It started innocently enough – a bowl of candy and Sue in a Witch outfit. Then Mavis wanted to borrow my West Highland Terrier, Skadi, to be Toto as an accessory to her Dorothy outfit.
Just another day at the office
Next thing you know JLD is in a baby blue POC speed suit, with a Julia custom helmet and BD Megawatt skis. Things have settled down now that JLD aka Eddie the Eagle has quit his practice jumps off the sofa.
JLD hard at work
Back to work at Backbone – Happy Halloween.
We recently signed on to work with Oxen Workwear. Based in Brooklyn, NY they are an aspiring new brand that crosses traditional work style pants with a more new school artisan approach.
Rather than us do the talking, we’ll let one of their consumers – with this excerpt from a recent email that includes horses and near tragedy.
I am trying to contact whomever it may concern to brag about Oxen workwear. I had a pair of the double knee carpenter khaki jeans. I purchased them for work and found them to be comfortable enough to wear riding horses and around the house because they fit perfectly.
I was on a horse ride one evening when tragedy struck. My horse reared up and fell on top of me. I couldn’t move, so the paramedics were called. When they got there, they unfortunately had to cut off the pants.
I write to tell you this story because the paramedics found their scissors to be inadequate for my workwear pants. In fact, I quote the EMS worker, “Where can I get a pair of these pants? These are the toughest pants I have ever tried cutting off, even tougher than Carhartt’s.” I told them I got them in North Carolina but wasn’t sure where I could get them near Rogersville, TN. While I am very disappointed I lost my favorite pair of not only work pants but everyday pants as well, I thought Oxen would love to hear my story. I would love to get a new pair of double knee khaki workwear pants as soon as possible, but I would also like to try the regular jeans. I would love to hear back from you regarding this story.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Stephens
Skiing and drinking mix. Bota bags, mulled wine, peppermint schnapps.With the first snow flakes being twittered across the country, Skiing Mag recently highlighted some inspired mountain consumption with images of Cloudveil’s Gelande World Championships in Jackson Hole last March. Shot by Bob Woodall, the images highlighted the Village Cafe’s double black diamond expertise in downing drafts.
now catch it and drink it...
16 teams originally vied for the coveted crown with representation from Cloudveil, Black Diamond, Smith, Powder mag, Backcountry.com, the JH Air Force and arch rival JH Ski Patrol. But the VC really took it to the next level with inspired, athletic, creative chugging – truly the work of ski legend.
another verb usage of the word boot
Oh, yeah and the skiing that day was pretty awesome too.
4 Pines with Back, 2mis, Jesse, PN, Dav and Charlie
Now we just need it to snow.
Never heard of Rashad Evans? Don’t know what MMA is?
MSN is a gimme. Microsoft right?
Rashad Evans is a Mixed Martial Arts fighter who competes in the UFC – Ultimate Fighting Championships. We learned about him through his sponsorship with Gerber Legendary Blades – as Rashad sports their tagline “Fend For Yourself” on the back of his trunks in the chain link octagon. Kind of appropriate tag line in his line of work.
Recently, Rashad took down UFC legend Chuck Liddell scoring a huge upset and also a spot in Microsft’s new TV commercials “I’m a PC”. Turns out Rashad trains in Santa Fe next to a MSN office and he wore a t-shirt of a Bill Gates mug shot from an arrest early in Gates career into the ring as a joke.
Speculation rages as to whether this was savvy marketing or an inside joke which has lead to his appearance on the MSN spots. Either way a smart move for Rashad, Gerber and MSN.
Busy times at Backbone.
Last Thursday saw Greg and Lindsay attend the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Nate was in Cali on biz and the rest of Backbone hosted the second annual Kickball World Championships in Boulder.
TW rolls in style
At Kickball casual, fun times with over 50 in attendance saw Skiing Mag trounce the Team Freelance/Freeload in the first round to meet “The Sons of Pitches” Backbone squad who dismantled the defending Champs Backpacker Magazine. For more pics go to our flickr page .
Pinch hitter and avid baserunner Jake Peruzzi
In the finals, Skiing prevailed with some rumored fuzzy math score keeping and impending darkness. Congrats to the Snow Warriors who take home the king sized trophy. Over the weekend events varied from installation of the new kegerator at Backbone World HQ, the American Alpine Club’s Craggin’ Classic in Golden and the 24 Hours of Moab, where Jess Smith reported Wyoming worthy wind and sand and grit that had a stucco like adherence to any exposed skin.
is this a victory or pray for snow dance?
Champions from last year, Dennis Lewon presents to 08 Champs Skiing mag
Autodesk is a 2D and 3D software used for design, engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and entertainment. BD designer Paul Terry, whose previous work experience ranges from Porsche to Birdhouse skateboards, recently attended a display of various Autodesk creations in San Francisco. Included in the display, which runs through October at One Embarcadero Plaza , is the award winning BD carbon fiber Cobra ice axe and the hydroformed Viper.
BD Cobra and Viper ice tools
Other displays included work from Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Renzo Piano, Fuseproject, Boeing, Ford and Chrysler.
Proposed Design for the Cali Academy of Science
From Autos and Architecture to Wooden Surfboards
Investigative journalist Steve Casimiro uncovered this:
Dennis Lewon to head up new Glamping Magazine
Word on the street is that Dennis Lewon may leave his post at Backpacker to head up the recently launched Glamping magazine. Glamping is a form of glamorous camping as reported on in the USA Today, ABC News and the LA Times. Dennis was quoted saying, “I have always considered camping sort of glamorous and over the years have grown sick of sleeping on the ground.”
Perhaps the best SWAG ever
Swag is loved and disdained. It has been described by one infamous gear editor as “a river that flows through my office.” So, who might be qualified to rate swag as the best ever? How about a PR person – Nate Simmons, who has experience giving out over a decades worth of swag. In an unequivocal statement today Mr.Simmons exclaimed, “this is the greatest swag I have ever received, ever.”
The object of his affection?
BD’s new Custom telemark boots.
Comfy enough for all day wear
The economy is grim and the government is sticking us (taxpayers) with the bill for their mismanagement.
So what is the answer?
Business Week thinks it is innovation – in their recent top story “Can America Invent Its Way Back?.”
As a growing PR firm that makes its living by finding great brand stories and telling them, innovation is clearly continuing to thrive. Add to that the two way conversations that social media provides between manufacturers and consumers as described in case studies such as this one on Kodak, and there is reason to be modestly optimistic – or at the very least not totally pessimistic…
Shot in Jackson last spring – here’s the beta on BD’s award winning Verdict, Zealot and MegaWatt skis.
As usual Powderweek in JH was full bore with great snow, good people and the 1st Annual Gelande Quaffing World Championships.
Team BD slings a beer to Dav