Outdoor USA Magazine

Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition has announced that Donna Carpenter, president and co-owner of Burton Snowboards will act as keynote speaker for the 2012 OIWC Breakfast and Awards Presentation. She will address issues such as “Where are all the women? Why diversity is good for business.”

Trublue Auto Belays has begun their “Trublue 5.10” contest. Climbers and facility operators can nominate their climbing facility be it a gym, university climbing wall or any other recreation center by explaining why their wall needs Trublue Auto Belays. The winning facility will receive up to ten Trublue Auto Belays to use for five months.

The American Alpine Club announced the theme and location of the group’s signature and largest annual event, the Annual Benefit Dinner. Taking place over the weekend of March 2 and 3, the dinner will be held at the Seaport Hotel in Boston with the theme of Partnership: Climbing through the Generations.

Gore-tex has become the new Grand Traverse race title sponsor, starting with the 2012 event on March 30.

Grand Traverse is a 40- mile backcountry ski race in Colorado. The race begins at midnight in Crested Butte and ends in Aspen, between which racers must climb more than 7,800 feet. Brian Wickenhauser, race co-director, sees the challenges presented by the races as the perfect opportunity for the Gore sponsorship, a chance to truly put Gore gear to the test.

Julbo and brand ambassador, freeskier Glen Plake, will be searching for the next talented riders and skiers at this year's Winter OR show. These riders will could become brand ambassadors themselves by enrolling in the new Julbo Glen University Sessions program (JGUS). Plake himself with help launch the program with a “Back to School” party at Julbo's booth (#7045) on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

The JGUS program will be a 13-month accelerated program under the mentorship of “Professor” Plake. For all snowsports athletes in the halls of the Salt Palace this is the opportunity to become part of the next generation of Julbo's semi-professional ski and snowboard athletes. Graduation ceremonies will take place in March 2013 in Chamonix, France, the homeland of Julbo.

Plake's involvement at Julbo goes far beyond acting as professor, he also plays an important role in product development. An accomplished skier, Plake has also been inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Bike New York will bring the nation's largest bike expo to New York City the first week of May at the inaugural New York City Bike Expo, presented by Eastern Mountain Sports. The event is free, open to the public and will lead up to the 2012 TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour.

Tubbs has opened registration for the 2012 Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer Snowshoe Series. The event is in its tenth year and has raised over 1.7 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Romp to Stomp is the largest snowshoe series in North America and last year's event had over 6,200 participants, raising $450,000 for breast cancer.

On October 1, the Aiguille Rock Climbing Center put on their ABS 13 competition in Longwood, Florida. At the lively competition, talented climbers of all ages took on the challenge of 50 brand new boulder probems.