Enter the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market PR Toolkit, to help you do just that.

As always, the Toolkit will help you navigate:

•    Obtaining a copy of the Winter Market media list
•    Uploading electronic press kits to the Paperless Press Room
•    Submitting news and event information to the OR Daily
•    Prepping your show staff to work with the media
•    Sponsorship and advertising opportunities, etc.

In case you (or your client) is in need of convincing, check out a couple relevant results from our most recent OR Attending Media Survey.

Seventy-seven percent of survey media said they used exhibitor press kit materials from outdoorretailer.com in their coverage of the show or in news stories during the year.

“Please encourage vendors to make their press kits available on thumb drives. The days of enthusiastic, large format, paper press kits are over.”

“The more press kits the better; these are an excellent way to identify items of interest before the show.”

Media expressed frustration with exhibitors who lacked information on their profile or failed to respond to media meeting requests. One example would be:

“I requested meetings and info from many people who did not respond and I believe it was because they simply did not use the website tools.”

Not sure which exhibitors were missing these invites but I guarantee you don’t want it to be you or one of your clients. Log in and use those Planner Tools!

Lastly, several media mentioned how much they appreciate when exhibitors provided additional samples, food and  beverages in the Press Room. Do you want to get samples of your latest goo or nutrition bar into the hands of media? Consider bringing free (no strings attached) samples to the press room for attending media. Wanna spring for special seating, a meal or happy hour? Contact your OR account executive for pricing.

As always, we’re here to help you get the most for your every trade show dollar!

Chip Smith, csmith@soarcomm.com, 801.656.0472 x1

Maura Lansford, mlansford@soarcomm.com, 801.656.0472 x2

Alex Strickland, astrickland@soarcomm.com, 801.656.0472 x3

Until this year, the last time I’d ridden a bike in anger was during a brief mountain bike racing career during high school in the South, where cycling was about as common as sushi restaurants.

But after a little dabbling (and a friendly shove) in triathlon last year, I signed up for a few local races during the summer to see if I was made of tough enough stuff. After decent results, overconfidence and some dubious well-wishers convinced me to sign up for the Utah XTERRA Off Road Triathlon, by far the hardest race I’d ever attempted.

I’m always amazed at the vast range of people who show up to compete in local races, whether a 5k fun run or a competitive sprint triathlon. XTERRA didn’t disappoint. For every chiseled, rippling hammerhead (Hi, Lance!), there were half a dozen housewives, desk jockeys (your’s truly) and senior citizens.

There’s a special inspiration in seeing the pros, to just stand there slack-jawed at their speed and appreciate truly exceptional talent. But I come away from events like this motivated for the next early morning run or cold swim by the people who find the time to make themselves into athletes in the margins of their “real life,” something that requires a passion for sport that I don’t always possess.

While cursing my lack of commitment to training during a particularly brutal climb along the run course, a steady stream of competitors blew past with their age group stamped prominently on their muscled calves. As cramps turned my legs into knotted lava, a woman motored by and threw some encouraging words in my direction. On her calf was “60″ and on my face, I’m sure, was self-loathing followed immediately by immense respect.

For the next 12 months, each a time a morning bagel sounds better than a morning run, I’ll have turbo granny front and center in my mind to get me out the door. And not because I want to beat her (I do, though), but because I can think of nothing more motivating than enjoying that kind of fitness when I’m 35, much less 60.

Later, I was sucking down orange slices along the finish straight, a guy in his 30s who was at least 70 pounds overweight came across the line. Clearly hurting, the big guy walked over to a waiting group of friends and family and loudly declared “That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!”

I couldn’t agree more. See you next year.

We’ve had a blast jumping in and learning about new products in a market we already know and love.

So, by way of introduction…

Gyrobike believes in the freedom to ride for all. The company’s bicycle products deliver high stability at low speed to help keep the rider upright. The rider learns correct riding technique and enjoys a safer, easier and faster learning experience that is more effective than training wheels. While the company’s current focus is providing children’s products, it plans to release larger models designed for all ages and abilities. All Gyrobike products are designed in the United States. Gyrobike was founded in 2007 and its technology was developed at Dartmouth College.  The company is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., U.S. www.thegyrobike.com. Interbike Booth #13151.

The 2011 Sea Otter Classic, “A Celebration of Cycling,” will be held April 14-17, 2011 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, Calif. This four-day, action-packed cycling festival features a full schedule of amateur and professional events, as well as other activities for family members of all ages. The Sea Otter Classic also plays host to the largest consumer bike exposition in North America.

Made entirely in Italy, Vittoria’s shoes range from the most technologically advanced road racing shoes to mountain bike shoes for racers and enthusiasts to casual, trendy shoes for leisure riding.  Available in combinations of 27 lengths, four widths and a multi-length option (for riders with different size feet), Vittoria can also custom-build any shoe and ship quickly because all manufacturing occurs at the same Italian facility. Interbike Booth 15088

Sponsored by the Bicycle Product Supplier Association, this three-day event draws together the top executives of the bicycle industry for an intensive program of panels, receptions, and discussions to determine how to improve the industry’s overall business climate. The event includes the annual BRAINy Awards, sponsored by Bicycle Industry and Retailer News, to recognize excellence in the bike business. The event is held in tandem with the Sea Otter Classic, held at the nearby Laguna Seca Raceway.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) was founded in 1970 to promote Taiwan’s foreign trade and competitiveness in world markets. Over the past 40 years, TAITRA has played a key role in the development of Taiwan’s economy. TAITRA is jointly sponsored by the government as well as various commercial and industrial associations, and is viewed by all as the business gateway to Taiwan for the international business community.

All of the awesome companies listed above have a present at Interbike 2011. Come by and say “Hi.” We’d love to see you and give you a sneak peek at the latest and greatest from these manufacturers and events.

http://www.vimeo.com/21179644

It’s been a few weeks now, but there is no expiration date on embarrassment…

During the hiring process prior to joining SOAR, I did what any good job-hunter does. I Google-stalked the people who were interviewing me.

Along with twitter feeds, press releases and official website bios, I found a gem: Our intrepid leader, Chip, caught in full YouTube glory going over the bars in Fruita, Colo.

Let me say this…Aside from the single endo incident, Chip is insanely fast through Fruita’s technical terrain. He is also, as I found out over the President’s Day holiday, a very good skier.

SOAR staff headed up the hill to Deer Valley Resort as a belated reward following January’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. The snow was excellent, the crowds thinned as the day went on and the sun even managed to poke through a few times.

However, Chip and I had chosen the day to test out some GoPro Hero cameras. My pitiful level of midwinter fitness was sure to trip me up, and as the day went on and my legs turned to noodles, the inevitable embarrassing wipeout occurred.

So in an effort to cancel out the bad karma I earned chuckling at Chip’s misfortune, here for the internet’s viewing pleasure is a crash of my own.

Disclaimer: Without turning this into a family vaca post for grandma, I do have to mention that I was joined by my two favorite sidekicks, husband Cole and son Crew. Luckily, they love being outside as much as I do.

The non agenda, agenda included an amazing breakfast at the Love Muffin Cafe (thanks for the recommendation @adventuretykes), hiking Negro Bill Canyon/Natural Arch, pizza buffet at @ZaxMoab, buying dirt shirts on Main and a morning ride on the Potash-Lower Colorado River scenic byway.

We couldn’t be happier with our hike through Negro Bill Canyon. The trail is pretty popular and came as a recommendation from the guys at Poison Spider bike shop.

The path followed a tiny stream through a deep sandstone canyon for several miles. The weather was perfect and since the path crossed the stream several times, we kept nice and cool.

About 5 miles in, we reached a natural stone arch called Morning Glory Natural Bridge. In Googling it after the fact, I learned that the arch is 243 feet which makes it the sixth largest span for an arch in the country. Feel smarter? I know, me too. Low key for Arches but amazing still.

As beautiful as the arch was, we were equally jazzed about the natural spring trickling out of a giant crack in the canyon wall. With fellow hikers, we climbed up and used our bottle caps to get a taste of the cold water inside.

On our way back, I couldn’t help but love the instant community that exists outdoors. During the hike we stopped to pet at least 25 “puppies,” received no fewer than 10 compliments on our beautiful baby,  engaged in two genuine chats with perfect strangers and were stopped by three moms-of-grownup-babies who were envious of our amazing kid carrier.

We all just love being outside, nothing fancy to it. Even when we are all really different, it makes us the same.

…

Oh really? You’re dying to see a picture of the cutest child in the world enjoying nature? Ok… If you insist…