| Disabled adventurers are well-versed in adapting | | | | dollars on." |
| outdoor gear to fit their needs. World-renowned | | | | Jankowski hopes that the tent gains popularity among |
| climber Mark Wellman has made a life of it, and sells | | | | the disabled community, and is proud to offer this tent |
| his adapted climbing gear through his own company, | | | | to them, but knows how tough it is to market to this |
| No Limits Tahoe. Many other adventurers with | | | | group. Although the Freedom Tent has been on the |
| disabilities have done the same to kayaks, skis, and | | | | road for a year, Eureka has sold only a handful of |
| other mainstream equipment. But these hard-core | | | | these tents, and has few retailers willing to offer it. But |
| adventurers who have spent the last decade adapting | | | | to really get the tent out there to its needy consumers, |
| adventure gear to fit their level of need seem to have | | | | Jankowski is going to need help. To encourage other |
| finally broken through, and the manufacturers of | | | | companies to follow suit and begin making equipment |
| outdoor equipment are finally beginning to adapt their | | | | with a more "universal" design, disabled outdoor |
| gear for people with disabilities. For years disabled | | | | enthusiasts must begin to purchase products geared |
| adventurers and innovators struggle to gain | | | | at their needs such as the Freedom Tent in larger |
| sponsorships and financial aid to help them create | | | | numbers. |
| adapted gear to get them back into the sports they | | | | The highlight of this summer's ORS was inventor Kevin |
| love. Due to a combination of supply and demand, | | | | Carr, an independent dealer and product designer for |
| inventors seem to be catching on to this expanding | | | | major canoe companies. Carr was proud to exhibit his |
| niche of adventurer, and the annual Outdoor Retailer's | | | | latest addition in adapted canoe gear, a fully padded |
| Show is one of the best places to showcase this. | | | | and supportive seatback that is still in prototype stage, |
| The Outdoor Retailer's Show (ORS) in Salt Lake City | | | | but will hopefully be released in spring of 2006. Other |
| is a huge annual event that overflows into the parking | | | | paddling gear has been adapted for disabled |
| lots of the Salt Lake City Convention Center. This year | | | | outdoorsmen, including paddles with hand attachments |
| the show was as big, if not bigger, than it usually is, | | | | for grip assistance as well as padded foot "cages," but |
| with thousands of manufacturers showing off their | | | | this new seat will make paddling a reality for |
| new outdoor gear. From big names such as Patagonia | | | | quadriplegics and many paraplegics as well. Carr has |
| and L.L. Bean to smaller and newer companies trying | | | | designed the seat to fit into any canoe with easy |
| to make a name for themselves, the ORS becomes a | | | | installation. The seat was also designed to fit with |
| city of itself of like-minded enthusiasts. | | | | removable wheelchair seats for the most comfort. |
| Attention-grabbers like the Paddle Pool filled with | | | | Adjustable straps and a lightweight fame make this |
| kayakers of world-class ability and evening block | | | | seatback a luxury for all water enthusiasts with |
| parties complete with live bands are annual staples for | | | | disabilities. |
| this event. Retailers come from all states nation-wide | | | | Another company that has begun to prototype gear |
| to make their seasonal purchases at this unmatched | | | | for adventurers with disabilities is CamelBak, a |
| exposition of outdoor gear. | | | | well-known innovator in hydration. These backpacks |
| Over the past few years several companies have | | | | include water bladders and hose-attachments for easy |
| been working on prototypes for adventurers with | | | | drinking while on the trail in all seasons, but as of yet, |
| disabilities. Last year's ORS featured the first adapted | | | | CamelBak has not released a pack that is adapted for |
| tent on the market, Eureka's Freedom Tent, designed | | | | wheelchairs. Wesley Watson, V.P. of Operations for |
| especially for campers with disabilities. The Freedom | | | | CamelBak, states this is something the company has |
| Tent includes a front vestibule shelter for a wheelchair | | | | already begun discussing designs for. CamelBak has |
| as well as toggle pull zippers on the doors and | | | | been providing the U.S. Military with these hydration |
| windows for those with hand-mobility challenges. | | | | systems for the past decade, and has recently added |
| Released during summer of 2004, the Freedom Tent | | | | a new competition design to their line. Innovative |
| spent its first year trekking around the U.S. on | | | | companies like this, thinking of all types of needs from |
| demonstration at outdoor expositions and conferences | | | | combat to competition, are just the kind to begin |
| such as the ORS. | | | | adapting their outdoor gear for adventurers with |
| However, Eureka's biggest challenge is finding its | | | | disabilities. |
| consumer. Marketing Director for Eureka, Kirsten | | | | Marketing these newest innovations in adventure gear |
| Jankowski, emphasizes this. She states, "This tent is | | | | will be the toughest test, and the more consumers with |
| one of our higher priorities, but each year we have | | | | disabilities take advantage of these leading products, |
| new tents that we have to spend our marketing | | | | the more products will follow! |