The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Today on the show, the Monday crew (the Monday Boys?) of outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford and brand/creative expert Producer Dave join Colin to talk through the following topics: * Big 5 Sold! Did the new owners make a good deal [https://sgbonline.com/big-5-sporting-goods-to-go-private-via-acquisition-by-specialty-golf-retailer-and-pe-firm/]? (06:09) * To celebrate Ortovox entering the mountain bike market we count the amount of cliches in the press release [https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/ortovox-enters-mountain-bike-market/] and ponder the motivation behind the move itself. (15:23) * Helen Of Troy had a rough [https://sgbonline.com/helen-of-troys-home-outdoor-segment-sees-sales-retreat-in-fiscal-q1/] Q1 thanks mostly to Hydro Flask's poor performance. Was it the Costco of it all? (21:50) * Tariff Watch 2025 is back [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/07/trump-tariffs-trade-letters-japan.html?__source=sharebar%7Clinkedin&par=sharebar]! After a flurry of updates to our ridiculous tariff situation during the first part of the month, the guys take a look at the moves that were made and analyze the fall out that is likely to come for the innovation engine of the outdoor industry. Spoiler Alert: it doesn't look great. (32:29) For The Parting Shot, Producer Dave takes a look at Hoka's new brand video [https://youtu.be/sMMUQXrhjgo?si=q3Tcn_1w1RWLK2gz]. Go Bob Dylan! (53:14) Click here [https://givebutter.com/THCFloods?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac6p9189xsW4wFpHG9NaiGxuFqTvayXy2d8GEqppbb_jePZ7y5NJmLh7SvQoQ_aem_m8a8Fp4Hd5d9ZrQzWZVMtQ] to help those in need after the flooding of Texas' hill country. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight [https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co], LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com [myrockfight@gmail.com].

Today Colin is joined by the host of Open Container [https://episodes.fm/1789763694], outdoor journalist Doug Schnitzspahn, to check in on where outdoor culture sits halfway through 2025. Since the launch of Open Container in January Doug has had 26 conversations with artists, musicians, authors, brand founders and many others who operate in or around the outdoor community. Today he and Colin find out what he's learned so far and how it reflects on the broader outdoor world. For The Parting Shot, Colin previews his trip to next week's Outdoor Market Alliance Media Event and makes a prediction about Superman. Click here [https://givebutter.com/THCFloods?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac6p9189xsW4wFpHG9NaiGxuFqTvayXy2d8GEqppbb_jePZ7y5NJmLh7SvQoQ_aem_m8a8Fp4Hd5d9ZrQzWZVMtQ] to help those in need after the flooding of Texas' hill country. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight [https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co], LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com [myrockfight@gmail.com].

Today on the show former Rock Fight guest Emily Holland ascends to the co-host chair to fill in for Shawnté who is out hiking the JMT! Colin & Emily hit on the following topics: * Get to know your co-host! Colin asks Emily some random questions so the audience can get to know her better (be sure to write down some of her food recommendations). (05:50) * The Tour de France kicked off [https://www.letour.fr/en/]last weekend! Do we still care? It not, what would make us care? (17:05) * From the files of No Sh!t Sherlock, recent running based study [https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a64928526/sleep-tips-for-longevity/?_ga=2.43745772.850157809.1751730408-1358094676.1751730408] lets us know yet again that sleep is good for us and life is deadly without it. (25:40) * Last week a six year old boy summited [https://explorersweb.com/record-or-irresponsibility-a-six-year-old-boy-summits-mount-elbrus/] Mt. Elbrus. Is that cool? (31:30) For The Parting Shot Colin has a request for anyone who covering [https://sgbonline.com/exec-trump-pushes-to-make-public-lands-great-again/] or commenting on the Trump administration. Thank you. (39:59) Click here [https://givebutter.com/THCFloods?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac6p9189xsW4wFpHG9NaiGxuFqTvayXy2d8GEqppbb_jePZ7y5NJmLh7SvQoQ_aem_m8a8Fp4Hd5d9ZrQzWZVMtQ] to help those in need after the flooding of Texas' hill country. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight [https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co], LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com [myrockfight@gmail.com].

Today it's the last interview that we recorded at GOA Connect in Reno last month. This time Colin and Eoin are chatting with Jon Frederick of Rab. Jon talks about why Rab has found more traction in the US when other EU based brands have struggled to enter the market. They also discuss Rab's current product initiatives and what Jon would like to see out of the national trade show scene. Then Shawnté Salabert calls in with an update from her three week hike on the JMT to help Colin process his discovery that he no longer likes hiking. Click here [https://givebutter.com/THCFloods?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac6p9189xsW4wFpHG9NaiGxuFqTvayXy2d8GEqppbb_jePZ7y5NJmLh7SvQoQ_aem_m8a8Fp4Hd5d9ZrQzWZVMtQ] to help those in need after the flooding of Texas' hill country. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight [https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co], LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com [myrockfight@gmail.com].

Today on the show it's a special Fourth of July episode of The Rock Fight as Colin is finally joined by outdoor journalist and sustainability legend Kristin Hostetter, to talk about her big 2024 hot take that it is time to ban fireworks. Last year Kristin wrote this [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/fireworks-environmental-impact] piece offering all the reasons why we should rethink fireworks despite them being a significant fixture in modern society. We covered her article here on The Rock Fight and now, to celebrate this year's Fourth of July, Colin finally gets to chat with Kristin. In addition to fireworks we also get to hear what Kristin is currently working on to lead a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight [https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co], LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com [myrockfight@gmail.com].