributes delivered through its Ergomorphic Footbed and Super Structure upper designs.

Accepted Mion styles include the Current Sandal, Pen Shell Clog, Ebb Tide Slide, Slack Tide Thong and the Fast Canyon.

The APMA Seal of Acceptance Program recognizes products which have been found beneficial to foot health and of significant value when used in a consistently applied program of daily foot care and regular professional treatment. The Seal of Acceptance evaluates footwear, materials, insoles, hosiery, and equipment.

Best News Ever!

It’s official! Eating ice cream is good for you. Or at least making ice cream is good for you. Congratulations to Industrial Revolution. Their Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker has been honored with the Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center. I have always known that anything that makes you as happy as ice cream, must be healthy. Now, even mom and dad say so!

eVent® fabrics receives top marks in Outdoor Magazine

eVent fabrics is recognized in this month's issue of Germany's acclaimed Outdoor Magazine. The test compared 11 different jackets.

My high school German is a bit rusty, but the review clearly states that "eVent distances all other fabrics in breathability."

You can read the full review on the Outdoor Website.

Jetboil Is Hungry For New Recipes

Jetboil has announced a recipe contest that runs through January 15th. The winner in each of the five categories - breakfast, lunch/snack, dinner, dessert, and beverage - will win a Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set. And maybe get themselves featured on the Jetboil website or in their catalog. You can check out all the rules and specifics here.

While this picture may have you thinking that the secret ingredient for this contest is Mentos -the freshmaker, there are actually no such limitations. The ingredients are up to you, so bring your creativity!

GoPro's Helmet HERO Ships Nov. 27

So you’re thinking about adding the new GoPro Helmet HERO to your wish list this holiday season. Here is this low down:

The Helmet HERO is a tiny mirco video camera that shoots up to 56 minutes of continuous video with sound with a 2GB SD card. It also shoots hands free images with a "photo every five second" feature. The attachment fits any vented and non-vented helmet. And also includes flat mounts that you can stick to any piece of gear or equipment.

With the Helmet HERO comes a head strap (like a head lamp strap) to which you can attach the camera when you don't need a helmet but want to capture hands free video and images.

As you can see from this photo, HERO creator Nicholas Woodman definitely digs his HERO.

Shipping to stores everywhere on November 27th, the HERO is definitely a gift that will keep up with the extreme adventurer’s idea of a holiday.

More information is available at www.goprocamera.com.

The Marilyn Fund

On October 3, Marilyn Cieszykowski, partner of Gareth Martins, director of marketing at Osprey Packs and friend of Verde PR, was seriously injured during a bicycle crash in the highlands of Ecuador.

Thanks to a remarkable effort to medical air evacuate her back to the states, the overall outlook is for a strong, full recovery over time. Visit her blog to follow her progress.

However, the costs of medical air evacuation were not covered by health insurance. Local fundraisers, organized by Osprey and friends of Marilyn and Gareth, have started to chip away at the debt. But there is a long a way to go with over $50,000 remaining.

Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible contribution can send a check to:

Greater Dolores Action
In the memo write “Marilyn Fund”
PO Box 14
Dolores, CO 81323

Come Ride With Ellsworth

Ellsworth’s newest handcrafted bike, and one of the most innovative designs, is The Ride. Recently The Ride was featured in Popular Science due to its user-benefiting innovations.

Chucking the old and outdated chain-and-gear system out the window, Ellsworth is utilizing a technology that Leonardo da Vinci dreamed about during the late 15th century.

Putting old ideas with new technologies and you get The Ride.

Read the full article featuring The Ride in the December issue of Popular Science.

The Ride
- Ultra Lightweight Aluminum Frame
- Aluminum Front Forks and Components
- NuVinci CVP Drivetrain
- Colors: All American Red, Pearlescent White Vador Black

Backpacker Reviews White Sierra Rainwear

Backpacker Magazine puts White Sierra's Sierra Tek Rainwear Jacket through a rigorous test...and the jacket receives glowing praise.

The review states: "One tester even stood under a 70-foot waterfall in the Grand Canyon for 15 minutes and no moisture seeped through."

Not bad for $100.

From the February 2008 issue:

First Turns of the Year

I’ve just returned from my annual pilgrimage to Breckenridge for the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Fall Training Event. Kudos to Breckenridge for defying the big, fat high-pressure system that has been sitting over the greater American West. One run was open with surprisingly great snow. There was no shortage of sliders, either. Sure – terrifying at times, but reassuring nonetheless – that the ski/board/tele bum mentality is not only alive, but kicking. Damn the crowds and the limited terrain, we all just wanted to be out there – goofy grins and all.

PSIA put on a great event this year. Fall Training is for the upper level Education Staff and the Trainer Accredited members. I had the honor of skiing with someone I’d never met, Charlie Stocker from Vail. He rips - downright inspiring. The entire PSIA organization is really indicative of the greater outdoor industry - a group of talented people whose dedication to the sport they love drives their pursuit of excellence. It wouldn’t work without the detail-oriented folks, the visionaries, and the beer. (The latter may be debatable in some circles.)

(Note: Due to the compromising nature of the photos taken in Breck, I must overtly steal from the internet. Special thanks to the fabulous Wayne Wong.)

White Sierra Unveils Fall 2008 Line

Coming soon to a winter trade show near you...

Nikwax's Nick Brown in The B.O.S.S. Report

Nick Brown, founder of Nikwax, started manufacturing environmentally sound products over 20 years ago and is currently leading the industry in eco-innovations and persistence.

On the tail of the news of a Swedish study revealing Nikwax products as 100% fluorochemical free, the B.O.S.S. Report follows up with an op-ed piece from Nick Brown.

In this piece, Brown speaks out against the practice of manufacturing products, such as after-market waterproofing and care products, in a way that causes or creates harmful fluorocarbons. These fluorochemicals have negative impacts on the environment and humans and the responsibility starts with the manufacturer.

Brown also recently spoke at the Rendezvous about this kind of corporate responsibility.

Read the full article on SportsOneSource. Also check it out on their Blog.

You may also read more about Nikwax’s stance on fluorocarbons by visiting their Website.

What the Hell?

Go big or go home!

At the Hot Chilly's sales meeting in Scottsdale today, I golfed for the VERY first time! And guess what? I am not quitting my day job...

La Sportiva Fireblade- Shoe of Choice for Parkour

I was watching a show called E:60 on ESPN last night (OK, my husband was watching and I was checking email in the same room) and they ran a segment on Parkour. Crazy stuff - a blend of running, climbing and gymnastics - with a liberal dose of insanity. And everyone knows insanity is the key ingredient to any great sport.

Anyway, the show grabbed my attention just in time to see a couple of beauty shots of the La Sportiva Fireblade! Apparently a shoe of choice among elite traceurs in training. Who knew? First bicycle polo, then truck pulling, and now this. Is there anything La Sportiva shoes aren't good for? I guess the same features that help you stick to the side of a mountain can help you stick to man made structures too.

To see for myself how well Fireblades perform for Parkour, I had George go out and give it a try (he was already wearing his Fireblades today). After watching a couple YouTube videos he was ready to go. He made it all the way to the wall around our parking lot... and the doctors say he should recover fully. Guess it is harder than it looks on TV.

Teeeeeeeriffficccc

I'll need to have you go ahead and move your office to the basement. ...

And that stapler. ...

Happy Halloween!

Ellsworth Bikes Forced to Evacuate Ramona Headquarters

Ellsworth Bikes were forced to evacuate last week as the California fires swept into their area. The company has taken up a temporary administrative office in Oceanside and are continuing to operate normally as much as possible. The fire destroyed all phone and electrical infrastructure near their offices, and burned an organic avocado grove on their administrative property in Ramona. From Oceanside, the company is able to answer e-mails and continue filling orders out of their Vancouver, Wash. facility. Two articles have been posted on Bicycle Retailer's website that have updated Ellsworth's status, both during and following the evacuation. See the first article Here and the second Here.

Conervation Alliance Breakfast - Save the Date!

Conservation Alliance Breakfast
Thursday, January 24, 2008
7:30-9:00 AM
The Marriott, Salt Lake City

Featured Speaker: Dr. John Francis, The Planetwalker

About Dr. John Francis:
John Francis, Ph.D., is known the world over as the Planetwalker. In 1971, John witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay. The effects of the spill compelled John to stop using motorized vehicles. Several months later, he took a vow of silence. His non-motorized lifestyle lasted 22 years, and the silence 17. During that time John walked across the United States earning a B.A at Southern Oregon State College, an M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana and a Ph.D. in land resources at the University of Wisconsin. He later sailed and walked through the Caribbean and then walked the length of South America. John will speak on his journey, his unique perspective on environment, and how we each can make a difference in our world. Dr. Francis is the author of Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at A Time.

The Conservation Alliance is thrilled that Dr. Francis will share his story at our Breakfast in January.

To read an interview with Dr. Francis, go to http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/05/10/hertsgaard-francis/


The Conservation Alliance Breakfast: Arrive Tired, Leave Inspired

Conservation Alliance Members Voice Support For Colorado Wilderness

A group of four Conservation Alliance members traveled to Washington DC to talk to members of Congress about the importance of securing new Wilderness designations in Rocky Mountain National Park and elsewhere in Colorado.

Representatives from Chaco, GoLite, Outdoor Industry Association, and The Conservation Alliance spent two days in meetings with 14 Congressional offices to show support for legislation that would protect 250,000 acres of federal land within the iconic park as Wilderness. The group also voiced support for efforts to protect 20,000 acres along the Arkansas River in central Colorado, and 150,000 acres in the Dominguez Canyon region of western Colorado.

The Conservation Alliance organized the trip in conjunction with the Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC) (www.ourcolorado.org) a recent Conservation Alliance grant recipient.

“When possible, we like to supplement our financial support with on-the-ground advocacy,” said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. “Our member companies recognize the value of protecting wild places for non-motorized use.”

Conservationists in Colorado have been working for more than 30 years to protect Rocky Mountain National Park as Wilderness. More recent campaigns have grown around protecting Brown’s and Dominguez Canyons.

“Rocky Mountain National Park is an iconic wildland that deserves the highest level of federal protection,” said Sterling.

The Conservation Alliance has 25 member companies based in Colorado, most of which have endorsed protection for these three areas. “Colorado is a mecca for the outdoor industry, and our members there want to leave a lasting legacy in the state,” Sterling said.

Trip participants included Brian Scranton (Chaco), Colin True (GoLite), Amy Roberts (Outdoor Industry Association), and Sterling.

Another dimension to our NYC media tour

Last week, Verde took on Manhattan. In addition to successful meetings with nearly 20 magazines, I had an experience that would have made my bourbon-distilling family very proud -- I went to a speakeasy.

Hidden in a hot dog restaurant in the East Village, this bar called PDT (for "Please Don't Tell") is accessed through a phone booth. With the heads of big game trophies adorning the walls, I forgot for a second that I was in New York City and not southwest Colorado. The drink menu, however, was to die for with fresh squeezed juices and interesting spirits. And evidently, if you come hungry, the hot dogs are pretty good too.

Eastern Mountain Sports Sale to Benefit the Conservation Alliance

Eastern Mountain Sports will contribute one percent of sales from its Upgrade Your Gear Sale to The Conservation Alliance and The Access Fund. The promotion runs from October 18-21 in all Eastern Mountain Sports stores.

“We are honored to partner with Eastern Mountain Sports in the Upgrade Your Gear event,” said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. “We applaud the company for using the sale to raise funding for conservation.”

With the October event, Eastern Mountain Sports is repeating a promotion launched in April. The April sale generated more than $16,000 for The Conservation Alliance.

Check out the full Press Release.

Nikwax and the World Land Trust Expand the Definition of Carbon Neutrality

Nikwax proudly announces a plan for carbon neutrality that addresses not only the present, but also the past and the future. By establishing this model for corporate responsibility efforts, Nikwax is taking their environmental commitment to the next level.

“We are working hard to bring global, environmental and climate change issues to the forefront, and to affect more positive change,” says Nick Brown, founder and Managing Director of Nikwax.

“We strive to encourage our retailers, and others in our industry, to follow our commitment and dedication to protecting our planet.” Nikwax endeavours to minimize its carbon footprint by improving working practices. To mitigate the emissions that are inevitable in the manufacturing process, the company has established a three-tiered partnership with the World Land Trust.

Read the full press release here.

Jetboil Cleans Up on GearJunkie.com Giveaway

According to GearJunkie editor Stephen Regenold, Jetboil's PCS has been quite the magnet to contest participants on this year's GearJunkie Giveaway.

"Over 5,500 gearheads and outdoors aficionados have signed up for the Gear Junkie Gear Giveaway to try and win the Jetboil PCS Camp Stove," Regenold told Verde. Boy, that's a lot of gearheads.

The lucky winner was announced today, Oct. 15. Congratulations to Dillon Martini of Minneapolis, MN.

Yes, his last name is basically what provoked the 231-member panel of judges on the GearReview contest task force to choose Mr. Martini.

By the way, this image is NOT of Mr. Martini. It is Mr. Jordan Campbell, who now heads up marketing for Marmot.

Photo Credit: Kevin Thaw

Krakauer Sports His Sportiva's for New Movie

The October Issue of NGA ran an article detailing the making of the movie-version of Jon Krakauer's book, Into the Wild. His on-set sneaks-of-choice were a pair of beat-up La Sportiva Exum Ridges clearly visible in the first photograph of him and director Sean Penn. Flip through the following pages and there is a photo of the pair scaling the Yanert Glacier in Alaska apparently during some filming. The jury is still out, but it looks like Penn is wearing some Trango S Evo GTX's and possibly the Trango Alp GTX on Krakauer. While I am still convinced they are La Sportiva's, a definitive answer may require a well-developed, trained eye that can recognize the subtleties and nuances of all the La Sportiva styles.
*I am not sure if posting the images constitutes actual copyright infringement, but I think the scan job is bad enough so that no-one would care.

Move Over Che, There's a New Revolution in Town

Industrial Revolution, manufacturer of all things cool in the world of camping and outdoor gadgets, joins Verde PR. They make practical items and whimsical items that incorporate strong emphasis on design and innovation. They are a perfect fit to Verde’s family of activity-based clients.

Industrial Revolution is right on board with our sustainability-based mission. Every product in the Industrial Revolution quiver is designed to be durable, re-usable and ecologically sensitive. This month also marks the beginning of a formal partnership for Industrial Revolution with Leave No Trace. Check out the line at www.industrialrev.com.

Thanks to Osprey, 8 is the new 16

Used to be that kids dreamed of turning 16 - that great age when you got a license and maybe an old beater car to call your own. But now there is a new rite of passage that will have kids longing to turn 8 - their first Osprey backpack. For spring '08 Osprey is introducing a new youth line called the Sprint Series. The three packs, Ace, Jib and Imp, continue Osprey's proud legacy of deluxe custom fit packs with all the great features Osprey is known for. With about five inches of movement in the harness, these packs will provide years of use - even if your kids grow faster than weeds. Which they will. And a screened outlining of the Leave No Trace principles in every pack will ensure they don't grow up to be the kind of backpackers you wish would just stay home.

A Marathon Mom's Pre-Race Prep

Marathons are, relatively speaking, an insanely serious endeavor. Preparing to competitively run 26.2 miles requires an absurd amount of training and meticulous nutrition to ensure that your body doesn't mutiny against you at any point.

On her Runner'sWorld.com blog, Dimity has revealed that, for a marathon mom, prepping for a race isn't just about mental preparedness and centering your chi; It's about color coordination. Her latest blog post lists four available outfit options for the race, complete with pros and cons for each relating to fit, function, and style. She is encouraging blog users to cast a vote via commenting below for the one they think is best. So far, the polls seem to suggest that fashion ranks highest when deciding how to vote. Gu pockets, practicality and functionality are also priorities in the minds of voters but, let's face it, being ready for a race is all about looking fabulous when you cruise up to the start line. Cast your vote on Dimity's blog.

GoPro video contest on Cardomain.com

Cardomain.com has announced a video contest through the month of October. Each day this month, Cardomain.com will select one video each day as its daily favorite. In addition to featuring the winning video on the blog, Cardomain.com also will send the winner a Digital HERO 3.

All of this helps generate buzz for the launch of GoPro's new Motorsports HERO, which will debut at the SEMA Show in Vegas at the end of the month.

Verde's Newby

Verde PR welcomes our newest Account Manager Brook Sutton!

After fifteen years of following the snow, Brook happily joins the Verde team in Durango as of October 2007.

Raised in the booming metropolis of Big Bear Lake, California, her love of the mountains and the ocean (two scant hours away) defined her future.

Enrollment in universities was decided by a complex formula including the following factors: distance to nearest ski area divided by access to the greatest number of public beaches, quantity and lengths of single track, number of caffeine distribution sites, and – of course – academic excellence. She used her math skills to find Verde as well, but that is a secret formula, now proprietary to Verde.

Brook brings fifteen years experience in the ski industry from a career of teaching skiing in California, Colorado and Europe. When not on snow, she spends her free time rafting the great desert rivers of the West, setting blisteringly slow times on her road bike, running (more precisely – jogging), and surfing (more precisely – shakily popping up on a ten foot soft board in two foot of foam outwash while envisioning herself killin’ it on T’eahupoo).

"Representing Verde and its family of remarkable clients presents a unique opportunity," Brook noted. "I look forward to supporting clients and products I believe in, work with industries I love, and liaise with the vast spectrum of media and communicators I deeply admire."

Sorry this post did not go up as scheduled yesterday, but I was busy looking up "liaise."

KCO

GoPro announces customer service hire

Justin Wilkenfeld joins GoPro as Director of Customer Satisfaction and Online Outreach.

Justin will help further establish GoPro not only as a leader in digital camera technology for sports and outdoors, but also as a leader in consumer satisfaction and communication.

GoPro takes great effort to stay in touch with consumers directly to ensure great service while also keeping its finger on the pulse of what consumers want.

“Our growth over the past year—expanding into more markets with a broader line—has created more opportunities than ever before for us to engage the consumer in dialogue," said GoPro Founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman. "We’ve grown to the point where creating a department dedicated to increasing our dialogue with consumers is essential. Justin’s background in high-level customer service program management makes him a perfect fit, and we’re fired up to have him expand this new division of GoPro.”


Justin comes to GoPro from the demanding financial world of TD Ameritrade Institutional. Justin worked for over seven years at TD Ameritrade Institutional, most recently managing an elite relationship effort that handled TD Ameritrades high profile advisors and top key accounts.

A world-traveled surfer and life long outdoor sports enthusiast, Justin brings to GoPro not only his experience with high level customer service management, but also his passion for the outdoors. This picture of Justin was taken recently on a trip to Indonesia. And if you look very closely, you can see that he's wearing his Digital HERO 3!

Three Leaf Cards.com Launches Consumer Blog - "Conscious Spending"

The news just keeps coming from Three Leaf Cards.com, which is a Santa Barbara-based online greetings company, serving a greater good.

To help facilitate the green movement online, Three Leaf Cards.com launched their new consumer forum called "Conscious Spending." Here, anybody who has interests in environmental and social issues can come to discuss the hottest topics, share stories, get tips, read what's new in the industry and more.

The link is http://consciousspending.blogspot.com/. Topics covered include green living, tips, online greetings, conscious consumerism, great causes and more.

This open forum encourages sincere discussions around the topics that are most significant to the preservation of our earth for future generations. The intent of the blog is to provide an online avenue to share stories, ideas and reports on how consumers can take small steps to make big changes.

Also check out their free climate cards HERE.

[Conscious Spending Blog]

eVent® fabrics Launches New Ad Campaign

eVent® fabrics unveils its new “Live Outdoors” print advertising campaign, which is breaking now in major outdoor publications worldwide.

Created by Boulder, Colo.-based TDA Advertising & Design, the ads contrast everyday images with the rugged outdoors, suggesting that eVent fabrics allows its core, authentic users to experience the outdoors as part of their daily lives.

Jetboil. Everywhere you go, there they are.

I have a google alert set up for Jetboil. But I am thinking about canceling it because of the sheer volume of emails it generates. Just yesterday I read an article in the Chicago Tribune about a Martha Stewart-esque woman (named Mary Jane Butters if you can believe it) running a picture perfect B&B in Idaho complete with organic sheets from Butters' own collection and chocolate bars from her own line of organic backpacking food. Every room (walled tent, actually) features a Jetboil and Java Press for guests to make their own coffee. You can read the story here.

And then I learned that the PCS was included on the Food Network's mini-series, Feasting on Asphalt 2 - a series about the culinary discoveries of Alton Brown (also of Good Eats and Iron Chef) as he cruises the country on his motorcycle. I guess some folks at a Civil War reenactment festival were using it to boil water as they explained the history of coffee preparation during civil war times.

Like I said, everywhere you go, there they are. (Sorry for the bad Photoshop job)

Why Mions won't rip your toenail off on an escalator

In the news this week were articles on the dangers of wearing certain injection-molded shoes on escalators. One Website reports that Washington D.C. Metro has even posted warnings to subway riders to yield caution when wearing such shoes on their escalators.

According to Mion General Manager Erik Burbank, what drives the escalator issue is that Crocs shoes don't have an outsole, just raw EVA molded to look like an outsole. "That EVA is soft and can get pinched between the gaps of the escalator," Burbank explained.

Though it is injection-molded footwear, Mion makes its shoes with an outsole, and a GripStick(TM) rubber outsole at that.

So, rest assured, Mion is pretty much insurance for your toes.

Osprey Sponsors Reel Rock Film Tour

For its second year, the Reel Rock Tour is spreading the word of climbing everywhere rock zealots can be found with Chris Sharma in the spotlight. The tour made its stop in Durango last week, and with Osprey Packs signed-on as a sponsor, I decided to check it out. Not being the most avid of climbers (or biggest dirt bag, whichever term makes you more accredited), and also not knowing much about Chris Sharma's story, I was unsure about what to expect.

As it turns out, Chris Sharma's ability and gusto for climbing, even on screen, transcends the deferential bounds of just the climbing-enthused. Suffice to say that this guy is not human when it comes to climbing rocks and watching him is really entertaining. The cinematography is equally top notch and helped to give the climbing scenes a lot of added power and appeal. Watch the trailer to get an idea.

I opted for day two of the Durango tour, and the turn-out was impressive. Osprey had a major presence there for their home-town tour stop and helped to make the locals welcome with gear giveaways and local mountain trivia.
Check out the tour calendar for the remaining locations and dates.

Junto Venture Uses Jetboil for Sustainable Road Trip

Junto Venture has recently completed a 60-day trek across some of the most pristine environments of western North American in an attempt to create a documentary that will "awaken people to the fact that living sustainably must go beyond our daily habits. It must accompany us when we are traveling, vacationing, backpacking, taking business trips, and taking weekend jaunts."

Their goal in doing so was to make the journey in a way that would retain a neutral carbon footprint. In order to do this, they had to make choices beyond their mode of transportation, it had to include all aspects of the trip including food, hygiene products, clothing, backpacking and alpine gear and lodging.

After looking at all the options, the Junto Venture crew chose a Jetboil stove to handle all cooking on the trip. The Jetboil burner's fuel efficiency, combined with the FluxRing technology, means not only using less fuel, but producing less carbon emissions and fewer canisters used and discarded. Jetboil's durable construction also makes it a product that will last for many years.

For a complete look at Junto Venture's project, visit www.juntoventure.org

GoPro featured in the New York Times...again

In its third appearance in the New York Times in the past six months, the Digital HERO 3 is seen on the wrist of a wakesurfer: a growing sport that has over three million participants in the U.S., according to the article.
(photo: New York Times)