BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The inaugural Press Camp event went without a hitch, attracting top bike journalists to a Rockies ski resort which is supremely bike-friendly. Despite the first three weeks of June being a wash-out, the skies were blue in Sun Valley for the duration of Press Camp.
Organiser Lance Camisasca – the organiser of Interbike for 12 years – said the 19 represented brands had one-on-one time with the 20 journalists.
"What made it so magical was it was intimate," said Camisasca, talking at a lively end-of-show party hosted by Smith Optics.
The brands at Press Camp included Blue Competition Cycles, BMC Racing, Cannondale Sports Group (including Cannondale, GT, Mongoose, Schwinn, and Sugoi), Delta 7 Sports, DT Swiss, Gore Bike Wear, Gore RideOn Cables, Lazer Helmets, Pedro’s, Saris Cycling Group, Scott USA, and Smith Optics.
Journalists attended from bicycle magazines but also mainstream magazines such as Wired and Outside.
Camisasca said next year’s event would also be held in or close to the third week of June.
"It’s perfect time. July is a train wreck [with other events]; any earlier in June and suppliers would find it difficult to get samples."
Camisasca said Sun Valley resort couldn’t be faulted, but there’s no guarantee Press Camp would be held in the same location in 2010.
"The riding was epic, the scenery was beautiful, the resort was very accomodating. But, to keep the event fresh for editors, we might want to switch locations."
There will be a full report on Press Camp in the next print edition of BikeBiz. Click here for a YouTube video of some of the "epic" riding which took place at the 2009 Press Camp.
