Occasionally we meet people in the industry that have

a special niche product or special expertise that deserves

attention. The listings below are in no particular order,

but should be interesting to those of us that love the

outdoors.

Sunday Park

A long time employee with AAO and special friend to all of us -- Sunday has taken on a new challenge with her sister-in-law and now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together they are opening a bake shop with special attention to some lively cup cake mixes that will certainly be a big hit with the browsers that line the streets of that city. So, all of the best to Sunday in this new adventure. As she explains below, she will never be far away from the next  outdoor expedition--and there will be plenty of those opportunities in the mountains and plains of Nevada.

 -----

The outdoors is in my blood.  Growing up in California, most vacations were spent in the mountains and desert.  Not only did we love the outdoors, it was also cheap (which was an important factor).  I spent a lot of time camping with my parents, my uncles and friends.  It was what you did and where you went.  Granted, it wasn’t the ultra light kind of camping.  Think more like the extreme car camping, huge tent, cheap synthetic bag and large camping stove.  We camped in the mountains around where we lived (Mt Baldy, Big Bear, Mammoth, etc),  as well as the National Parks (Sequoia, Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Yellowstone) in the west and grew to love being outside very quickly.  Along with the mountain environment, we also spent a lot of time in the desert.  Most our time in the desert was spent dirt bike riding (yes, Brian, I rode one).  My brother got his 1^st bike at the age of 5 from my uncles who, along with my mom, grew up riding.  We would camp out with a group of friends who also rode.  In my teens, my uncles taught me to ski at Taos, NM (great place to learn).  Being surrounded by people that enjoyed the outdoors helped develop that love. 

Fast forward a few years when I moved to Chicago.  A friend of mine knew that I was looking for a job and he worked at Erehwon Mountain Outfitters.  I loved the concept of the store and applied and was hired full-time.  One of my first clinics was Marmot.  After learning about the company and the line, I made myself a promise that if the opportunity ever arose to become a Marmot rep that I would take it, never believing that it would happen.  At Erehwon, I was a key holder at 2 of the locations then was asked to move to another location to become the assistant manager.  After a while as the assistant manager, I moved to the corporate office to become a buying assistant.  After some changes at Erehwon, I became a full fledged buyer for Climbing, Camping Accessories and Gifts.  I was also known as the “Junk Drawer Buyer” (thank you Joanne).  Since I was the Climbing Buyer, I had numerous encounters with Brian as he was the rep for lines that I worked with.

In Fall 2005, Marmot became available.  As you know, Brian applied for, and got Marmot.  After talking to him about the line and his need for more reps, I kept hearing a little voice in my head saying over and over that I promised myself that if this opportunity ever came up, I would take it.  I had been with Erehwon for 6 years and loved my job!  It was very much like a family and giving that up was one of the hardest decisions I have made.  It has made the transition to being a rep an easier one.  Since becoming a rep in January 2006, I have never regretted my decision and look forward to seeing where this takes me. 

In December 2006, I moved to Des Moines after realizing that I was not home enough to justify paying the rent on an apartment in Chicago and moved into the AAO HQ (a.k.a. The Commune, The Lair, etc) and now have a great place to come home to and unwind and listen to the frog outside my window. 

Jim & Mat

Safe Tree Hunt Systems

8446 Allen Road

Clarkston, MI  48348

Phone: 248-408-8117

Email:  safetreehunt@yahoo.com

    The safety rope climbing system that Jim & Mat have developed

    is truly outstanding--and will help all of those hunters out there

    avoid injury. "If you hunt from a tree, chances are better than

    1 out of 3 that you will fall." Most falls occur either going up or

    coming down. This means that if the only protection is a safety

    belt after reaching the stand--that hunter is only protecting

    against 15% of the likely falls. Click on these links to download

    important PDF files with more information:

                Safety Rope Steps

                Safe Tree Hunt System Kits

Walt Wehner

WaltWorks Custom Bicycles

Boulder, Colorado

Phone: 303-359-9392

FAX:    303-568-0018

Web:   www.waltworks.com

Email: walt@waltworks.com

    Welcome to Waltworks Custom Bicycles!  

    You'll find all kinds of cool info about 

    why you should get a custom frame or fork.

    These are handcrafted steel (ONLY steel)

    bikes from beautiful Boulder, Colorado.

    Whether you don't fit well on stock frames, want something

    unique, or just love high quality steel bikes, this is the place!

    Please browse through the links to find out more about Walt

    and his bikes. For all bicycle inquiries, please contact Walt

    directly (yes, he really is that handsome)

    Here is a picture of the bike that

    Walt built for Brian Block to ride

    in the Susitna 100 (Alaska race)

Other Links to Walt:

        http://www.waltworks.com/dev/philosophy/index.php

        http://www.waltworks.com/dev/gallery/index.php

GU Sports
Attn: Marketing Dept.
1221 8th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
 

p 510.527.4664
f 510.527.4199

Web:  www.gusports.com

Email: contact@gusports.com

    Back in 1994 GU Sports brought out America's first energy

    gel and forever changed the way athletes fueled their bodies

    during sport. GU and GU20 are the best products available for your

    body during exercise. Thousands of athletes from around the world will

    attest. If you use these products, they want to know about it.

    Use the Contact Form to report your experience.

        http://www.gusports.com/html/products.htm

        http://www.gusports.com/html/gu_story.htm

Life Time Fitness  (corporate headquarters)
6442 City West Parkway
Eden Prairie, MN  55344
Ph: 952-947-0000
www.lifetimefitness.com

Life Time Fitness offers you the most complete health and fitness experience with quality and value you can feel great about -- whether you want to maintain your general health, nurture your family's fitness or develop your competitive edge. Visit our centers and you'll find them inviting, friendly and with something for everyone.

Click here to find a fitness center near you.

Guestbook Comments:

http://www.bzkneez.com/guestbook.htm

Photo Gallery:

http://www.bzkneez.com/gallery.htm

-- Midnight Sun Adventure Company

                                   Duluth, MN

High-profile athletes take entrepreneurial plunge OUTDOOR FUN: Owners, including an Olympic biathlete, will soon open an adventure venture in the old Endion Station in Canal Park. BY CHRIS HAMILTON NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Lake Superior will become much less intimidating to locals and tourists alike if the owners of a new Duluth business have their way. Canal Park's historic Endion Station soon will house a year-round, guided-fun and outdoor retail business called Midnight Sun Adventure Co. The small group of local owners includes Kara Salmela -- a two-time Olympic biathlete -- and will offer Duluth-area tours for sea kayaking, rock climbing, Nordic skiing and other adrenaline-inducing activities. "We didn't want to come across as just a store. We're selling an outdoor lifestyle," said co-owner Chad Salmela. "We also feel really adamant about being a part of the community. We want, in a beautiful setting, to provide people with the vehicle to get out and shake hands with their environment a little more." The plan is to open by Memorial Day and host a grand opening to coincide with Grandma's Marathon weekend June 18-19. Midnight Sun will have a running focus as well, offering shoes and lots of clothing, along with its array of climbing gear, skis, kayaks, dry suits and maybe a few surfboards. It will be a portal to the lake and greater outdoors, Chad Salmela said. People want to experience Lake Superior, but often are too intimidated or don't know how to get started, he said. Guides will take customers on ski trips up frozen rivers, to climb natural rock walls in Duluth Heights and on the Munger Trail and to kayak in the Duluth harbor and off Palisade Head, near Tettegouche State Park. Their trips, featuring all new equipment, will include safety lessons and last from two hours to all day. Prices run from $35 for a harbor kayak rental to $165 for a climb and kayak package up the North Shore. The company will host a weekly running and kayak club on Tuesday evenings, when anyone can try kayaks without cost. The store has five partners: Cory and Kara Salmela, Cory's brother Chad Salmela and friends Siiri and Peder Morse. Aside from Kara Salmela, the group has some hefty experience in high-level competition. Chad Salmela is a former U.S. National Team biathlete and worked for the U.S. Athletes Advisory Council at the Athens Summer Games. Cory Salmela was head coach of the U.S. Junior Biathalon Team from 1997 through 2002. Peder and Siiri Morse were NCAA cross-country racers, and Siiri coached at St. Olaf and Carleton colleges. They both worked in sports retail as well. The group has hired local adventurers to work as their guides. Cory and Chad are the sons of David Salmela, the world-renowned architect. The elder Salmela helped them settle on the classic brownstone, and designed the displays and cabinets. A midnight sun literally is when the sun is visible all night during the summer solstice in the Arctic or Antarctic circles. The name is part homage to a store Siiri's parents once owned and to their shared Scandinavian roots, Chad Salmela said. The company's inspiration is Piragis Northwoods Co. in Ely, which outfits for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness trips, has an extensive catalog and organizes paddle vacations around the globe. "We would someday love to do what Piragis does as far as the international trips go," Chad Salmela said. "But that will have to wait for now. Let's get open and stay open first." Their main worry is attracting customers to an area that attracts little to no drive-by traffic in the off-season. Kara Salmela said compared to gutting out a biathalon -- which is known to be one of sports' toughest games -- the retail business should be cake. "I don't think this will make me cry," she said.