It's adventure headlines day on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head)! Today Colin & Justin Housman run through headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week. Here's the rundown: A dropped bag of Cheetos caused big problems at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico proving that wherever people go, litter follows. (02:58)A pack of otters attacked a jogger who was out for her morning run in Malaysia. This story begs the question: what is the...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by talking about the new brand video from The North Face and what the messaging from outdoor brands should be in 2024 (00:55). Then Colin & Producer Dave talk about the latest stores to open under the banner of Gearhead Outfitters (22:23), a prediction for the future of Public Lands (26:52) and the rumor that Interbike may be making a comeback (28:33). They wrap things up with their Parting Shots...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we dig into the details behind the acquisition of Backcountry.com by CSC Generation with former Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford. Eoin joins Colin and Producer Dave to chat about how Backcountry found themselves in their current position, what we know about their new owner, and how this news was communicated. Lastly Eoin gives his thoughts on a recent promotion at REI and Mountain Warehouse's bid to acquire EMS being...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by digging into one of the more touchy subjects in the outdoors: Dogs and their place in our community (01:01). Then Colin and Producer Dave talk about the news that broke last week that Backcountry.com has sold to CSC Generations (16:37) and how an executive promotion at REI and the acquisition of EMS by Mountain Warehouse show us where outdoor retail could be headed (25:09). And of course they wrap...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin open the show by getting Justin's thoughts on the new social platform from Outside and how it's integration into Gaia will impact Justin's use of that app (02:50). Then they run through the following headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week: Killian Jornet set a new record last week summiting all 82 peaks in the Alps that are over 4000 meters high in 19 days. Why do we care about...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) owner and founder of Wilderness Exchange, Don Bushey, sits down with Colin to give a behind the scenes look at his new partnership with Black Diamond. Last month news broke that Black Diamond and Wilderness Exchange would be forming a new retail partnership. One that allows Wilderness Exchange to remain independent while Black Diamond effectively takes over the majority of the store. It's a unique approach to a collaboration...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by giving his thoughts on Outside Inc launching their own social media platform and offers why he thinks Outside keeps making these bizarre strategic decisions (01:03). Then he and Producer Dave talk about the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry last week: Rossignol has launched a new line of trail running shoes to better compete in spring and summer. Is Sierra just sitting there...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Doug Schnitzpahn joins the fray to talk about how the outdoor industry has lost it's way. (Look at that 'poet and didn't even know it' type stuff here on THE ROCK FIGHT) Doug is a journalist and the Editor In Chief for Elevation Outdoors and has been in and around the outdoor industry since the 1990's. He believes that the changes to the outdoor trade show scene that we've talked about a ton here on THE ROCK FIGHT have come...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by digging into Arc'teryx and Amer's big second quarter and why good brand strategy is paying off for the premium outdoor brand. Then he and Producer Dave take a look at the latest brands to join the roster at The Running Event and Switchback as well as the new election day policy put into by Patagonia before wrapping things up with their Parting Shots. Time Codes: Arc'teryx surges ahead thanks to their...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Justin Housman is back on the mic! Monday's on THE ROCK FIGHT are for stories to hit the outdoor industry and now Saturday's are for the adventure community. Today on the show Colin & Justin get caught up on several stories to come out of the outdoor and gear world including: There have been several tragedies to hit our National Parks this summer. Falls in Yosemite and at the Grand Canyon and heat related deaths at...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Christina Henderson returns to the show to talk about the recent news to come out of The Running Event and Switchback Trade Shows. Last week the following news stories came out of The Running Event/Switchback trade show world: The Running Event will be leaving it's long time home of Austin and head down to San Antonio in 2025.Switchback launched a digital resource for retailers called Trailheads.Several big brand names have...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show (01:05) by ranking the 10 outdoor shoes that appear on Footwear News list of The Greatest Shoes of All Time. Then Colin and Producer Dave run through the following headlines that came out of the outdoor industry over the past week: Lolë Brands has acquired Sanuk from Deckers. But why? (24:57)Black Diamond is partnering with Denver based outdoor retailer Wilderness Exchange to launch a 'partner run...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we’re bringing out a big gun who can speak to what is happening in outdoor retail. Eoin Comerford, is the principal at Outsize Consulting and is an outdoor industry veteran as the former CEO of Moosejaw Mountaineering. He has a unique view on outdoor big box retail as well as what's happening in the specialty market. On this episode Eoin joins Colin and brings some facts and figures to the rock fight to weigh in on what's...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show talking about the negative reaction to Nike's Winning Isn't For Everyone ad campaign (01:05). TL;DR: outdoorsy people need to relax. Then Colin & Producer Dave hit the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry over the last week: Last Friday the $5m bankruptcy sale of Eastern Mountain Sports to the UK's Mountain Warehouse was approved just two years after EMS sold to GoDigital Media for...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we take a look at a new outdoor organization and the impact it has had on the business of going outside. The Outdoor Market Alliance is a group of Rocky Mountain based independent sales agencies that have established a permanent showroom for the more than 175 outdoor brands that they represent. Established as a non-profit, OMA has changed how outdoor business gets done in the region. In this episode OMA President Steve...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens things up by responding to listener responses to last week's episode and how REI and Dick's are growing increasingly close to being the same thing. Then Colin & Producer Dave hit the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry over the past week: Black Diamond posts a loss in the second quarter in part because of PFAS. Could this have been avoided? (16:13)BOA & Primaloft post second quarter...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're going there. Enter: Teresa Baker. Teresa has been a force for change in the outdoor industry when it comes to DEI and environmental initiatives for the past 7 years. She founded the In Solidarity Project to build a more diverse outdoor industry with a core component of her work being the Outdoor CEO Pledge which is aimed at those in positions of power within the outdoor industry to create change as well as the...

Headlines on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head)! Colin starts the show (01:03) with his take on how REI's recently announced vendor of the year awards only show how boring they've become and the risk they're taking by trying to become everything to everyone. Justin and Producer Dave then weigh in on what REI can do to get their mojo back. Then the crew hits the following topics: In a surprise bombshell that dropped this past Saturday Camber Outdoors has announced that...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we take a look inside the Outdoor Industry Association's latest participation trends report. Since 2007 the OIA has published the trends of who is going outside. And this year participation hit an all time high while core participants dropped. And it begs the question: how will these numbers impact the industry? In order to make sense of this trend Kelly Davis, Director of Research of the OIA and Wes Allen from Sunlight...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's time for Outdoor Industry headlines! Colin kicks off the show with a recap of the Outdoor Market Alliance Media Show, highlighting an event that fills a longstanding industry need as well as uncovering a problem that persists in the Outdoor Industry. Then Producer Dave joins Colin to run through the following topics: Colin's summertime check in during More with Thermore (12:34)VF sells Supreme to EssilorLuxottica. What...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin digs into the recent OIA report that shows how outdoor participation is at an all time high. But it also shows that hardcore outdoor enthusiasts are on the decline. How can both of these things be the case? Because more people than ever have learned The Secret of going outside and the old guard is aging out. Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter! Please follow and...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's time for our weekly round up of headlines from the outdoor industry and community. Colin is joined by Producer Dave for today's rundown (Justin has the weekend off) and here's the lineup: More with Thermore! (01:40)Colin's final summer 24 events & trade show thoughts (04:20)A herd of elephants tramples a tourist in South Africa (16:08)The multiple heat related deaths in the Grand Canyon and other iconic Southwest...

Last November the show director of Outdoor Retailer, Sean Smith, joined THE ROCK FIGHT to tell Colin why the stalwart outdoor industry trade show was going to make a comeback starting in June of 2024. And if you listened to Colin's instant reaction of the June 2024 edition of Outdoor Retailer you know that Sean and his team delivered. Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Sean returns to talk about how things went in Salt Lake City, how they intend to ride the...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's time to bust out the headlines! Come along as Colin & Justin run through the more notable stories to come out of the outdoor industry and community including the following: More with Thermore! (04:57)A new article on Outside Online says that fireworks should be banned (11:45)The Conservation Alliance welcomes seven fishing brands to it's roster of outdoor companies (21:30)Paddling Magazine lists out everything you...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it gets a little techy around here. A couple of weeks ago Colin & Justin spoke about the outdoor upgrades coming to Apple Maps and the impact of technology on outdoor pursuits. To go deeper on this topic Mountain Gazette writer and career tech-guy Kyle Frost has returned to break down the following topics: Changes coming to Apple Maps and how those changes could impact other outdoor focused apps.The role of technology in...