Contour is Cranking

\ 3 Comments \ by

Our friends over at Contour have so much cool stuff going on these days it’s hard to keep up. First of all, they introduced the first camera to integrate HD video with GPS tracking. Now you can watch your video while tracking location, speed and altitude – cool! Just a few scant weeks later, Contour announced there was a hidden Bluetooth chip in their GPS camera that connects wirelessly to your iphone or other mobile device to create a live viewfinder for the camera. No more missed shots! This announcement garnered Contour tons of accolades at the annual Consumer Electronics Show including a CES Innovations award, a Best of CES award from CNET and a 2011 CES Hot Stuff Award from Stuff Magazine.

Along the way, Contour has also caught the attention of some big time players in the entertainment industry….like the NFL. Check out the below video of Michael Vick wearing a Contour camera during recent practice for the Pro Bowl.

But at the end of the day, what’s best about Contour cameras is their ability to capture those epic moments in your life. Even (or especially) if it’s an epic FAIL. Thanks to Holly’s bf Ryan for this little gem.

I’m glad to report that Ryan’s Contour camera survived this crash without a scratch, and Ryan’s back is feeling ok – with the help of lots of aspirin.

Posted in: Backbone Adventures, Client News, Videos \ Tagged: ,

Changes at Backbone

\ 2 Comments \ by

Yesterday we announced I am joining Nate and Penn as a Partner at Backbone. This is rewarding for me in many ways as I have been with the agency since 2005 and plan to be here for many years to come, I love Carbondale and hope to never leave.  When I started at Backbone there were very few of us offering a one dimensional service, today there are 23 of us servicing clients on many fronts.  I commonly marvel at what goes on in a typical day at Backbone from client presentations, NYC show rooms, client entertainment on the slopes, to optimizing our latest digital campaign.   I started in the outdoor industry in 1993, wow, is that now almost 20 years and look forward to seeing friends at Outdoor Retailer this week.

Greg enjoying the powder in the Chugach

What makes me most excited is the team here at Backbone and the awesome clients we represent.  Our team just got stronger this week, with the addition of Elinor Fish. Elinor is the former managing editor at Trail Runner who we’ve worked with for years. She’s a talented writer, a bad-ass runner and an all around nice person (aren’t all Canadians?). She also has serious PR chops – prior to Trail Runner she worked in tourism PR for Alberta and Banff. It’s a real coup for Backbone to have her on board.

Posted in: Uncategorized

Settling Into the South: Part Deux

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Just a quick Backbone employee update from the land where history lives, Charleston, South Carolina. Dax Kelm has settled into his new Southern digs and is working full steam ahead getting ready to run the trade show gauntlet kicking off with Winter Outdoor Retailer, SIA and ending with ISPO. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by the Bamboo Bottle Company’s Winter OR booth (BR 345) or POC’s SIA booth (1023) and rub it in a little that he and the wife just happened to load up the U-Haul and move to the South during the BIGGEST winter in Jackson Hole history!

Backbone Media Charleston - 125 Spring Street

From his emails and Facebook posts, it seems like he’s fitting in well:

“Penn and Nate, things are going great here in the South. The waves are sick and the locals are very friendly. Here’s a quick vid of some new friends I met in the water today. I’m pretty sure they will invite me to watch the Auburn vs. Oregon game tonight!” – Dax

Posted in: Gratuitous Client Plug, Musings \ Tagged: , , , ,

It’s Hut Trip Season

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Here in western CO, we are lucky enough to have a vast network of backcountry huts to ski to for overnight adventures. In the case of the Shrine Mountain Inn where we went at the beginning of the month for a holiday retreat, “backcountry hut” means beautiful log cabin complete with bathtub, sauna, running water, and rustic leather furniture.

We did some skiing:

Niklas Brosnan getting deep.

However, the terrain around Vail pass is pretty flat. This allowed for lots of drinking time.

Kara brought skinned in with her beer belt:


And Nate’s shot-ski was enjoyed by just about everyone. The highlight was when Justin David, aka Ricky Bobby, aka The New Guy called for an “anyone over 40” shot-ski day one on the job.

Evan, Lindsay, JLD, and Laura about to get Aquavined.

Which brings us to the following flow chart. One of our social media clients, Flylow Gear, ran a simple Friday facebook contest asking what everyone’s favorite beer was to carry in for a weekend hut trip. We got 67 responses, which inspired the following chart:

(click image for a close-up view)

Posted in: Backbone Adventures, Skiing \ Tagged: ,

East Coast or West Coast, Surf Is Where You Find It

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Backbone Media’s Dax Kelm recently made the move from the deep pow stashes of Jackson Hole to the East Coast surfer’s paradise of Folly Beach, South Carolina. Now we aren’t claiming West Coast quality waves all the time, but like Gerry Lopez says, “Surf is where you find it.” Enjoy this new movie trailer from Thomas Brothers Productions about life and surfing in Folly Beach.

Waves In Our Pocket_ Official Trailer from Thomas Brothers Productions on Vimeo.

Posted in: Surfing \ Tagged: ,

Fuzzy Background Model

\ Leave a Comment \ by

I was just flipping through the January issue of Powder Magazine and came across this full page photo featuring the lovely Kirsten Newhard (Penn’s better half) and her family as part of “The Powder Project: Ski Stories from Around the World.” It’s an awesome shot from the family room that perfectly captures a day in the life of the Newhards. I’m also pretty sure this is the only time I’ve actually seen Kir stand still for more than two seconds.

Penn also makes an appearance in the fuzzy background of the above image, but it seems this is not his first experience as a model in a magazine. He also just recently completed this photoshoot….

Posted in: Making fun of the boss

PowderWhores in the Roaring Fork Valley

\ Leave a Comment \ by

That’s right! Its time for the PowderWhore film, Television, showings in both Aspen and Glenwood.

As the last stop on their Colorado tour, the Belly Up in Aspen will host the movie on Friday night, and the Glenwood Springs Rec Center will be the location for the Saturday night viewing.

Tickets are $10 for both shows and the show in Glenwood Springs will have FREE beer from Big Sky Brewing!

Aspen show time = 7pm and doors open at 6pm

Glenwood show time = 7:30pm

See ya there!

Posted in: Colorado, Skiing, Videos

Influence is Contagious

\ Leave a Comment \ by

This is a really nice short film from R+I Creative that documents how creativity driven by the ‘taste makers’ is contagious. From music to entertainment to advertising, influencers are creating awareness and driving reactions.

The film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives who are shaping today’s pop culture. It’s a bit long, but well worth a watch with your Monday morning coffee!

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.



Posted in: Uncategorized

Tips for PR Pros – We Couldn’t Agree More

\ Leave a Comment \ by

Recently, one of our good friends, ESPN.com Freeskiing contributor, and Tele Freeskiing World Champion, Megan Michelson, posted some recommendations for PR Pros on her blog. Megan previously worked on staff for Outside magazine and Skiing, so she knows a good pitch from a lemon. Not only does her list provide some comic relief, but it is also very true.

Here is a list of highlights from her post.
2. Don’t start your email talking about the weather, the changing seasons or some other cliché attempt at being conversational. Get straight to the point. If you know the journalist personally, then a personalized note is always welcome, but if we don’t know you, we probably don’t want to make chitchat.

I am so guilty of this one. Sometimes I forget that just because I live in a town where the every move you make depends on the incoming storm systems and snowfall, doesn’t mean that everyone else does. My apologies, Ms. Michelson and everyone else who has ever gotten my weather greetings.

Regarding number 10: Know who you’re pitching – know what kind of readership that magazine targets and adjust your pitch accordingly. If you’re pitching a snowboard to a ski magazine or a $5,000 fur-lined suitcase to a discount travel mag, the editor will assume you’re bad at your job and we’ll be less likely to reach out to you in the future.

Megan, I just want to know where I can get one of these supposed fur-lined suitcases. Send that PR persons info my way. Mama needs a brand new bag.

3. Get to know journalists. Invite us to do stuff. Find out what we like and use that to your advantage.

Also found on Megan’s follow-up blog “Top Dating Tips for PR Professionals.”

15. Think beyond the product. We’re looking for good stories. Interesting people, bright ideas, revolutionary inventions, companies making a difference, controversies, events, breaking news. Give us insight into the brand and the people behind it. Tell us about your client’s most interesting athletes, retailers, designers, janitors, founders. For most journalists, writing about gear or product is something we have to do, but what we really love is telling stories about people.

This one is easy when you work with over 30 brands made up of some of the nicest, funniest, most hard-working, bike-riding, downhill-shredding, adventure-racing, really-fun-to-drink-a-beer-with folks. :-)

Click here to read Megan’s full list.

Posted in: Interesting Read, Musings