The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Jessica Turner returns to the show to break down the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences, or EXPLORE, Act! Shortly after Jessica's first appearance on THE ROCK FIGHT, the EXPLORE Act unanimously passed through the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee and is poised to finish it's journey through co...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin talks about how Fischer Skis and every other brand out there needs to have a Brand [CENSORED]... we want to write the word but we also don't want this episode flagged by the podcast gods. Don't worry though, you'll hear the word over and over again while listening to this episode. After working at outdoor brands for more tha...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman celebrate Justin's return from vacation by breaking down some recent headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community. The pair discuss the following! The Enhanced Games Are Coming: (08:37) The ESports Olympics Are Coming: (16:40) Shark Attacks Doubled In 2023 (and should we even talk about it):...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) podcast strategist Emily Holland sits down with Colin to talk about all things podcasting. Despite being less than 20 years old, podcasts are now an established part of the media ecosystem and are expected to generate over $4 billion in advertising revenue in 2024. And for outdoor podcasts, the landscape is full of lots of folks p...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin welcomes the Executive Director of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, Susie Murphy, to provide a deeper understanding on some recent Rock Fights. First the pair breakdown the issues that Colin detailed in last November's episode of THE ROCK FIGHT about poor trail etiquette and electric mountain bikes. Then Colin and...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin gives his thoughts on the public messaging of two headlines to come out of the outdoor industry last week. First up is the news that merino-centric apparel maker Icebreaker missed their 2023 deadline to remove plastic fibers from their products. After that Colin digs into the news that Lululemon is launching a lineup of men'...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin sits down with Mountain Gazette's Mike Rogge to breakdown the meltdown happening in mainstream media. Over the past few weeks names like Sports Illustrated, Condé Nast, Pitchfork, the LA Times and many others have all dealt with a variety of issues that have left a major impact across the media landscape. Colin and Mike talk...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Mountain Gazette's Kyle Frost is back for his weekly appearance on the show to break down the latest from his newsletter. First Colin and Kyle talk about the proposed legislation in Colorado to pump up the taxes on short term rentals to help solve the housing issues in mountain towns. Then they talk about the Stanley cup trend pot...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin is joined by Michelle Rose to talk macro outdoor trends for 2024. Michelle is a design executive who has worked at brands like The North Face and Columbia and is also the founder of Struktur Society , a media company focused on building a community for creators and designers. On today's episode Michelle breaks down the curre...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're doling out unsolicited career advice. After more than 20 years of working in the outdoor industry Colin has some advice for those with aspirations of climbing the ranks of an outdoor brand...avoid The Joy Void! On today's episode Colin will offer three tips to be sure you never set foot in The Joy Void if you decide to pursu...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman take their weekly turn through some of the stories to come out of the outdoor industry and community over the past week. Here's the rundown: REI's Latest Layoffs (4:30) The EXPLORE Act Makes It Through Committee (9:44) Surfers, Swimmers, Runners & Walkers Are More Likely Develop Melanoma - shocking, we...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Kyle Frost returns to the show to talk through recent outdoor industry headlines. First off, Kyle addresses the industry news regarding himself! Last week it was announced that his newsletter Here & There is moving under the banner of Mountain Gazette and Kyle tells us how that came together. Then Colin & Kyle talk about t...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin sits down with environmental journalist Sophie Benson to check in on what is happening in the outdoor and fashion world when it comes to sustainability initiatives. Sophie and Colin ponder if circularity is on the rise, how brands like Outerknown have embraced regenerative organic cotton, the PFAS problem in apparel and play...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Shawnté Salabert returns to the show for an outdoor movie review of the 2000 Chris O'Donnell mountaineering action classic...VERTICAL LIMIT! Colin and Shawnté break down the best and worst outdoor scenes, the best use of outdoor gear, apparel and footwear and determine if VERTICAL LIMIT makes them want to go outside. They also pay...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we welcome back Paddy O'Connell who is here to talk about his new TV show: PaddyO Sucks At.... Paddy tells Colin and Justin how PaddyO Sucks At... came to be, his approach to making the show, behind the scenes stories from production as well as teasing the status of season 2. You can watch PaddyO Sucks At... on Outside Watch by cl...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're diving back into the world of the outdoor economy. In November the Bureau of Economic Analysis released a report showing that outdoor recreation contributes $1.1 trillion to the US economy. You may remember Kyle Frost and Colin going deep on this topic right here on THE ROCK FIGHT. And now we get to talk to the folks who use...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin reacts to the news from last week that Wolverine has sold iconic footwear brand Sperry to Authentic Brands. Authentic Brands has put together an incredible roster of brands and a successful strategy to become one of the largest outdoor lifestyle networks in the world. How do they do it? We'll dig into that as well as ponder...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman discuss some headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community over the past week. The following stories are on the docket: Colin Defends Tracking Your Activities (05:07) The Launch of an E-Snowboard (07:14) PaddyO 's New Show On Outside Watch (13:08) The Return of Pickleball Corner (17:06) They...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Kris Hampton returns for another edition of Climbing Corner! Colin and Kris hit the following topics: The massive growth and internal politics of the climbing world within the larger human powered outdoor industry including climbing specific trade shows (01:37) Kris puts on his coach's hat and talks about climbing vs strength trai...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin laments his aging body by reflecting on the best advice he ever got from a movie. We can all agree that THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is the greatest movie of all time, right? Good. Well there is a message in that flick that is all any outdoor enthusiast needs to get out the front door at any age. When you combine Shawshank with...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin Housman talk through the following headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community from the past week. Historic paddlers, the Arctic Cowboys were charged with illegally staying on a protected island during their successful 2023 attempt to kayak the Northwest Passage (05:20) Strava's Year In Sport Repor...

Welcome back to THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) where today we will pull back the curtain on the 2023 ad that took everyone by storm: Snoop Dogg & Solo Stove Give Up Smoke! Just before this past Thanksgiving hip hop superstar Snoop Dogg informed the world that he was giving up his trademark "smoke" based persona in what turned out to be wildly successful ad for backy...

Happy New Year and welcome back to THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head). Today on the show Colin recaps his favorite adventure from 2023 to inform his approach to 2024 as he goes through the top 10 lessons he learned on his first bikepacking trip. Those lessons include things like the value of tortillas and beans, why the hotel bed still rules, don't force your kid to be outd...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the show by revisiting ...Breaking Up With Running! Check out one of the most downloaded episodes from THE ROCK FIGHT in 2023, this time with additional commentary from Colin on the anniversary of the surgery that inspired it. This is our final episode of 2023, but don't fret, 2024 is only two days away so be sure to ring in th...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the show by revisiting ...Jeep Blew It! Check out one of the most downloaded hot take's from THE ROCK FIGHT in 2023, this time with additional commentary from Colin. And then come back this weekend to revisit one more of our first year Rock Fights as we head into 2024! Please follow and subscribe to THE ROCK FIGHT and give us a...