BIC Sport today announced its sponsorship of the REI Outessa Summit, outdoor weekend getaways for women which offers authentic outdoor adventures led by professional athletes and guides. In its inaugural year, the two weekends will be held at Kirkwood Resort near Lake Tahoe, California, from August 19 to 21, and Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City, Utah from September 9 to 11. Registration is now open to the public.

As part of the partnership BIC Sport will offer participants on-water and off-water Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) instruction and SUP Yoga sessions with BIC SUP ambassadors Casi Rynkowski, Julie Roach, Jodelle Fitzwater and Anna Levesque.

“We have an incredibly talented and passionate group of women ambassadors who help us develop our product range as well as promote the sport and our brand on a daily basis”, said Chris Decerbo, VP of Sales & Marketing at BIC Sport. “This is an ideal venue for them to share their Stand Up Paddle expertise while inspiring and empowering women to get out on the water.”

“Through the REI Outessa Summit, we are offering women the opportunity to try something new and experience some unforgettable outdoor adventures,” said Julia Stamps Mallon, co-founder and VP business development of Eventus Outdoors, the company behind REI Outessa Summit. “We are excited that BIC Sport has partnered with us to offer Stand Up Paddleboard instruction and activities both on and off the water.”

These weekends boast flexibility and variety since each attendee can customize her schedule, although choosing classes might be the biggest challenge as more than 200 options exist. Camping, backpacking, kayaking, outdoor cooking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, rock climbing, yoga, hiking and trail running are some of the offered activities.

Mallon added, “After three days, Outessa women will find inspiration in their peers as well as in their own new-found abilities. We want them to connect with the outdoors and each other during these unforgettable weekends.”

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About BIC Sport
Founded in 1979 by the Bich family, of BIC pen fame, BIC Sport grew from the family’s passion for watersports and expertise in sustainable manufacturing. BIC’s core values of quality, durability and affordability form the foundation of BIC Sport’s reputation, and have opened the world of watersports to hundreds of thousands of watersport enthusiasts. The company’s manufacturing facility, based on the Brittany coast in France, has long been focused for environmental awareness, with specific achievements in reduced energy consumption, resources conservation, no polluting emissions, and certain products which are 100% recyclable. These efforts, plus attention to social conditions for its workforce, have been recognized with numerous awards such as EcoRide Gold certification by EuroSIMA. BIC Sport products are available in over 90 countries through its direct subsidiaries, or independent distributors, servicing over 5000 retail and on-water locations.

About REI Outessa Summit
REI Outessa Summit events are custom-tailored outdoor weekend getaways for women offering immersive outdoor experiences, hands-on product trials, and education from professional athletes and expert guides. The first two events will be held at Kirkwood Resort near Lake Tahoe, CA from August 19 to 21, and Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City, Utah from September 9 to 11. The event series was created by Eventus Outdoors in a collaboration with REI, the national specialty outdoor retailer. Additional sponsors include: prAna, Osprey,
Cannondale, BIC SUP, Petzl, Big Agnes, ENO, ORU Kayaks, Salomon, Trigger Point, Taylor Maid Farms, Stance, Goal Zero, GCI Outdoors, Nuun, Laugnitas, Smarty Pants, Amy’s Kitchen, ProBar, GoMacro, Clif, Picky Bar, Honey Stinger, Hint, World Peas, Rinse and Dirty Gourmet.