Risley Ranch

10 Things I Learned at the OIA Rendezvous

Here's a quick deck that highlights some of what I learned last week at the Outdoor Industry Association's Rendezvous in Boston.

Download ten_things_i_learned_oia.ppt

OIA Rendezvous 2008 Social Media presentation

What a great week!  I had a blast at the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Rendezvous in Boston last week.  I had the privilege of speaking at one of the break-out sessions on Thursday on social media.  It was well attended, and several people told me they got something out of it -- the best compliment you can get as a speaker.  I've attached the full power point presentation.  It's published under a Creative Commons attribution license, so feel free to share it, steal it, re-use it or otherwise mash it up -- just give credit to me and/or the original sources I've sited when doing so.

Download oia_social_media_presentation_final_10208_risley.ppt

Bring on the snow!

I bought a snowboard recently when I was in Boulder.  My first snowboard.  I love it.  I’m stoked.  I’m ready for snow.

Since snowboarding for the first time last year, I’m hooked.  I’ve been skiing since I was 6, but I waited until I was 39 to try “surfing on snow.”  I’m sorry I waited that long.  It’s completely different from skiing.  It’s harder to learn, first of all.  I spent two days in lessons and on my ass, most of the time.  By the third day, I had it.  On our second trip, I again took lessons, and I felt even more confident.  Confident enough to buy boots (Burton Imprint 2 Ruler - 2007), a helmet (R.E.D. Shawn White Trace), armor (Descente North America Jacket, The North Face bottoms), and now the board (Never Summer Heritage and Burton Doom bindings) and board bag (also Burton).

I checked out REI in Boulder first, but they didn’t have their boards in yet.  After checking a couple other places, I finally ended up at a little skateboard/snowboard shop right on 28th Street called Satellite.  It was great.  I, of course, felt 20 years too old to be in the shop in the first place, but that didn’t deter James, the nice “kid” that helped me out.  I had done my research, but he was equally informative, and patient.  A snowboarder since he was eight, James teaches kids snowboarding each weekend, during season, at Winter Park. Thanks James for a good buying experience.

If I’m not evidence enough that it’s never too late to start snowboarding, the two buddies I started with last year are 40 and 55!  After the initial learning-curve-pain wore off, each run was like focused gliding; “focused,” because it requires your attention, but once you’re in the zone, your muscle memory does most of the work; and “gliding” because it’s such a smooth feeling – more graceful than skiing, imho.

I’m planning a trip in December to Keystone with my inaugural buddies (Chip, Todd, don’t bail on me!), and then hopefully again in February of ’09.  Of course, if I break a bone(s), you’ll see all my gear on eBay, courtesy of my wife.

Get outdoors!

Last month I had the privilege of speaking at the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, Utah.  My topic was cause branding.  It was a real thrill for me because 1) I'm passionate about the topic, and 2) I love the outdoor category. 

I met the people behind many of my favorite brands: Keen, Goretex, REI, The North Face, Mountain Hardware...I was a kid in a candy store.  I also had the pleasure of meeting Skip Yowell, co-founder of Jansport (now owned by VF Corp, who owns two of our client-brands: Lee and Wrangler).  Skip is not only an ambassador for his brand, he's an ambassador for the whole industry.  Like everyone else I met, he was genuine, kind and had a true passion for the outdoors. 

Skip sent me his book, and I just finished reading it.  It was outstanding.  Talk about a fun read.  This guy has had so many amazing adventures...I was envious reading it.  I also discovered that Skip and I grew up in the same part of the world: Western Kansas.  In fact, he was born a short 20-30 miles from me -- albeit a few years earlier ;-)

Although I grew up in the outdoors -- hunting, skiing, camping -- I've gotten away from it in my adult life.  No excuse, really.  But now that we have Joe, I'm completely motivated to get back outside -- to expose him to life away from a "screen."  Nature can teach us so much, as long as we're willing to slow down and listen.  But you have to get outside first.

That's why I was so excited to learn about the OIA Foundation's new cause initiative to "get kids outdoors."  They launched it at the show, and are ultimately looking to raise millions of dollars over the next 10 years to provide grants to existing programs that support their mission of getting kids outdoors.  This isn't just a business-building effort -- it's a public health initiative.  I would say it's as important has the work done by the American Legacy Foundation to stop teens from smoking.  Obesity, diabetes and other sedentary issues can all be helped by being active.  Add the life-skills, leadership opportunities and good-ol-fun of the outdoors, and you've got a natural high.

The OIA has invited me back to speak at their Fall Rendezvous in Boston.  My subject will be social media.  I can't wait.