CriticalPoint Capital (CPC)-controlled JackRabbit last week acquired certain assets and liabilities of the 45-year-old, family-owned Olympia Sports chain for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes Olympia’s online presence and the Olympia Sports brand. (Read More)
Nike is making waves in long-distance running with its advanced VaporFly concept. Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon barrier with a time of 1:59:40 in a specially-tailored event in Vienna, Austria on Saturday, a day before Kenyan Brigid Kosegi broke a 16-year record at the Chicago Marathon (2:14.04) in a women’s version of Nike’s new NEXT% marathon shoe. (Read More)
Jeff Garabedian, head of global performance running apparel for New Balance, discusses the brand’s third year as the race’s official footwear and apparel sponsor. He also touches on trail running, the use of reflectives in running apparel and the brand’s overall approach to its key race properties, which also include the London Marathon, Nagoya, Japan Women’s Marathon and Shanghai, China Half Marathon.
Under Armour and Samsung have jointly launched the Galaxy Watch Active2 Under Armour Edition (MSRP $309.99-$329.99). Designed for runners, the watch is built to help runners track and improve both their fitness and form, with features such as cadence-based, real-time form coaching and access to UA’s MapMyRun fitness community. (Read More)
With fewer than 80 days until Christmas and 85 days until 2020, the upcoming holiday season took center stage for athletic and outdoor brands last week via the release of semi-annual research and a first-ever seasonal fashion show from Dick’s Sporting Goods in New York City’s Chelsea district. (Read More)
Patagonia is offering 61 styles of its 100-percent, waterproof shells made with recycled materials and sewn in Fair Trade Certified factories in a collection dubbed Shell Yeah! The company says it will get to carbon neutrality across its entire business by 2025 by using more recycled fabrics as it does here. (Read More)
California college athletes in the state will be allowed to profit from the use of their names, images and likenesses under legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom. But the state law is expected to face legal challenges, most significantly from the NCAA. (Read More)