GoPro Headlines the Stand Strong Again Benefit Bash at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008

GoPro will be the headlining sponsor for the Second Annual Stand Strong Again Benefit with 35 of their new Wide Helmet HERO cameras and loads of unreal GoPro footage. The bash will take place Friday night, August 8 at the hottest club in Salt Lake City, Crazy Eights, at the Hotel Elevate.

The Stand Strong Again Foundation was created in 2005 by a group of professional extreme athletes who had some of their best friends fall victim to spinal cord injuries.

“GoPro is fired up to support the Stand Strong Again Foundation. Stand Strong Again is dedicated to lifting up our fallen HEROs and helping them achieve new levels of success and happiness in their lives. It means a lot to us that we were invited to be a headline sponsor of their fundraiser and we’re excited to put our mighty little HERO cameras to work to raise some money for this positive organization,” says Nicholas Woodman, founder of GoPro.

Visit the Stand Strong Again website here.

La Sportiva Joins Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

La Sportiva North America is pleased to announce their 2009 vendor partnership with the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance , a group of independent outdoor shops dedicated to the sustainability of the specialty outdoor channel and the quality of the outdoor enthusiast’s experience.

The decision to join Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is part of La Sportiva’s holistic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Part of La Sportiva’s mission is to ensure the success and well being of all of its stakeholders, from employees to retailers to the end customer. This meshes perfectly with the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s stated goal: to help retail members succeed, as well as their local economies and communities.

FILSON ADDS TO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE LEGACY FUND

July 28- Filson, a leading outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor enthusiasts, has committed $25,000 to The Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund, which the company will raise through proceeds from its annual "Seconds Sale," held at the company's Seattle distribution center. With
Filson's gift, The Conservation Alliance has raised nearly $2.7 million in contributions and commitments. That total includes $800,000 raised after the campaign was announced at the January Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.

La Sportiva Announces new FC Series

The La Sportiva R&D team has been hard at work this year. After researching the market and analyzing trends, the team has developed a new line of shoes that acknowledges the latest needs in the hiking and backpacking categories. The result is the FC Series, a groundbreaking new footwear line that combines the athletic feel and fit of a Mountain Running® shoe with the stability and support of a hiking boot. You can view the new line on the website here.

Hot Chillys Partners With the SuperSherpas

For most mere mortals, reaching the top of Mt. Everest once is an honored accomplishment. For Apa Sherpa, take that once and add 17. On May 22, 2008, Apa Sherpa summited Mt. Everest for a world-record 18 times. And just like walking the red carpet, the burning question was: what did he choose to wear? That'd be Hot Chillys Micro-Elite Chamois.

Apa and Lhapka Sherpa, are the SuperSherpas. Lhapka not only holds the world-record Everest ascent time, but he shattered the old one in a super-human effort. The SuperSherpas are world-renowned, elite athletes and Hot Chillys is proud to sponsor them. 

In the SuperSherpas, Hot Chillys recognizes top-tier mountaineers and genuine humanitarians. One of the primary missions of the Sherpas is to support the education of the children of Nepal. Whether they are climbing or giving back to their community, the SuperSherpas capture the true Hot Chillys spirit!

GoPro Lands Another Cover Shot in MXP Magazine in Canada!!!

I will...

The Outdoor Foundation "I Will" campaign is set up to help support healthier children, healthier communities and healthier businesses. It's simple: sign the pledge and become part of the solution to take a child outdoors. Your signature is your promise to take at least two kids outside to experience any outdoor activity over the course of the next year. Sign up to become apart of the "I will" pledge here.

The Conservation Alliance Funds Gets A Boost

On July 14th, The Conservation Alliance legacy fund, got a boost from Black Diamond Equipment, LTD. Black Diamond committed $50,000 to the legacy fund. For more information on The Conservation Alliance Legacy Fund, click here.

La Sportiva Partners with Green Living Project™

La Sportiva is partnering with Green Living Project™, media production and marketing company that showcases sustainable initiatives around the globe. Green Living Project™ is documenting current examples of sustainability or ‘green living’ around the world. Green Living Project is currently traveling through Africa to pre-selected locations to take HD video, photographs, video podcasts, and stories of projects that illustrate the benefits of green living for all socio-economic classes.

Laura Fryer, La Sportiva’s marketing manager said, “This relationship is completely in-line with our goals as a company. We established a corporate social responsibility platform that addressed workers rights, environmental impact, and philanthropy. It is only natural that part of our marketing efforts go towards sponsoring socially and environmentally responsible expeditions like Green Living Project.”

Nikwax Shows How Staying Dry Leads to Sexy Camping Fun

Rocky Mountain National Park

So, at the end of June, the Verde team took a crew of journalists out to Rocky Mountain National Park to do some backpacking and summit a couple of peaks. We had a blast. Sierra Designs and La Sportiva joined us for the two day trip and Osprey, Light My Fire, and Jetboil provided some gear for us.

Here are the pics:

Newly Released Business Book “Tuned In” Identifies GoPro as Model Company Deeply Connected to Consumer Values

The newly released book “Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities that Lead to Business Breakthroughs,” co-authored by David Meerman Scott, Phil Myers and Craig Stull, cites GoPro as well as, Ford, GE, Zipcar and Apple, as example resonators to their specific markets. GoPro is a company that entices buyers by creating an incredible experience that people want to buy.
"Anyone can use Tuned In to replicate the model for success. It works for well-known companies like Ford, Apple and GE, as well as those not-so-famous companies like Gopro and Zipcar..."

The Gear Junkie, Stephen Regenold Ditches the Bottle

July 8- Stephen Regenold of The Gear Junkie, spills his expertise on the fact that bottles are rarely used in the outdoors anymore. For all on-the-move outdoor activities, bladder systems are the more efficient way to go. Stephen reviews three bladders that will keep you hydrated for any crazy adventure in the outdoors. See the review here.

Did You Know There's a Place in England Where Gasoline Flows Like Wine?

Believe it or not...this is Prince Charles' Aston Martin that runs purely off surplus wine (better be organic)!
As the fair Prince's income skyrockets astronomically, his carbon footprint shrinks. He promises to reduce his greenhouse gas emissions by 25-percent from 2007-2012 and has already succeeded in cutting his carbon footprint by 18-percent.
Along with the Aston Martin, his Jags, Audis and Land Rovers run on biodiesel.
In addition, he has installed wood chip stoves in all of his estates and is an organic farmer.
The royal highness takes being eco-friendly to a whole new level!

GoPro Featured on FOX Business Live

All thanks to the newly released book “Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities that Lead to Business Breakthroughs,” co-authored by David Meerman Scott, Phil Myers and Craig Stull, that cites GoPro as well as, Ford, GE, Zipcar and Apple, as example resonators to their specific markets.
GoPro has solved the classic surfer predicament to be able to shoot film and stills while still getting some fun rides in.

Conservation Alliance To Launch Conservation Community and Social Networking Site

At ORSM 2008, the Conservation Alliance is launching an incredible new initiative, called ConservationNEXT, which will allow individuals to get involved in the Conservation Alliance and help support their efforts.

The new social networking website will go live the first day of the show, August 8th, and will provide a forum for outdoor industry individuals to engage with Conservation Alliance grantees and increase their involvement in Conservation Alliance initiatives.

For those individuals who have wanted to get involved with the organization but didn't quite know how, now there is a way to inspire and be inspired. ConservationNEXT allows anyone to contribute and participate.

To officially launch the site, ConservationNEXT will host a Booth Crawl at the OR show on Saturday, August 9. Roving happy hour revelers will meet at Osprey at 4 PM to pick up mugs and t-shirts, and share a conservation resolution. They will move to CamelBak and Patagonia at 4:30 PM, to Teva at 5 PM, and roll into The North Face at 5:30 PM. Each booth will host a different Conservation Alliance grantee, which will ask participants to take action at the booth to help their cause.

Check out more about the Conservation Alliance on their website.