Atlas Snow Shoe Company Partners with Women's Sports Foundation

Atlas announced that all a portion of all sales of the womens' Atlas Elektra snowshoes will benefit the Women's Sports Foundation. The Women's Sports Foundation was founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King and is a charitable educational organization dedicated to ensuring equal access to participation and leadership opportunities for all girls and women in fitness and sports.

International Snowshoe Association Issues Apparel Recommendations

"The combination of snowshoeing categorized as an aerobic activity occurring in varying degrees of cold weather, makes it important to be prepared for a variety of temperatures. Layering is the best method of dressing for snowshoeing. It allows for the regulation of core body temperature.

The following is a recommended list of layers:

Base layer: moisture-wicking and lightweight, avoid cotton garments.

Second layer: insulating, lightweight fleece or wool is ideal.

Outer layer: windproof and waterproof/water-resistant, breathable.

Other highly recommended items include snowshoe gaiters, which protect the feet from getting wet, gloves, wool or fleece hat and a scarf. All these items help to further conserve body heat."

Tubbs Snowshoes Bear Hug Binding Wins Plastic Design Award

Designed and engineered by Helix Design Inc. for the Tubbs Snowshoe Company, the Bear Hug Binding has earned the Industrial Designers Society of America and Plastics News Design Award. Design judges noted the Tubbs Snow Shoe binding fit its intended use well and completely eliminates the mass of buckles and straps common to most bindings that connect snowshoes to boots.

Atlas Snowshoes Leads Innovation with 10 Patents

Snowshoes technology innovator, Atlas Snow-Shoe Company announced it has a total of ten patents issued to date with numerous pending. The most significant include the following:

HEEL CLEAT - PATENT No. 5,440,827
The first patent that revolutionized snowshoe performance and created an industry standard. The heel cleat adds stability and traction for climbing, descending and traversing various terrain. Found on all Atlas models.

CONTOURED FOOTBED No. 5,687,491
An innovation that significantly increases performance and adds comfort. The contoured footbed cradles the ball of the snowshoer's foot, locates optimum foot placement in the snow shoe binding and helps prevent slippage. Found on the Atlas 8, 10,12 and Dual-Trac models.

SWITCHBACK HARNESS - PATENT No. 5,918,387
Injection-molded from high-tensile polyurethane separately for the right and left foot, the snow shoe binding comfortably wraps the arch and ball of the foot while the switchback webbing eliminates pressure points for warmer feet. The switchback patent design is included on the 7,8,10 and Dual-Trac models.

SPRING-LOADED BINDINGS - PATENT No.5,699,630
A revolutionary binding that is the only snowshoe binding that allows natural footing on uneven terrain. The binding system limits snow shoe rotation and provides better maneuverability. This is the only binding that allows the ankle to rotate side to side while eliminating heel twist. Winner of the American Alpine Institute Guide’s Choice Award, it is featured on the 10,12 and Dual-Trac models.

HEEL CLEAT - PATENT No. 5,918,388
A redesign of the original patent to create greater transfer between the snowshoer's heel and the heel cleat, increasing stability and reduces snow build-up. Standard on all snowshoe models.

Tubbs Snowshoes Partners with Excel and Launches Nordic Snowshoeing Program for Fitness and Winter Crosstraining in Japan and Europe

TUBBS SNOWSHOES PRESS RELEASE
The world’s leading snowshoe manufacturer, Tubbs Snowshoes and Finnish-based Exel have joined together to create a winter fitness pilot program for snowshoeing in Europe and Japan for the 2004-05 season.

Nordic Snowshoeing is the latest addition to the total body workout activities of Exel’s Nordic Fitness Sports concept. Similar to Nordic Walking, Nordic Snowshoeing combines The Tubbs lightweight, ergonomically tapered snowshoes with Exel’s special T5 pole, a light and durable composite pole with quick-release snowshoe-basket, particularly well suited for fresh, deep powder snow conditions in conjunction with an on –snow workout program to enhance year round fitness.

The Tubbs Nordic snowshoes are available in two sizes for women and men, feature the patented Quick Draw™ binding, designed to accommodate winter cross training footwear, aluminum toe and heel crampons for sure-footed traction, and durable, maintenance free decking for lightweight performance. Tubbs Nordic snowshoes have a fixed toe cord design for maximum efficiency and training effectiveness.

Exel’s Nordic Fitness Sports™ concept offers snow shoe enthusiasts a fun and easy way to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. The Nordic Fitness Sports™ concept informs people of the health benefits that are related to various forms of controlled and effective exercise. Emphasis is put on how consumers may use different activities of Nordic Fitness Sports™ to reach personal goals whether weight control, physical fitness or more endurance-related training.

Exel’s Nordic Fitness Sports™ comprehensive concept has been developed in conjunction with the fitness professionals and the medical community. It includes new and innovative products, clear directions, fitness programming, and most of all, an active and trendy year-around life style.“The main emphasis is the aerobic benefits that come from snowshoeing with poles, with an underlying emphasis on the outdoor, playful nature of the activity,” said Aki Karihtala, Senior Vice President, Sports Division, Exel plc. “It’s ideal for walkers, runners and cyclists looking for a way to stay fit during the winter months,” said Karihtala.

The Tubbs/Exel Nordic Snowshoe program will be piloted in Finland, Norway, Germany and Japan in 2004-05, in conjuction with Exel’s Nordic Fitness Sports™ trainers. Beginning with a low-intensity tour, the fitness programs may evolve from workouts on an adventure-style course to interval training on hills that can burn upwards of 700 calories per workout.

K2 Inc. Acquires Tubbs & Atlas Snowshoes Brands

K2 Inc. has announced that it acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of WinterQuest LLC, a privately held winter sports company that was founded in 1906, which is the leading marketer and manufacturer of snowshoes through its Tubbs and Atlas brands, with the #1 and #2 market shares respectively. The purchase price wa a combination of K2 common stock and cash, plus the assumption of debt. For the year ended March 31, 2003, WinterQuest generated total sales of $18.6 million.

"WinterQuest is a great fit for our K2 winter products group," said Richard J. Heckmann, chairman and chief executive officer of K2 Inc. "This is another #1 brand that complements our existing leadership position in winter sports, and Tubbs Snow Shoes is truly the authentic historical brand in snowshoeing. Winter aerobics has had dramatic growth over the past several years, with an estimated 6 million active participants in snowshoeing in the U.S. alone."

"The last several years have been an exciting time for WinterQuest as we have played a formative role in the development of snowshoeing as a mainstream recreational activity," said Ed Kiniry, the chief executive officer of Atlas and Tubbs parent company WinterQuest. "We believe that K2 Sports is the perfect partner for WinterQuest in the future given its dedication to winter sports, and its powerful manufacturing, distribution and marketing capabilities."