The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary – Details, episodes & analysis

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) owner and founder of Wilderness Exchange, Don Bushey, sits down with Colin to give a behind the scenes look at his new partnership with Black Diamond.

Last month news broke that Black Diamond and Wilderness Exchange would be forming a new retail partnership. One that allows Wilderness Exchange to remain independent while Black Diamond effectively takes over the majority of the store.

It's a unique approach to a collaboration that historically has relied on things like shop in shops for a larger brand presence in independent stores; and is a potential new option for brands who may be adverse to opening their own store fronts.

Today on the show Don offers how the deal came together and why it makes sense for Wilderness Exchange at this point in the shops history.

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Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by giving his thoughts on Outside Inc launching their own social media platform and offers why he thinks Outside keeps making these bizarre strategic decisions (01:03).

Then he and Producer Dave talk about the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry last week:

• Rossignol has launched a new line of trail running shoes to better compete in spring and summer. Is Sierra just sitting there licking their chops? (23:40)
• eVent released two new technologies that are PFAS free. Is this too little too late? (29:22)
• Solo Stove goes back to Snoop and welcomes Warren G for their new marketing campaign. Where's the justice for their old CEO? (35:22)
• Our parting shots! Colin wants to know what happened to music videos and Producer Dave gives props to an Oregon park. (39:45)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens things up by responding to listener responses to last week's episode and how REI and Dick's are growing increasingly close to being the same thing.

Then Colin & Producer Dave hit the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry over the past week:

• Black Diamond posts a loss in the second quarter in part because of PFAS. Could this have been avoided? (16:13)
• BOA & Primaloft post second quarter gains. Is this a sign that outdoor brands are investing in their 2025 product lines? (20:17)
• Crocs makes plans to make more sneakers after the success of their May sneaker launch. After first throwing up Colin talks about why this is a good idea. (22:55)

Head to www.rockfight.co and sign up for News From the Front, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating and written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to and follow Gear & Beer! The newest show on the Rock Fight Podcast Network.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we welcome back Paddy O'Connell who is here to talk about his new TV show: PaddyO Sucks At....

Paddy tells Colin and Justin how PaddyO Sucks At... came to be, his approach to making the show, behind the scenes stories from production as well as teasing the status of season 2.

You can watch PaddyO Sucks At... on Outside Watch by clicking here and get more Paddy in your life by clicking here.

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're diving back into the world of the outdoor economy.

In November the Bureau of Economic Analysis released a report showing that outdoor recreation contributes $1.1 trillion to the US economy. You may remember Kyle Frost and Colin going deep on this topic right here on THE ROCK FIGHT.

And now we get to talk to the folks who use that data to help grow the entire outdoor economy (not just the part that you participate in): the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.

Today on the show Colin talks to Jessica Turner and Chris Perkins from the ORR about the role they play for outdoor enthusiasts across the US, how they're working to unify the outdoors across all categories, should outdoor trade shows pivot to focus on the outdoor economy and what to expect from the ORR in 2024.

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin reacts to the news from last week that Wolverine has sold iconic footwear brand Sperry to Authentic Brands.

Authentic Brands has put together an incredible roster of brands and a successful strategy to become one of the largest outdoor lifestyle networks in the world. How do they do it? We'll dig into that as well as ponder how a brand that was founded on a purpose can lose their authenticity with consumers.

Read the Glossy.co article Colin reads from in this episode by clicking here.

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman discuss some headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community over the past week. The following stories are on the docket:

• Colin Defends Tracking Your Activities (05:07)
• The Launch of an E-Snowboard (07:14)
• PaddyO's New Show On Outside Watch (13:08)
• The Return of Pickleball Corner (17:06)

They also answer the question featured in America's favorite podcast segment, What Is Justin Doing This Weekend?!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Kris Hampton returns for another edition of Climbing Corner!

Colin and Kris hit the following topics:

• The massive growth and internal politics of the climbing world within the larger human powered outdoor industry including climbing specific trade shows (01:37)
• Kris puts on his coach's hat and talks about climbing vs strength training (13:36)
• Finally the two break down Kris's take on what modern sponsored outdoor athletes can learn from mega star Taylor Swift's journey through the music world (16:25)

Click here to listen to Kris's original Taylor Swift episode and here to check out Written In Stone which is burning up the podcast charts.

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin laments his aging body by reflecting on the best advice he ever got from a movie.

We can all agree that THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is the greatest movie of all time, right? Good. Well there is a message in that flick that is all any outdoor enthusiast needs to get out the front door at any age.

When you combine Shawshank with Doc Rivers, The Golden Globes and Travis Kelcie what do you get? Well, this episode of THE ROCK FIGHT of course!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman talk through the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community from the past week.

• Historic paddlers, the Arctic Cowboys were charged with illegally staying on a protected island during their successful 2023 attempt to kayak the Northwest Passage (05:20)
• Strava's Year In Sport Report shows that Gen Z’s active behaviors vary greatly from those who came before them. (14:05)
• Justin weighs in on California's late December historic swell (26:02)

They also respond to listener feedback and answer the question featured in America's favorite podcast segment, What Is Justin Doing This Weekend?!

Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a 5 star rating wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or comment for a future mailbag episode? Send it to myrockfight@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram or Threads.

Subscribe to Adventure Journal to get more Justin Housman in your life.

Subscribe to Here and There for more Kyle Frost in your life.

Check out Long Weekend Coffee for the best cup of coffee for your next adventure. Be sure to enter promo code 'rock10' at checkout to receive 10% off of your first order.

Thanks for listening! THE ROCK FIGHT is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.