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Inspiration, motivation, practical career, and business lessons for Sports and Outdoor industry leaders. Join us on an exciting journey! With three decades in the Sports and Outdoor industry, I regret having never had a mentor, and now I’m on a mission to ensure you don’t have the same regret. We aim to become the leading source of inspiration and wisdom for aspiring and current leaders in this field. We’ve embarked on a quest to uncover the valuable career and business insights you need to ...
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The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary
Colin True - outdoor industry journalist
The Rock Fight – not just another outdoor or adventure podcast; it's a full on rebellion. We’re here for those inside and outside the outdoor industry. Outdoorsy listeners who are tired of the same worn-out paths. If you want to hear honest discussions that mirror the candid outdoor industry banter you have after a long hike in the wilderness, cracking the cooler while loading the bikes, sharing the ski lift with a stranger, waxing your board at the beach, jumping off rocks into the river, o ...
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin run through topics and headlines to come out of the outdoor adventure community over the past week or so including a French ski resort that has closed due to climate change, grades for Congress when it comes to National Parks, and Hipcamp's acquisition of BookOutdoor…
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David Birch: from a hospital bed to building the world's largest rewards and loyalty platform
55:19
In this episode, we sit down with David Birch, CEO and Founder of Endurance Zone, a company centered on helping athletes harness the power of endurance training to unlock peak performance. David's journey is one of resilience and transformation—from a professional rugby player to a successful entrepreneur after a serious back injury altered his car…
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HeyDude: A $2.5 Billion Footwear Fumble? Plus: prAna Is Channeling The Gap & Vans Gets Technical
43:27
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show reflecting on the latest earnings report from Crocs that details how their $2.5 billion investment, HeyDude, has not been faring too well. Then he and producer Dave explore how HeyDude's limited demographic and marketing could end up making the whole thing a ri…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Producer Dave are joined by the founders of SENIQ; a new brand focused on making outdoor apparel for women. It's not a secret that for much of the Outdoor Industry's history the primary directive when it came to apparel or footwear for women was to take something made for…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin continue their annual Halloween tradition by taking in an outdoorsy horror flick. Last year it was The Blair Witch Project this year? The original Friday the 13th! They start the show by talking about a couple of headlines to come out of the outdoor community in the …
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Marmot: From Outdoor Pioneer to Zombie Brand? Plus: Dick's Closes Public Lands & Hoka Keeps Growing
43:27
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show reacting to last weeks earnings report from Newell, owner of Marmot, that shows how the once great outdoor brand is sliding further into mediocrity. Then Colin and Producer Dave discuss the historical significance of Marmot and its innovative past, contrasting …
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Is The Outdoor Industry Leading When It Comes To Sustainability? Plus: This Week In Greenwashing!
41:03
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) environmental fashion journalist Sophie Benson returns to talk about the latest sustainability topics to come out of the outdoor industry. Sophie joins Colin & Producer Dave to share her insights on the recent upcycling and recommerce initiatives from various outdoor brands. The ep…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Paddy O'Connell returns for his record setting 6th appearance! He joins Colin & Justin to talk about the production of season 2 of his show "PaddyO Sucks At..." and sticks around to chat about some adventure headlines to come out of the outdoor community. Three hosts means three P…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin kicks off the show talking about the decision by Red Wing to sunset the Vasque brand. Colin and Producer Dave delve into the historical significance of Vasque, a company that since 1964 has played a crucial role in shaping outdoor footwear in the US. They examine the trajecto…
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Unlocking the Future of Sports: Trends, Challenges, and Insights with Tobias Grober of ISPO
1:05:21
In this episode of the Sports and Outdoor Mentors podcast, we sit down with Tobias Grober, the Executive Director of Messe München and the long-time leader of ISPO, the world's largest Sporting Goods trade fair. With over 30 years of experience, Tobias shares his insights on the unique benefits of working in sectors beyond sporting goods, the chall…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's all about outdoor specialty retail! Specialty retailers play a crucial role in the outdoor industry, serving as community connection points and acting as tastemakers essential for brand legitimacy and consumer engagement. Today on THE ROCK FIGHT Gabe Meyer, president of the Gr…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Kent Ebersole, the president of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), joins Colin to discuss the recent shift from its long-standing trade show relationship with Outdoor Retailer to a new partnership with Switchback. Kent talks about the rationale for moving on from OR and why th…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT Colin & Justin kick off the show with the Outdoor Sports Draft where they take turns assembling a roster of their favorite outdoor activities that you get you to vote on! Check out Rock Fight's Instagram & LinkedIn feeds to vote or if you're listening on Spotify you can vote in the Spotify app. Then they run through some of …
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show with his thoughts on the new running focused collaboration between Altra Running, Smartwool and REI. He and Producer Dave critique the decision to launch a collection that feels uninspired and overly safe, and also highlights how outdoor brands often fail to ge…
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Leading with Purpose: Charlotte Cox on Coaching and Building Diverse Teams at Pentland Brands
1:23:58
In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Cox, EMEA President of Pentland Brands, the company behind iconic sports and outdoor brands like Speedo, Berghaus, Endura, and many more. With incredible experience in leadership and brand management, Charlotte shares her thoughts on the critical role coaches play in shaping careers and the importance of …
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) the secondhand conversation continues with a real life secondhand retailer. Barruch Ben-Zekry is the founder of Out&Back, an online secondhand website. Today Barruch sits down with Colin to discuss the importance of brands engaging with the secondhand market and how consumer awaren…
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Wednesdays mean adventure here on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) and Colin & Justin open the show by celebrating this past Sunday's National Coffee Day with THE ROCK FIGHT's official National Coffee Day Quiz! Because, you know, coffee is our greatest adventure beverage (or something). Then they discuss the lasting impact…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by commenting on a quote from the CEO of a major outdoor retailer that a "notable shift in consumer behavior is on the horizon". Then he and Producer Dave go through some of the more notable listener feedback we have received regarding brand specific secondhand…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we sit down with Neil Fiske, the president of Black Diamond. Two stories lead to this conversation. First was the news that broke a few months back about BD 'narrowing their focus' after years of unwieldy expansion and then the story from a few weeks back about BD investing in and …
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Outdoor Retailer Show Director Sean Smith joins Colin & Producer Dave to talk about the recent announcement that OR is putting Winter Market out to pasture and moving to one June event per year. Sean talks about the reasoning behind the move, the response, comments and criticism t…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by offering his thoughts on two sustainability focused stories to come out of the outdoor industry in the past week. Flylow announced the arrival of it's secondhand e-commerce site while Cotopaxi launched a new collection of upcycled garments. And while both in…
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Running to Success: Mike’s Journey in Event Management and the Power of Community at Raccoon Media Group
1:05:39
In this episode, we chat with Mike Seaman, Founder and CEO of Raccoon Media Group. Mike has 20 years of experience in event management and shares his journey from portfolio management to founding and growing his own business. As someone who thrives on the community’s energy, Mike ensures the community is at the centre of everything Raccoon Media Gr…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin promises you that he's not trying lure in sponsors or pat himself on the back. Because we're talking podcasts... not the creative side of podcasts but the business side of podcasts. Podcast advertising is $4 billion large globally. But very few outdoor industry brands and ret…
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It's adventure headlines day on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head)! Today Colin & Justin Housman run through headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week. Here's the rundown: A dropped bag of Cheetos caused big problems at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico proving that wherever people go, litt…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by talking about the new brand video from The North Face and what the messaging from outdoor brands should be in 2024 (00:55). Then Colin & Producer Dave talk about the latest stores to open under the banner of Gearhead Outfitters (22:23), a prediction for the …
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we dig into the details behind the acquisition of Backcountry.com by CSC Generation with former Moosejaw CEO Eoin Comerford. Eoin joins Colin and Producer Dave to chat about how Backcountry found themselves in their current position, what we know about their new owner, and how this…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by digging into one of the more touchy subjects in the outdoors: Dogs and their place in our community (01:01). Then Colin and Producer Dave talk about the news that broke last week that Backcountry.com has sold to CSC Generations (16:37) and how an executive p…
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Riding the Waves of Change: ACM Co-Founder Matt Barr's Journey from Snowboarding to Business Leadership
1:18:27
Join us in this episode of Sports and Outdoor Mentors as we sit down with Matt Barr, co-founder and co-owner of All Conditions Media, to explore his unique path from travelling the globe as a snowboarder to leading a successful action sports media agency. Matt talks candidly about the early days of writing for snowboard magazines, navigating the ch…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin open the show by getting Justin's thoughts on the new social platform from Outside and how it's integration into Gaia will impact Justin's use of that app (02:50). Then they run through the following headlines to come out of the outdoor community over the past week…
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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 Wildern…
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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 ind…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Doug Schnitzpahn joins the fray to talk about how the outdoor industry has lost it's way. (Look at that 'poet and didn't even know it' type stuff here on THE ROCK FIGHT) Doug is a journalist and the Editor In Chief for Elevation Outdoors and has been in and around the outdoor indus…
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Arc'teryx DTC Strategy Hits Big, Patagonia's New Election Policy & Switchback Adds Even More Brands
33:59
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by digging into Arc'teryx and Amer's big second quarter and why good brand strategy is paying off for the premium outdoor brand. Then he and Producer Dave take a look at the latest brands to join the roster at The Running Event and Switchback as well as the ne…
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Building Success through Trust, Fun, and Hard Work by Oxbow co-owners E. Debrueres and J.C. Chetail
1:06:53
In this heartening episode of “Sports & Outdoor Mentors,” we explore the relentless pursuit of dreams with Manu and JC, the dynamic duo behind the iconic surf brand Oxbow. With over five decades of collective experience in the sports and outdoor industry, they share their journey through the highs and lows of leadership, from overcoming monumental …
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National Park Tragedies, Mowing Lawns For A Ski Pass plus Deuter & Hydraflask's New Partnership
38:35
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Justin Housman is back on the mic! Monday's on THE ROCK FIGHT are for stories to hit the outdoor industry and now Saturday's are for the adventure community. Today on the show Colin & Justin get caught up on several stories to come out of the outdoor and gear world including: Ther…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Christina Henderson returns to the show to talk about the recent news to come out of The Running Event and Switchback Trade Shows. Last week the following news stories came out of The Running Event/Switchback trade show world: The Running Event will be leaving it's long time home o…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show (01:05) by ranking the 10 outdoor shoes that appear on Footwear News list of The Greatest Shoes of All Time. Then Colin and Producer Dave run through the following headlines that came out of the outdoor industry over the past week: Lolë Brands has acquired Sanu…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we’re bringing out a big gun who can speak to what is happening in outdoor retail. Eoin Comerford, is the principal at Outsize Consulting and is an outdoor industry veteran as the former CEO of Moosejaw Mountaineering. He has a unique view on outdoor big box retail as well as what'…
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EMS Sells For A Song, Nike's 'Winning Isn't For Everyone' Ad & Switchback Adds Heavy Hitters To Fall Show
35:13
Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show talking about the negative reaction to Nike's Winning Isn't For Everyone ad campaign (01:05). TL;DR: outdoorsy people need to relax. Then Colin & Producer Dave hit the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry over the last week: Last Friday the $…
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Olympic Mindset: Tom Bosworth, Olympian/Agent on Overcoming Challenges and Building a Lasting Legacy
1:07:34
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tom Bosworth MBE, double Olympian, world record holder, and now a dedicated track and field agent. In this episode of Sports and Outdoor Mentors, Tom opens up about the highs and lows of his 13+ years as a professional athlete, sharing invaluable lessons on resilience, sacrifice, and the importance of a ba…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we take a look at a new outdoor organization and the impact it has had on the business of going outside. The Outdoor Market Alliance is a group of Rocky Mountain based independent sales agencies that have established a permanent showroom for the more than 175 outdoor brands that th…
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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 Diamo…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're going there. Enter: Teresa Baker. Teresa has been a force for change in the outdoor industry when it comes to DEI and environmental initiatives for the past 7 years. She founded the In Solidarity Project to build a more diverse outdoor industry with a core component of her wo…
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Headlines on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head)! Colin starts the show (01:03) with his take on how REI's recently announced vendor of the year awards only show how boring they've become and the risk they're taking by trying to become everything to everyone. Justin and Producer Dave then weigh in on what REI can do to get th…
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Dive into the captivating world of outdoor retail with our exclusive interview featuring JD Outdoor Group CEO, Lee Bagnall, an industry veteran. Discover what makes this field so infectious and rewarding, both from an industry and a retail perspective. Lee shares personal anecdotes about his journey into the outdoor industry, the joys of interactin…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we take a look inside the Outdoor Industry Association's latest participation trends report. Since 2007 the OIA has published the trends of who is going outside. And this year participation hit an all time high while core participants dropped. And it begs the question: how will the…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's time for Outdoor Industry headlines! Colin kicks off the show with a recap of the Outdoor Market Alliance Media Show, highlighting an event that fills a longstanding industry need as well as uncovering a problem that persists in the Outdoor Industry. Then Producer Dave joins C…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin digs into the recent OIA report that shows how outdoor participation is at an all time high. But it also shows that hardcore outdoor enthusiasts are on the decline. How can both of these things be the case? Because more people than ever have learned The Secret of going outsid…
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Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's time for our weekly round up of headlines from the outdoor industry and community. Colin is joined by Producer Dave for today's rundown (Justin has the weekend off) and here's the lineup: More with Thermore! (01:40) Colin's final summer 24 events & trade show thoughts (04:20) …
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A lifetime of leadership: J-M Pambet, Former Salomon President & CEO / Board Member and Advisor
1:02:17
Join us for a compelling conversation with an accomplished leader in the outdoor industry. Uncover the influence of North African roots, the decision to attend HEC Business School, and the transformative periods at Salomon. Hear about the challenges and successes of the first five years at Salomon and the pivotal transition from sales to product ma…
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