Outdoor Retailer PostShow - Summer 2019 - 10

The Pulse

When it comes
down to it, we are
all overlanders.

By Chris Van Leuven

OVERLAND EXPERIENCE

Popular in other parts of the world, overlanding (vehicle-supported, self-reliant travel) is a new concept in the U.S. that's rapidly
taking root in the outdoor industry landscape. "More people
partake in some form of overlanding than they know," said Brian
McVickers with Overland International. "If you are using a vehicle
to get to your adventure, then you are participating in it."
McVickers' company helped Outdoor Retailer create the buzzing Overland Experience zone at Summer Market, where buyers
and sellers could come to learn more about this expanding segment. "From the newest hiking boots to water-filtration systems,
just about every single item on the show floor is relevant to this
category," said McVickers. -Hudson Lindenberger

GETTING WHOLE

"Nature is the greatest asset we have when it comes to offering people a place to escape
from their daily lives," said Ivan Levin of the National Park Trust as he led a Summer Market
roundtable called "The Healing Power of Outdoor Recreation and the Powerful Role Parks Play
in our Everyday Lives." The panel focused on three unique groups-military families, veterans,
and people with neurological disorders-but the benefits they reap from time outdoors could
easily apply across the board.
Being in the outdoors, whether in the neighborhood park or deep in the backcountry, helps
to minimize isolation and the loss of community, the panelists stressed. "Community is created
by being engaged, and the outdoors allows people's senses to do just that," said Kyle Martin of
Outdoor Mindset. "Once that happens, people are usually able to open up about their issues-
and that leads to healing." -H.L.

THE AMERICAN
ALPINE CLUB
RELEASES ITS
STATE OF CLIMBING REPORT

/ SUMMER MARKET 2019

After 18 months of gathering
and analyzing data, the American Alpine Club (AAC) and its
partners released the inaugural AAC State of Climbing
Report at Summer Market.
"This is a big first step in our
effort to aggregate a majority
of the data for the climbing
industry," said Phil Powers,
CEO of the AAC, which plans
to release a new report each
year. The 44-page report is a
catch-all in the climbing world,
covering demographics, political advocacy, conservation,
competition, economic impacts, and accidents.
As climbing moves from a
niche sport to the mainstream,
the AAC saw a need to better
understand climbing culture,
the outcomes of advocacy
work, and how the climbing
community can positively
grow the sport into the 21st
century. "We'll keep at it, and
over the years, it can show
how our world grows and
changes," Powers said.

S COT T M A R T I N ( X 2 )

destination. "We're expanding access to the outdoors and promoting
a sustainable model for consumers
and brands alike," said Rachelle
Snyder, cofounder and co-CEO of
Arrive. "It's extremely important
that we begin to think about utilization over consumption."
Nonprofit of the Year, City Kids
Wilderness Project, based in
Washington, D.C., connects urban
youth with the outdoors through
a seven-year outdoor leadership
program focusing on building
resiliency and skills for success as
well as broadening horizons. Over
the last three years, 100% of the
kids in the program have graduated from high school.
The Youth Inspiration Award for
2019 went to 16-year-old Joseph
Goldstein, founder of Kids for the
Boundary Waters. When Goldstein
was diagnosed with leukemia at age
13, he didn't ask Make-A-Wish for a
trip to Disneyland. Instead, he asked
the foundation to save his beloved
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness, which is being polluted
by sulfide-ore copper mining. MakeA-Wish couldn't grant his wish (if
only...), but the experience led Goldstein to fight for the BWCA through
social media, public speaking, and
lobbying. He encourages kids to
become "wilderness warriors" to
protect wild places.

H E A D L I N E S

Outdoor Retailer PostShow - Summer 2019

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