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— Why Colorado doesn't deserve the Outdoor Retailer show — Gretchen Bleiler | For High Country News
"I grew up snowboarding in two of the best states for the sport: Colorado and Utah. The world-class ski mountains in these neighboring states were key factors that allowed me to represent our country in two Olympics and numerous X Games. But today, I have to own up to disappointment with these places I love so much. Now, the two rivals for terrain and powder are competing again. This time, though, unless something changes, it's a race to the bottom about who can be more environmentally backwards.
"In Utah, despite exploding use of public land for recreation, top elected officials want to eliminate or reduce in size the newly created Bears Ears National Monument, financially starve federal land-management agencies and transfer public lands to state ownership to prioritize extractive uses. As a result, Peter Metcalf, the former CEO of Utah-based Black Diamond Equipment, and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard called for the Outdoor Retailer trade show to move to another state. In what became a master class in how to wield power, the show, which brings in $45 million to the local economy, will leave the state for good. Clearly, Utah, where elected officials are so unfriendly to the very natural resources that are the source of the outdoor industry's profit, doesn't deserve the show. So where should it go?
"Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper told the Denver Post that the gear show ought to come to his state. Indeed, Colorado is friendlier to public lands than Utah is. Hickenlooper launched an initiative to improve public-land access statewide, as well as a $100 million plan to develop trails across the state.
"But Colorado doesn't necessarily deserve the show, either. ..."
Gretchen Bleiler is a contributor to Writers on the Range, the opinion service of High Country News. She is an Olympic silver medalist and four-time X Games gold medalist who lives in Aspen, Colorado, and serves on the board of Protect Our Winters.
— Outdoor Retailer show might be too big for Reno, still possible — The Reno Gazette-Journal
— Montana considers options to lure outdoor retailer expo — Klamath Falls (Ore.) Herald and News