We are thrilled to share that Kevin Ellison was just named our Kyle Brown Gearhead of the Year! Kevin Ellison has been a stellar Gearhead Expert from the get-go. Since joining the Competitive Cyclist team in May of 2022, he has exemplified the Goat Code and guiding principles in his work. Kevin is a passionate outdoor enthusiast, who always brings his stoke for the outdoors into his workday. Whether it's a day of hitting fresh powder on the slopes, or hammering out miles on the mountain bike, Kevin is all about finding the ultimate adventures, and is obsessed with empowering his customers to make every outdoor experience as awesome as possible. Not only is Kevin deeply invested in providing the white-glove service that all Gearheads strive to achieve, but he also has a genuine care in contributing to the success of his peers. When faced with new problems or challenges, Kevin is one to dive in headfirst with a problem-solver's mindset. He is all about being a part of the solution any time a new challenge arises. Kevin has also played an essential role in the training for new Gearheads that have joined the team over the last year. Between taking time out of his workday to participate in the new-hire training to ensure new team members are equipped with the knowledge they need, and the countless questions he's helped his peers answer for their customers, Kevin has invested a tremendous amount of time in helping his teammates succeed.
This year Backcountry had one of our product designs reach the finalist round at the OR Innovation Awards—The Hydration Bra created by Jodie Taylor. We didn’t win one of the OR awards this time around, but we’re incredibly proud of our Backcountry team for the accomplishment of being named a finalist. They beat out more than 100 entries to secure the finalist title this year. We can’t wait to see what comes in 2025! 🎉
🌲 July is National Parks and Recreation Month! 🌲 Tapping the top of the Grand Tetons, rafting through Canyon Lands, backpacking in Glacier—you can say we have a unique relationship with our national parks. Recreating in our beautiful places that preserve nature and our natural heritage is what we’re all about. This July, we encourage everyone to cross off a national park that’s on their list, connect with the wilderness, and get out like a Gearhead.
We're thrilled to have another spotlight on our in-house designers! 🎉 Once again, our in-house team has outdone themselves with our innovative sun shirt—the UPF 50+ Tahoe Sun Crew. Field Mag recently spotlighted the sun crew, highlighting them as one of our top-selling items. Praised for their thoughtful design and exceptional versatility, the article had nothing but good things to say about the crew. “… Backcountry’s in-house brand makes some absolutely epic apparel. The Tahoe Crew is one of our favorite crewneck sun shirts, boasting max sun protection and thoughtful details like raglan sleeves for easy movement and thumb holes to protect your hands and keep the sleeves in place.” Check out the rest of the article!
We jump at any opportunity to challenge ourselves in the great outdoors. Summer solstice is the longest day of the year, so we HAD to get outside and make an adventure out of it. Each year, employees at our Park City office chase a multi-sport workday tradition, taking breaks throughout the day to experience the fresh mountain air. The day kicked off with a pre-work dawn patrol ski session at Alta. Our midday break consisted of shredding trails on our mountain bikes behind the office. Finally, after work, we went bouldering, hiking, fishing, and camping! What did you do during the longest day of the year?
The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is on a mission to make outdoor adventures more accessible to families in underserved communities. 🏡 To open up an opportunity, the Division of Outdoor Recreation is hosting the One Utah Campout! 🌲 From June 20–22, they’re hosting a campout for 15–17 families and includes activities to teach valuable camping skills. 🏕 Backcountry is humbled to be able to donate gear such as hiking shoes, sleeping bags, tents, and more to this cause as we believe nature should be accessible and inclusive to everyone. ⭐
Herd Highlight! Today the spotlight is on our Image Editor Manager, Susanah Zomer! Q: What does the day-to-day look like for you in your current role? A: A typical day at work is a blend of high-volume productivity, creativity, and problem solving. I connect with the people I work with directly and from other roles in the organization to get things done. My team produces all image content, specs, charts, videos, special content for marketing, and much more for over 130,000 products every year! We produce best-in-class studio & model imagery. It's hard not to buy everything! Q: How have you grown and evolved since starting at Backcountry? A: I started with a small team, and it has duplicated in size and responsibilities since. I discovered that leading, coaching, and problem solving are my strengths, always with happiness and a positive vibe. I gained new skills and experiences, empowering people—I believe unleashing human potential creates better workplaces. Effective leadership is not a static trait but a constant growth, learning, and adaptation process. Q: What is your favorite part about working for Backcountry? A: I can't pick a single favorite. So, I will give you my top two: #1 The people! I love the company culture and enjoy working with everyone. #2 The work/life balance. I love my job and I spend many hours working on challenging and exciting projects, but of course I prioritize spending time with my family!
Happy Father’s Day! 👨👧👦 Here at Backcountry, we recently had our bring your kid to work day. ✨ We appreciate all the outstanding parents here in the Herd and loved having all our kids (baby goats) and their energy around the office. 🐐 We support our families by offering both paternity and maternity leave as well as discounts on gear for Backcountry kiddos. 💕 We’re stoked to encourage the next generation of outdoor adventurers! 🌲
Backcountry’s Wasatch Adventure Hydration Bra is taking center stage among some of the most cutting-edge products in the industry at the 6th Annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards. 🥇 Selected as one of this year's OR Innovation Finalists, this versatile sports bra showcases its unique design featuring pockets capable of carrying essentials like soft flasks, energy gels, phones, trekking poles, and extra layers. It's a game-changer for running and outdoor enthusiasts. 🌲 Hats off to Jodie Taylor for her incredible design! 🎉 Check out the article here!
🌎 Part 5 of Our Speaker Series 🌎 We had the honor of hosting Tim Davis, Deputy Great Salt Lake Commissioner, to discuss a critical topic for us at Backcountry: Restoring and Protecting the Great Salt Lake. Tim shared invaluable insights into the efforts to preserve this monumental resource. The Great Salt Lake has endured years of drought, significantly shrinking and posing environmental, health, and economic dangers to Utah's population and wildlife. Key issues include the disappearance of critical organisms and increased dust emissions, affecting air quality and residents' health. We were fortunate to hear Davis delve into the strategic plans to raise the lake's water levels. 💧 Learn more about the Great Salt Lake and restoration efforts here: 🔗 Great Salt Lake Information: https://lnkd.in/gv-Dpw7e 🔗 Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan: https://lnkd.in/djQURxgQ Despite some improvements due to recent high snowfall, the Great Salt Lake remains below a healthy minimum water level. As Backcountry is headquartered in Utah, we are deeply committed to supporting these conservation efforts both as a company and as individuals.
