Credit Matthew McDermott

Outdoor Retailer ended in late January on a high note with both industry attendance and optimism up from winter 2009. In the midst of writing orders and thinking about upcoming selling seasons, though, the industry as initiated dozens of efforts to provide relief for Haiti after its devastating earthquake.

Manufacturers across the Winter Market show floor offered product to an industry Haitian relief effort coordinated by Terramar, Sierra Trading Post & Eric Larsen. The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) also partnered with Americares to get first aid kits, water purification systems, headlamps, tarps and hydration containers willing donated from manufacturers in the outdoor industry to Haitians in desperate need of essential supplies. (See below for more information on getting your product to Haiti via Sierra Trading Post and Americares).

In an industry that highly values authenticity and social responsibility, it’s no surprise that the outdoor industry mobilized so quickly to aid Haiti. It employs individuals with just as much strength and heart as the products it manufactures- prepared to be put to work at a moments notice. These qualities and others make SOAR super proud to be part of the outdoor industry.

In fact, we see these qualities in the outdoor industry year round. We associate with outdoor industry leaders that support advocacy groups and let their passion for their sport drive their compassion. SOAR has had some fun and rewarding opportunities to work on a pro-bono basis with non-profits like Bikes for Kids Utah and Trips for Kids. We get to see how much work goes into each event and initiative. Every donation, vote of confidence, re-tweet and sponsorship makes a difference.

Let’s all continue to heed OIA’s call for the industry to “dig deep” during this and every time of crisis and need.

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Click here to read about the partnerships forming in the outdoor industry to help Haiti.

To donate this urgently needed product/equipment contact Randy Weiss at Americares at (203) 658-9527 or rweiss@americares.org. All donations will be delivered by air and sea directly to the region by Americares.

Outdoor Retailer exhibitors are invited to donate show products to Haiti via Red Cross if it can arrive at Sierra Trading Post by FEBRUARY 8, 2010. All packages should be sent to Sierra Trading Post Robin Jahnke/Haiti 5121 Campstool Road Cheyenne, Wyoming 8200.

Close to 30 people representing 12 Trips for Kids chapters attended, and two attendees even came from as far away as Israel and New Zealand. Both of them want to open Trips for Kids chapters in their respective countries, which would be the first international chapters in the organizations 20 year history. Trips for Kids provides mountain bike rides for at-risk youth.

During the Trips for Kids conference topics such as how to start a chapter, how to find and work with volunteers, and how to effectively fundraise were discussed. Along with Jen Nibley, director of Trips for Kids Utah Valley, and Rick McFerrin of Two Wheel View/Trips for Kids Calgary, Canada, I spoke to the group about how to approach and work with a public relations agency on a pro-bono basis.

IMBA, which stands for the International Mountain Bicycling Association, is a non-profit association whose mission is to “create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide.” Every two years, IMBA holds a world-wide conference bringing mountain biking advocates, land managers, ski resort professionals, trailbuilders, park and urban planners, tourism officials and the bike industry together for collaboration, planning, and celebration. This year’s Summit runs from Wednesday, June 18 through Saturday, June 21 at the Marriott-Park City.

During the opening ceremonies held at the Utah Olympic Park, Utah Governor and avid mountain biker, Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. welcomed the crowd. He joked that he was “whizzed” that he had to show up in a suit, instead of casual clothes like everyone else. He’s a big supporter of mountain biking and shared use trails in Utah.

Another highlight of the opening ceremonies was a freestyle arials show at the Utah Olympic Park aerials splash pool performed by “The Flying Aces.” The Flying Aces consists of some of the world’s top freestyle skiers and they flew off the parks artificial turf ski jumps into a huge pool.

IMBA’s Executive Director Mike Van Abel was an honorary Flying Aces team member and started off the show with the first jump. His form wasn’t so hot, but I think he made us all jealous by being the one chosen to get some big air. That’s Mike in the photo above, upside down and wearing a dry suit for the 60 degree water.

As I’m writing this post, it’s Thursday night. I attended some of the seminars during the day, got caught up with some emails in the afternoon, and tonight attended the Mountain Bike Film Festival at the Park City Library. The event was produced by FeedTheHabit.com as a fundraiser for Park City’s Mountain Trails Foundation. The film festival featured a great freeride/downhill movie by The Collective called “Seasons.” You have to see it.

On a side note, at the film festival they raffled off a bunch of prizes (i.e. sunglasses, forks, cranksets, gloves, etc.). The grand prize was a GT Marathon mountain bike. My wife and I were dreaming of winning the bike (Since we hadn’t won anything during the raffle up to that point). But, no such luck. Guess who won it, Melanie Muranaka, Lester Muranaka of Delta 7 Sports’ wife. It’s a small world in the mountain bike community/Utah/PR world (Delta 7 is also one of our clients).

I’ll be up at the IMBA Summit again tomorrow (Friday) for more seminars.