When ski manufacturer Völkl was founded in1923 there wasn’t a ski industry in the United States. In Europe at the time, there were dozens of small ski makers that were also making other items such as wagons and sleds. That's also how Völkl got its start, when Franz...
REI Co-op announced today that it has hired Apple Musni as its new chief people officer and promoted two leaders to new positions. Musni joins the co-op March 20. Chris Speyer has been promoted to senior vice president, chief merchandising officer and Isabelle...
Land Energy, a Cleveland-based tech company that makes e-motorcycles as well as portable batteries, is reporting surging consumer demand for planet-friendly transportation options. Scott Colosimo, CEO of Land Energy, expects this spring and summer to be the breakout...
As California ski resorts and nearby towns deal with one of the heaviest snowfall seasons in decades, the Eastern U.S. and Europe have had a dismal year. Even with a storm this week that dropped more than two feet of snow in some parts of New England, the resorts...
(This story was updated on 6/7/2023.) Patagonia’s loyal shoppers know that if a piece of gear or clothing needs repair, the company will fix it. Customers often come to their stores with well-loved items that they’ve had for years - if not decades. They’ll bring in a...
Too much snow in the Western U.S. and not nearly enough in the East negatively impacted business for Vail Resorts during its second quarter. The conditions caused the company to lower its guidance for fiscal 2023, "primarily due to the significant weather disruptions"...
Solo Brands, the Grapevine, Texas-based parent company of Solo Stove, Oru Kayak, Isle, and Chubbies, saw a huge wholesale revenue increase in the fourth quarter of 2022. The company reported wholesale fourth-quarter revenue up 196.4% from the year-ago period to $36.5...
Bill Parks, founder and president of Moscow, Idaho-based Northwest River Supplies (NRS), died of natural causes on March 5, 2023, at the age of 88. Parks led NRS for more than 50 years. He started the whitewater company in 1972, using $2,000 of his own money to buy...
(This story was updated on 4/13/2023.) 3D-printed customized snow goggles. Helmets safe for climbing as well as skiing. Eliminating plastic packaging from products. Those are just a few of the trends Smith Optics has identified for future business initiatives. The...
SSI Venture, the retail subsidiary of Vail Resorts, is planning to shutter 19 retail and equipment rental locations in Aspen, Snowmass Village, and Telluride. The Denver Post reports the move will cut 69 jobs. "Before the 2022-23 winter season began, Vail Resorts...
Dick's Sporting Goods reported record sales for 2022. Leadership at the retailer said they plan to expand the Dick's House of Sports experiential store chain and continue the company’s commitment to the outdoor industry. For Q4 2022, revenues rose 7.3% to $3.6...
Outdoor footwear company Keen is branching out into the walking shoe segment. The Portland, Oregon-based company recently announced the WK400, a curved shoe designed "to make walking more enjoyable and fun," Keen said in a release. The shoe design came about after...
