Switchback Spring: Will It Be The Show The Outdoor Industry Needs? Plus: Is REI Going Casual?

Today on the show Colin is joined by Monday regulars Producer Dave and Eoin Comerford (who is suffering from a case of outdoor industry insider overexposure) to preview and make predictions for Switchback Spring! It was about a year ago that The Rock Fight broke the news of a new national outdoor trade show from the organizers of The Running Event and now the event is here! After hitting a quick Lightning Round of industry topics, the guys get into what they think will go down in Nashville. Here's the rundown, with time codes, for today's episode: • TARIFF WATCH 2025! What does the new trade handshake with China mean for the outdoor industry? (8:00) • According to remarks (https://shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com/news/rei-co-op-returning-to-its-values-says-ceo-mary-beth-laughton/608304/) made by REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton wants the retailer to be more welcoming to casual participants. Does this mean that REI is going to get more casual? (15:10) • Previewing Switchback Spring! What we are expecting from this new show. (27:00) • Our predictions! Colin, Eoin, and Producer Dave all make a prediction for Switchback Spring. (38:27) • The Parting Shot: Colin awards the first ever Rock Fighter of the Week to journalist Maggie Slepian (https://substack.com/@unpublishableandunedited) . Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear! (https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/nothing-but-funky) Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight (https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co) , LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com (mailto:myrockfight@gmail.com) .