Ear to the Ground

Outdoor News and Notes for the California Region

California Enduro Series’ (CES) Northstar Enduro makes history

California Enduro Series (CES) Round 6 — the Northstar Enduro at Northstar California Resort — makes history as the first-ever California race on the North American Enduro Tour (NAET).

CES and Northstar Enduro organizers are working hard to organize an extraordinary event, and are excited to welcome NAET riders to this year’s course.

The two day Enduro race takes place Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30, 2015. As one of the most prominent mountain bike parks, Northstar is the perfect location for an epic and memorable multi-day Enduro.

“Mountain bikers consistently rank our park among the best in the world,” says Northstar’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Rock. “We are thrilled to take part in this series, providing us an opportunity to showcase our park to world class riders and allowing them to enjoy our unmatched views and trails.”

californiaenduroseries.com

California cements place as America’s leader in solar energy

The recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review reported that California is leading the way for solar power in the United States, and stands poised to become the first state in the nation to have 10 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity – enough to power nearly 2.5 million homes.

In 2014, California added 4,316 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity, bringing its total to 9,977 MW – just 23 MW short of cracking the 10 GW barrier. The report went on to point out that California had big increases last year across all solar sectors. Of the new capacity added, 615 MW were residential, 307 MW were commercial and 3,395 MW were utility scale. Together, these installations represented an $11.7 billion investment in the state.

From an environmental perspective, solar installations in California are helping to offset more than 11.7 million metric tons of harmful carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of removing 2.5 million cars off state roads and highways.

For more information, visit the Solar Energy Industries Association® website at seia.org.

Klean Kanteen moves to bigger headquarters

Klean Kanteen is expanding its headquarters, moving to a larger facility in its hometown of Chico. The move will be completed this spring and will allow the company to house its offices and its distribution center under one roof.

“We recently celebrated our ten year anniversary, and are now sharing the growth and prosperity of Klean’s future with all of the employees making it happen,” said President and CEO Jim Osgood.

The new building is 50,340 square feet and will also house the brand’s co-brand print shop. The materials for the doors, desks and interior accents were crafted from fallen walnut trees and harvested from local farms. The new building is also accesible via public transport and bike paths. kleankanteen.com

Kialoa Paddles introduces paddle blades made from post manufacturing diaper scraps

Kialoa Paddles introduces their new Recycled Fibrlite™ Composite Paddle Blades made from post manufacturing diaper scraps. These blades are the first high performance composites to repurpose excess material and by keeping it out of landfill, KIALOA Paddles is doing their part to change the world, one blade at a time.

Fibrlite™ is a material made of continuous strands of carbon fiber or fiberglass. Through advanced manufacturing processes, fibers are impregnated with a polymer made from recycled material, bonding the fibers together. Fibrlite™ has allowed Kialoa to create a paddle blade with excellent strength to weight ratio, while keeping the paddle affordable. Fibrlite™ has incredible impact strength, which allows Kialoa to build lightweight, high performance paddles, with exceptional durability. kialoa.com

Jeff Kendall-Weed joins WTB’s global sales team

Pro mountain bike racer Jeff Kendall-Weed was recently welcomed to the WTB global sales team as their International Sales Lead. Kendall-Weed previously served as the International Sales Manager for Ibis Cycles, for whom he races as part of Team Ibis Retro Cellars. He’ll continue to race on his Ibis Mojo HD3 outfitted with a WTB saddle and tires, competing for the third year in a row in the California Enduro Series as well as a number of other events. Kendall-Weed is well known for his enthusiasm, passion and motivation both on and off the bike and is sure to be a great asset to the WTB team.

Ski more, spend less at Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and more

Vail Reorts’ season pass, the Epic Pass, is on sale now with unlimited access to 11 U.S. resorts—including Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Tahoe area—offering more than 32,000 acres of terrain for the 2015-16 winter ski season.

Skiers and snowboarders can put just $49 down by Sunday, April 12, to lock in the lowest guaranteed pass price for next season, with the balance due in September. The Epic Pass pays for itself in less than five days of skiing and offers a 35 percent savings compared to lift ticket purchases at the lift ticket window.

“The Epic Pass continues to offer the best deal in the ski industry with access to legendary resorts across the country and some of the best skiing and riding in the world,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. “This is the best time to lock in the lowest price for yourself, friends and family, and experience the benefits of owning a season pass for next ski season.” epicpass.com

Surftech to open new showroom May 1

Surftech is excited to announce the opening of its new flagship store in their home town of Santa Cruz, California just in time for summer. The store will offer surfers and paddlers a complete selection of Surftech’s pinnacle products, including surf, SUP and prone paddleboards, Surftech and Bark apparel and accessories, in addition to limited edition items. All of the 2015 Surftech boards will be on display in a showroom designed to pay tribute to Surftech’s rich history and Santa Cruz roots, while also focusing on the company’s innovation and cutting edge technology. The store’s design includes details that are native to Santa Cruz, like reclaimed redwood counters and local photographer’s and artist’s works on display throughout the showroom. The original Surftech showroom is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Be sure to drop by Surftech’s new flagship showroom when you’re in the Santa Cruz or Monterey Bay area. To contact the store, call 831-479-4944.