Participation in outdoor activities is at a record high, and not everyone new to the outdoors knows how to responsibly enjoy themselves.
That’s why there will be a major focus on not only leaving no trace, but also leaving the outdoors better than you found it at the upcoming outdoor adventure consumer event Outdoor Adventure X, June 17-18 in Huntsville, Utah, at Snowbasin Resort.
“That’s an important lesson that anyone who recreates outdoors needs to hear,” said Jessica Kirchner, senior vice president of marketing for consumer events at Emerald. “There’s been an influx of people recreating outside in the last couple of years. A lot of these people may not know leave no trace principles, how to pack it in, pack it out.”
In partnership with Outdoor Retailer, Emerald’s new consumer event division team is rolling out OAX as a gathering of outdoor adventure consumers coming together for a weekend of family fun, camping, product demos, gear vendors, and education.
The Daily spoke with Kirchner about how OAX is going to help OR attendees learn what is exciting consumers from a gear perspective and about the importance of the education component for the overall health of the industry
Industry Invitation
Attendees at the Outdoor Retailer Summer show in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 19-21 get a free pass for Sunday’s OAX event.
OAX is an opportunity for the brands and retailers attending OR to network and observe like-minded enthusiasts, according to Kirchner.
“We’re inviting the industry to come out and interact with the consumers and see how the consumers participate in these events,” she said. “It’s also a great opportunity for folks to come out and meet the consumers that they’re selling products to.”
About 150 companies will be exhibiting at OAX.
Kirchner is also the co-founder of Lodestone Events, producers of Overland Expo.
She said it’s difficult to compare the brand participation at OAX to Overland Expo, because the Overland Expo series is a 13-year, established event.
“OAX is a consumer lifestyle event that we’re launching from the ground up this year. With that being said, having 150 exhibitors for a start-up event is great,” Kirchner added.
Shuttles will be running from the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City to the Snowbasin resort.
Workers at the Snowbasin resort have been removing “gigantic” amounts of snowpack in preparation for the event, Kirchner said. They’re clearing the way for electric and mountain bike demos, mountain hikes, and free gondola rides and minigolf with an OAX ticket.
“Luckily some of that snowpack is melting and the wildflowers are blooming,” she added.
Kirchner said consumer events such as OAX are heavy on walk up ticket sales so she won’t really know the true ticketing picture until the weekend of the event.
Educational Opportunities
OAX has partnered with Weber State University to anchor its educational programming.
At OAX, Weber State will provide experts to run skills clinics and demonstrations all weekend on the mountain and on the water.
The education series will also focus on outdoor ethics and responsible outdoor adventuring.
Weber State outdoor program’s presentations and clinics include:
- Wilderness First Aid Scenarios in the Field
- Adaptive Climbing
- Yoga For the Adventurer
- Intro To Paddleboarding
- Demo: 1 & 2 Person Inflatable Kayaks
- Guided Hike: Mount Ogden
- Thoughtful Practices to Care for the Land: Leave No Trace
- Trad Climbing Skills – Placements, Anchors, Tactics
- Roundtable: Climbing Objectives: Prep and Logistics
- Intro to Mountain Biking – Guided MTB Ride
- Certifications, Careers, Experience in the Outdoor Industry
Kirchner said the “can’t miss” activity is the guided hike to Mount Ogden on Saturday morning. OAX is also offering guided hikes each afternoon with experts from Outside Magazine.
Gear demos include kayaking and paddle boarding with brands Coastal Kayaks, Isle Paddleboards, and Oru Kayak. FluidLogic, Super73, Volcon ePowersports and Gregory Packs will also be offering demos.
One draw of the event, according to Kirchner, is the opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to broaden their horizons beyond their go-to activity.
“If you’re a climber, you can come to OAX and try an intro to paddleboarding class, or you could go on a guided hike,” she said. “It’s an event where you can try 101-level clinics and classes for all types of other outdoor recreation and mediums.”
Bart Schaneman can be reached at bart@ordaily.outdoorretailer.com.
