Ear to the Ground: Issue 98

News and notes from the outdoor industry

Proposed Trails for Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is currently undergoing a master planning effort for its parks. Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) has been working closely with city parks and recreation staff on the plan. The proposed plan includes a progressive, directional, bike-specific trail in Pogonip. The concept is to build a technical and rocky trail, geared to intermediate and advanced riders. The plan also provides for new multi-use trails in Pogonip, Harvey West, and Delaveaga parks to provide better connectivity to residential areas and trail networks.

These proposed trails represent an unprecedented increase in legal mountain bike trail access, creating new riding opportunities accessible from town. The Parks and Recreation Department has recognized the need for legitimate trail access for mountain bikers. MBoSC is asking supporters to speak up and let the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Santa Cruz City Council know that this is what the mountain bike community wants.

Learn more and sign the petition at mbosc.org.

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Gehrig Twins Come to Northstar
Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team members Carolin and Anita Gehrig, affectionately known as The Gehrig Twins, are set to join a record number of female riders registered for the 6th round of the 2017 California Enduro Series (CES) – the Northstar Enduro – coming to Truckee August 26-27. The Swiss world champion downhill racers have been taking the enduro scene by storm, and are two of the top Enduro World Series (EWS) racers for the past two years.

Carolin Gehrig says, “We love the races in the US a lot and have wanted to come race CES for a while, so we’re super pumped to finally get the chance to do so at the Northstar round! We can’t wait to explore the trails in this area and race against America’s fastest girls!”

CES is dedicated to encouraging more women to become involved in the male-dominated sport of enduro mountain bike racing.

The Northstar Enduro  is the 2nd round of the CES Golden Tour, and is also an EWS qualifier and a stop on North American Enduro Tour (NAET).

ASJ is a proud founding sponsor of the California Enduro Series. Learn more at californiaenduroseries.com.

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SunRidge Farms Debuts “Jack’s Mix” in Honor of Jack O’Neill
SunRidge Farms healthy foods and O’Neill wetsuits have announced a trail mix to honor Jack O’Neill. Dubbed “Jack’s Mix,” the snack is an ode to exploration, adventure, and inspiration to care for our planet. The snack mix represents everything that Jack O’Neill stood for and the commitment to a healthy lifestyle that drives everything SunRidge does.

A portion of all sales will be donated to the Sea Odyssey program — a nonprofit organization founded by O’Neill that provides a living classroom aboard a 65-foot catamaran for 4th-6th grade students to experience the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Students receive hands-on lessons about the marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment.

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Outdoor Retailer (OR) Moves to Denver in 2018
Outdoor Retailer (OR) – one of the largest trade shows in the US – is moving to Denver, CO as of 2018 after 21 years of being held in Salt Lake City, UT. The convention’s owner Emerald Expositions will present three shows a year at Denver’s Colorado Convention center, including a winter Snow Show, Summer Outdoor Retailer, and the new Outdoor Retailer November, which spotlights the soft goods market. A fourth outdoor industry show – the Grassroots Connect – is in the works, although plans have not been finalized.

The announcement is no surprise to outdoor enthusiasts, as OR’s most prominent brands vowed to boycott the show over Utah elected officials’ stance on public lands such as the newly designated Bears Ears Monument, which Utah governor Gary Herbert urged the Trump adminstration to rescind.

20,000 attendees are expected at each show, with a total of at least $45 million coming in to the Denver area economy each year.

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Fire Burns Near Yosemite
At press time, officials reported 65% containment of a vast wildfire about 20 miles west of Yosemite National Park that so far has burned nearly 79,000 acres and destroyed 63 homes. The Detwiler fire in Mariposa County forced a four-day evacuation of residents and businesses in Mariposa, a historic gold mining town in the area. For four days, workers and families in Mariposa — a historic gold mining town in the region — were forced to evacuate. Full containment of the fire is expected in early August.

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Buff Welcomes New Marketing Manager Kevin Walker
Buff, creator of versatile performance headwear for all-season outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, recently welcomed Kevin Walker to its team as its new Marketing Manager. Walker comes to Buff from a four-year tenure at Marmot where he most recently oversaw development of brand content, management of trade shows, and other key marketing roles. Buff’s General Manager Shirley Brunetti says, “Kevin has a proven track record of sales and marketing prowess, and brings a youthful yet forward-thinking strategy to our ever-evolving brand.”

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National Parks Face Potential Privatization
National Parks may experience a shift in operations under the Trump administration as private concessionaires put on the pressure to take over the responsibilities … and profits. Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate nearly $400 million from the National Park Services allotment, making it increasingly difficult for NPS to operate from within. Private companies could very well be granted control of restaurants, campgrounds, security, fee collection and other facilities and services. Funds raised would obviously not be invested back into the parks, taking away another source of revenue for them. The National Park Service’s financial contribution to the US is a hefty one. Opponents of the budget cut and privatization of operations charge that such outcomes will be a major setback to the economy, the parks themselves, and the people who enjoy them.

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Bill Lee and Merlin Crew take Third in TransPac
Merlin crossed the TransPac finish line at Diamond Head forty years after doing so for the first time. Her elapsed time of 8:02:34:09 didn’t set any records, but was still better than the elapsed time of 8:11:01:45 set when Lee and his team raced her original configuration in a windy 1977 Transpac. Merlin and Lee came in 3rd place with a corrected time of 09:01:50:23. Coming in first was Pyewacket skippered by Roy Disney and in second, Catapult skippered by Joel Ronning.

Learn more about Bill Lee and Merlin in our article Return of the Wizard.

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Climbing Center Opens in Reno

Climbers in Reno-Tahoe have a new place to call home. On August 5, Mesa Rim Climbing & Fitness Center opens its facility featuring 23,000 square-feet of climbing terrain with 52-foot climbing walls, steep overhangs, dihedrals, four custom-designed cracks, and a dedicated bouldering area. Designed to nurture Reno’s growing health and wellness community, it extends beyond climbing with a dedicated yoga studio, a sauna, locker rooms with showers, exercise facilities, a private event space and a community space. The locally-owned center aims to support the existing climbing community and foster the sport’s growth in the region through a series of programs and a culture of approachability.

Learn more at mesarim.com.

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Cannabis Cultivator Teams Up With Pro Snowboarder

THC Design, an estate-grown cannabis producer, has partnered with legendary professional snowboarder Chris Bradshaw to advocate for overturning professional and amateur athletic policies that ban athletes from using medical cannabis for pain management.

“We are excited to work with Big Bear’s best,” says Ryan Jennemann, THC Design’s co-founder and president. “Chris is an amazing advocate of medical cannabis. He shares our belief that it is high time more athletic organizations update their approach to pain management.”

Bradshaw says, “By sharing my own personal story of how cannabis has helped me manage my pain from injuries I received while boarding, I hope to inspire others to feel safe enough to come out of the ‘green closet’ and join us in fighting for what is right.”