Budweiser Hires Eric Jackson as Spokesman

Budweiser American Ale signed Olympian and four-time world freestyle kayaking champion Eric Jackson as an ambassador for the brand. Jackson also founded and owns Jackson Kayak.

Beginning in 2010, Jackson will be featured in Budweiser American Ale print and point-of-sale marketing, and the brand will have a presence at professional kayaking events throughout the year. Budweiser American Ale also will work with Jackson to host private training sessions, offering both experienced and novice kayakers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to learn from the most successful competitive kayaker in history.

“Kayakers and Budweiser American Ale fans share a lot in common; they dare to venture off the beaten path, savor novel experiences and knew they were on to something special the first time they tried it,” said Marianne Radley, Budweiser American Ale Brand Manager. “Eric Jackson is a pioneer and innovator in kayaking, moving the sport in new directions during his 20-plus year career. His unmatched success and dedication has redefined kayaking, making him an ideal fit for Budweiser American Ale, a beer that redefined the American-style ale.”

McAfee Knob – Appalachian Trail – Roanoke, VA

Urban Snowball Fight Sunday – Roanoke, VA

December 18, 2009 – The creative team who brought Bouncy Ball New Year, The No-So-Naked Bike Ride, Super-Soaker Sunday and the Urban Pillow Fight to Roanoke – are at it again.  Stephanie Koehler of SAKinterMedia along with Beth Deel & Wendy Schuyler of myScoper.com announced they will attempt to pull off The Worlds Largest Urban Snowball Fight at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke Sunday at High noon.

“The University of Wisconsin recently staged a battle with 2,000 people,” says Beth Deel.  “We need to get people out so we can beat the record and put Roanoke on the map!”

The battle already has a significant following on Facebook and is featured on the Virginia State Tourism website.  The creative trio of Roanoke businesswomen recently announced plans for a giant marshmallow battle on New Year’s Day that has also been picked up by Virginia.org.

“This is exactly the kind of thing that helps us recruit people to the region,” said Wirt Confroy, Partnership Marketing Outreach Director Partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation.  “We are thrilled with what they are up to!”

The group also announced plans to build a giant igloo and invited kids to come build a community of snowmen.

“We have always known Roanoke had a unique and rich cultural base,” says Wendy Schuyler.  “We are just excited to see so many others join in on the fun!”

What: The World’s Largest Urban Snowball Fight
Who: Everyone of all ages!
When: Sunday, December 20, 2009 at High Noon
Where: Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke

LightLane Bike Light

For cities that don’t have bike lanes to keep riders safe — especially at night — LightLane is a company trying to rectify the problem. The company is designing a rear bike light that creates a laser-lit virtual bike lane that goes where you go.

It’s in the prototype phase now. When complete, the light will attach to your bike’s seat post and shine a green laser to the left and right behind you as you ride, providing a five-foot-wide, 12-foot-long moving bike lane.

Besides the green bike lane lasers, the product has traditional red LEDs to help alert drivers you’re there. The light runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery said to last three hours on a charge.

There’s no timeline as to when the LightLane bike light will be available, but the company has a targeted retail price of between $80 and $100. www.lightlanebike.com

—Ryan Dionne

Weekend Recommendations Dec. 18- Jan. 3

Happy Holidays from Roanoke Outside and the Roanoke Regional Partnership.

The Get OUTSIDE team will be taking a holiday break and will return January 7 with some big news!

Have a Happy Holiday and New Year!

In the mean time check out this awesome mountain bike video of monument trail courtesy of Roanoke’s very own singletrackreview.com

Copenhagen’s Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets Video

This video shows you what is truly possible with regards to bicycle transportation – my hat goes off to Copenhagen!

Copenhagen’s Climate-Friendly, Bike-Friendly Streets by Elizabeth Press

Tens of thousands of people from nearly every nation on earth have descended on Copenhagen this month for the UN climate summit. As the delegates try to piece together a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they’re also absorbing lessons from one of the world’s leading cities in sustainable transportation. In Copenhagen, fully 37 percent of commute trips are made by bike, and mode share among city residents alone is even higher.

Come see “the busiest bicycling street in the Western world”, and lots of other you-gotta-see-them-to-believe-them features including bike counters (featuring digital readouts), LEDS, double bike lanes (for passing) and giant hot pink cars.

Copenhagen wasn’t always such a bicycling haven. It took many years of investment in bike infrastructure to reclaim streets from more polluting, less sustainable modes. Last week, I was able to squeeze in a whirl-wind tour with Mikael Colville-Andersen, the bike culture evangelist behind Copenhagenize and Copenhagen Cycle Chic, to get a taste of the city’s impressive bike network and cycling amenities. Watch this video and see how Copenhageners flock to the streets by bike even in December, when average temperatures hover just above freezing.

Coolest Snowboard Ever!

As if shredding the mountain on a resin snowboard wouldn’t turn enough heads, try doing it on a clear resin board. Makboard, a new player in the snowsports market, touts this odd creation as an affordable, “high-performing” snowboard option that also helps keep waste out of landfills.

Makboard in action

The $300 snowboard — which has no metal edges, weighs 9 pounds, and comes in one size only, 157cm — is made of makrolon, a super tough polymer resin that’s reportedly used in fighter jet cockpit canopies, bulletproof windows, goggle lenses and helmets. The material happens to be 100 percent recyclable, to boot.

The back of the board has two holes that, besides throwing snow in a rooster tail, are said to reduce drag, increase speed and provide stability. With a mildly shaped tri-hull design, the Makboard is built primarily for powder and soft corduroy.

The Makboard, which is made in the USA, is currently available for $300. www.makboard.com

—Ryan Dionne

Virginias vs. Carolinas: Which offers superior outdoor adventure?

Vote Here>>> and let us know!

Check out what other people have written about the two areas. I think you will be surprised!

Go Virginia!

Here is an excerpt from what one person wrote:

Jared Surasky-

“I thought so hard about this I got a headache! I have lived in Charleston SC, Asheville NC, and Charlottesville VA and I have to say that all are uniquely amazing when it comes to the outdoors. I have seen sunsets kayaking in the Ace Basin that would make your cry, hiked all over Western NC and seen beautiful things that would inspire a simple man to think profound thoughts (not that I’m simple), and climbed all over West Virginia, which is an endless playground of challenging routes! So, which is the best? I guess I will just have to be comfortable knowing that I won’t ever be able to answer that question. I can’t wait to see the results from this poll though!”

PureBot Water Bottle- Gear Review

From SIGG water bottles to baby products, the great BPA (Bisphenol-A) debate is raging right now. But fewer people are aware of another plastic unpleasantry known as EA. That stands for estrogenic activity, and it refers to any chemical that either blocks or mimics estrogen in the human body.

According to some researchers, nearly all plastic bottles leach an EA chemical, which are cited in studies to alter human growth rates, change behavior patterns, reduce sperm count, increase cancer rates and do other ugly things.

Hydrapak has partnered with an outfit called PlastiPure to create the PureBot, a sports bottle launched in November that is touted as EA-free.

Hydrapak PureBot

The PureBot does not contain Bisphenol-A or EA chemicals. Besides being free of two highly debated compounds, the Hydrapak PureBot is a normal 24-ounce bike water bottle with a large screw top lid. It’s currently available for $10. www.pure-bot.com

—Ryan Dionne

Outside Magazine TV

The Resorts Sports Network, a channel known for cool action sports videos, Glen Plake’s “Reel Thrills” and atrocious local ads in ski towns around the nation, is going bye-bye. On June 1, 2010, the network will debut as the Outside Television Network. The new channel will be a collaboration between RSN and Outside magazine.

The RSN network currently reaches 61 million viewers annually and is distributed to 110 destinations, according to a press release. Mark Burchill, the CEO of RSN, said “this is an amazing opportunity to collaborate on content and translate the [magazine] brand into television.” He added, “Expect to see the network more widely distributed, with a host of new programming additions.”

Outside Television Network’s content will bring to television many of Outside’s popular special reports, including Best Towns, Best Jobs, Trips of the Year, Best Gear and the Outside Buyer’s Guide. But the big question: Will Outside’s “Gear Junkie Scoop” get its own half-hour on air? Tune in this June to see.

—Stephen Krcmar