Global Rescue medically evacuates U.S. Ski Team racer after crash
November 30, 2009
Global Rescue has medically evacuated injured U.S Ski Team downhiller TJ Lanning from Calgary, Alberta, to Vail, Colorado, after a crash that left the skier with a dislocated knee and a fractured vertebra in his neck. Lanning was transported to Vail by a medically equipped Lear jet. The Olympic hopeful caught an edge in the opening downhill and fell face-first before tumbling several times into the netting lining the trail. The crash occurred in the fastest section of the course where skiers have been clocked at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour. He was airlifted off of the mountain and taken to the Foothills Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured C5 vertebra and a dislocated patella. Lanning elected to recover at the Vail Valley Medical Center. Global Rescue is an emergency services company that provides best-in-class medical, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue and security services to individuals, corporations, travelers and expeditions worldwide. The company’s... Read More →
Member Press Releases Travel & Outdoor GearExOfficio Launches Innovative Outerwear for Fall 2010
November 25, 2009
Creating Layering Solutions that Utilize Cutting Edge Technology Tukwila, WA – ExOfficio, a leading manufacturer of adventure travel apparel, has launched a new line of outerwear that utilizes Primaloft One and Polartec Wind Pro. Keeping the meandering adventurer in mind, ExOfficio outerwear is engineered for travel, adventure and the ultimate performance while outdoors. This logical layering system works together to achieve the ultimate warmth and functionality. Focusing on durability and versatility, these pieces provide varied solutions for outdoor layering. Storm Logic™ (MSRP: $120-$150) Innovative Outerwear Utilizing PrimaLoft® One for Lightweight Insulation How It Works PrimaLoft One absorbs 3x less water, is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet than the competitive insulation. This slightly puffy collection is engineered with specially treated ultra-fine fibers to form a water resistant insulating structure. Wind Logic™ (MSRP: $95-$149) Innovative Fleece Collection... Read More →
Media BuzzNat Geo Traveler Rates Norway The Best Destination in The World
November 24, 2009
Recently, Norway was rated by National Geographic Traveler as the Best Destination in the World. “If you have only a vague sense of Norway as fjords, cruise ships, snowflake sweaters, and dried fish, it’s long past time to update the internal wiki. Norway, as the talented cover blurb writers at National Geographic Adventure recently put it, is “Europe’s Next Adrenaline Capital”. In fact, Norway will blow you away with its beauty, its open space, and, most of all, its potential for adventure”, writes photographer & writer Steve Casimiro. Read his article “Looking For Your Next Adventure? Here’s 15 Reasons Why Norway Rocks“, as published on The Adventure Life. Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityVirgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards Recognizes Rivers Fiji For It’s Preservation of Cultural Heritage Practices
November 24, 2009
Angels Camp, California – Rivers Fiji, an O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) affiliate organization, has been highly commended in the “Preservation of Cultural Heritage” category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. Rivers Fiji, a whitewater rafting and multi-sport outfitter committed to sustainable tourism practices in the Fiji Islands, was selected as one of the top 35 companies out of more than 2000 nominations worldwide. The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world. They are a collaboration of the online travel directory responsibletravel.com, UK media partners Telegraph Travel and Geographical Magazine and World Travel Market (WTM). WTM hosted the awards ceremony earlier this month. The central tenet of the awards is that all types of tourism can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. Rivers Fiji is the result of one of many... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesCalgary Couple Launch African Queen Tours
November 23, 2009
Calgary – It was almost exactly ten years ago that an ordinary Calgary woman set off to do some extraordinary things. And for freelance writer Maureen Magee, extraordinary events have now become part of everyday life. In 1999 Magee was writing a series of travel articles for the Calgary Herald. Then adventure beckoned in the form of a film-making friend, Doug Spencer. Spencer had been filming a series of documentaries about “ordinary women doing extraordinary things” (OFF THE MAP, Gorica Productions). He had previously filmed Magee in the Canadian Arctic – now he was off to Ethiopia…it was an offer she couldn’t refuse. “Ethiopia was just supposed to be another quickie adventure, and then I would come back home to Calgary,” says Magee (now Demissie). But the ‘quickie adventure’ turned into a life-altering affair. “I fell in love with Ethiopia. I fell in love with my guide Mageru and within two months, I said good bye to Calgary and moved to Addis Ababa. I knew immediately... Read More →
Member Press Releases Spotlight: SustainabilityNational Geographic CSD Partners With Hurtigruten In Geotourism
November 23, 2009
New York, NY – National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) and Norwegian coastal liner Hurtigruten have signed a cooperation agreement to safeguard and enhance Hurtigruten’s unique destinations along the Norwegian coast — known as some of best destinations in the world. “Hurtigruten is unique in the world. With Hurtigruten you are really a part of Norway, part of a Norwegian tradition — the crew is Norwegian, the food and experience is Norwegian. Hurtigruten is uniquely identified with the country in which it operates. That’s not true with conventional cruiseliners,” says Jonathan Tourtellot, National Geographic CSD Director. The cooperation agreement has been established with the intent to help Hurtigruten to become even better — following a code of good practices. Hurtigruten has served the passengers, the ports and the Norwegian coast since 1893 bringing freight and passengers between 34 daily ports of call year round. This... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesSupport and Track the Snow Leopard
November 23, 2009
World Big Cat Safaris, the privately-owned specialist safari-company, has launched a pioneering 15-day trip to Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya, in search of the rare snow leopard. The trip, for a group of up to 9 travellers, begins in Delhi on February 15 2010 and is priced from £2,950pp (2 sharing) or £3,600 for solo travellers. Leading the group is Dr Yash Veer Bhatnagar, director of The Snow Leopard Trust and a world authority on the rarest and most beautiful of wild cats. The time of year and the location offer the best chance to see the critically endangered snow leopard, of which 4000 – 7500 are estimated to live in the mountain regions of Central Asia. In winter months they move to lower altitudes in pursuit of prey, and the Ladakh region sees the highest number of sightings. Other wildlife likely to be seen by the group includes Golden Eagle, Argali (impressively horned wild sheep), Bharal (blue sheep), Red Fox and Tibetan Magpie. On arrival in Dehli (international flights... Read More →
Fifty “Eco-Friendly” Ways to Experience the Unforgettable Nature of an O.A.R.S. Adventure
November 23, 2009
Angels Camp, California – O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists), announced today the release of their 2010 full-color catalog featuring “50 ways to experience the unforgettable nature of an O.A.R.S. adventure.” Recognized by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth,” O.A.R.S. has been a leader in the whitewater rafting and adventure travel industry for 40 years. The California-based, eco-conscious organization provides exceptional whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, hiking and multi-sport adventures throughout the western U.S., Canada, Latin America and Fiji. Beyond the stunning photography and the robust selection of nature-based adventures, what is most remarkable about the new O.A.R.S. catalog is the company’s demonstrated commitment to reducing their impact on the environment. This year O.A.R.S. downsized their print run and reduced the number of pages in their catalog in favor of better paper rather than more paper and... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesThe Goal Is Life: &Beyond Scores for Positive Health
November 23, 2009
“The Goal is Life” is a one of a kind wellness programme developed by &Beyond to inspire staff and local communities to have a goal to work towards, and in doing so, to promote physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Working closely with World Wide Sports and both African and international football legends, staff take part in tournaments and workshops at their safari camps and lodges across the continent and are encouraged to make healthy living choices. There are 21 &Beyond soccer teams from seven African countries taking part in “The Goal is Life” challenge, with the overall winner receiving the ultimate honour of winning tickets to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 to see their heroes in action. Football is a global phenomenon and language, loved by millions of people. &Beyond has tapped into the fierce passion that both their staff and communities share for the game, encouraging them to realise their abilities and talents. To win a game of football, you have... Read More →
Member Press Releases&Beyond Making a Positive Difference to Health
November 23, 2009
In addition to its founding values of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People, &Beyond strongly believes in promoting the wellbeing of its staff and the local communities. Launched in 2003, ‘Positively &Beyond’ is an initiative designed to train &Beyond staff to counsel and care for people with life-threatening diseases, including HIV/Aids. The programme is run by Neil Orr, a research psychologist, and David Patient, who, after 26 years, is one of the longest documented HIV-positive survivors in the world. The week-long course is based around the benefits of natural vitamins and minerals, affordable foodstuffs and the power of positive thinking. It takes into account that in Africa many people living with HIV/Aids come from impoverished rural areas, and focuses on affordable prevention and treatment. The course teaches how to counsel those living with incurable diseases, how to identify unresolved feelings that pose obstacles to wellness, how to make... Read More →
