Outdoor Retailer - December 2020 - 44

BREAD+BUTTER / Hot Gear

Backcountry
Is the Next Bike
A winter of COVID-19 discontent is
going to bring the crowds out to play.
WHILE COVID-19 AND THE RESULTING SHUTDOWNS AND
social distancing have obliterated so many businesses,
more people than ever before continue to go outside, and
some outdoor-gear categories are unable to keep up with
demand. In the spring it was bikes-retailers and brands
faced back-orders before they knew what hit them. This
winter, the backcountry category is amping up to be just
as successful. " We've seen sales for backcountry touring
equipment hit astronomical, never-before-seen levels, says
Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe
City, California. " Since August, we've seen the category sales
spike to more than 700% and we're doing everything possible to make sure we have ample inventory. "
That increase in demand for new gear by both newcomers and experienced backcountry adventurers is sure to
move a lot of product, so retailers have to be creative when
it comes to how they will serve customers. " We're taking a
slightly different approach to rentals this season and really
pushing full-season rentals for cross-country ski, alpine ski,
and snowboard, " says Raleigh Burt, business development
manager at Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa, Colorado.
" Facilitating safe walk-in rentals in the heat of the season is
going to be difficult, therefore we're encouraging our locals
to take advantage of our season rentals so they've always got
the gear to go outside. "
While both shops are excited to see increased business
during an economic downturn, they are also concerned
about the real dangers of the backcountry. " It's essential to
help these new customers, who are mostly new backcountry
enthusiasts, become aware of the safety, educational, and
etiquette implications for their new sport, " says Madigan.
Burt has decided to increase snowshoe and cross-country
offerings but not AT, splitboard, and snow safety inventory
despite demand. " Ethically, I have a hard time enabling
more users to access the backcountry when most of the
newcomers probably haven't had the opportunity to take an
AVI 1 or similar avalanche safety course before they begin
exploring the backcountry. " -Doug Schnitzspahn

44 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ December 2020

Pictured: La Sportiva Vega lightweight
touring boot ($679; sportiva.com),
Movement Alp Tracks LT 100 ($1,125;
movementskis.com), Scarpa F1 LT
lightweight alpine touring boot ($799;
scarpa.com), Dynafit Beast 108 free
touring ski ($700; dynafit.com),
Backcountry Access Tracker S avalanche
beacon ($300; backcountryaccess.com),
Sweet Protection Ascender MIPS helmet
($220; sweetprotection.com), Ortovox
Haute Route 40 ski touring pack ($190;
ortovox.com), Rex Specs dog goggles
($80; rexspecs.com), MSR Lightning
Ascent snowshoes ($320; msrgear.com)

Photograph by Lauren Danilek

http://www.sportiva.com http://www.movementskis.com http://www.scarpa.com http://www.dynafit.com http://www.backcountryaccess.com http://www.sweetprotection.com http://www.ortovox.com http://www.rexspecs.com http://www.msrgear.com

Outdoor Retailer - December 2020

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