Epic cross-country promotional road trip. Venue suggestions?

Hi friends,

We're taking Zartman Rigging on a cross country road trip this fall, not only to promote the climbing gear brand, but to bring instructional seminars as we go.  We'll be offering a basic hands-on course to teach best practices for safely splicing and using Dyneema rope, with a manual, splicing tools, and some materials available for sale as well.  There will be demos of our UIAA-ertified Seamless products, so people can taste, touch, and handle, and they'll all be on sale at 30% off.

Rough route is Gunks 10/2, Chicago 10/3, Lincoln NE 10/4, Laramie 10/6, SLC 10/7, Ketchum ID 10/8, Reno 10/9, Truckee 10/10, Tahoe 10/11.  After that rush we cool down in Yosemite for a week or so (I'll be in the Meadow several of those days), before heading back via a more southern route (Joshua Tree, Red Rocks, Moab, Boulder....)

We're coordinating venues on the route right now, but are open to suggestions/changes if anyone would like to see us swing by.  I'll post updates here as plans firm up.

Looking forward to meeting lots of you in person!

Hey Ben, I hope we can see each other in Josh. Let me know if you need a bivy. You and Danielle, or the whole family?

Heyzeuswrote:

Hey Ben, I hope we can see each other in Josh. Let me know if you need a bivy. You and Danielle, or the whole family?

Just me and the missus.  The girls are almost self-sufficient!

Better DM me your number.  It'll be great to see you.

No suggestions, but it sounds like a cool endeavor! 

Ben, check out the "Equip Expo" in Louisville KY in October. Don't know if you can make it work, but the event attracts a lot of landscapers, with some attention for arborists too.

We have a great outdoor store local - Quest Outdoors that might be of interest. Also, the Red River Gorge area is not too far away, and it has a climbing scene that comes with it.

Just some thoughts.

J Ashley73wrote:

Ben, check out the "Equip Expo" in Louisville KY in October. Don't know if you can make it work, but the event attracts a lot of landscapers, with some attention for arborists too.

We have a great outdoor store local - Quest Outdoors that might be of interest. Also, the Red River Gorge area is not too far away, and it has a climbing scene that comes with it.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks! I'll check those out.

Here's the promo flyer:

First stop will be Rock and Snow in New Palz, NY, on October 1 from 6 to 8 pm.

Working on setting up a registration/ticket thing on our website....coming soon!

Hi friends, road trip update!  We have registrations going for Rock and Snow in New Palz, NY on Oct 1.  Here's  a link to the sign-up.  Just select the date/place. Still bringing venues online, and with enough interest, we could do a location without a host--say, in a picnic area or parking lot. https://zartmancruising.com/rigging-shop/product/climbing-splicing-workshop/

We'll be doing Nevada Adventure Rentals in Reno on Oct 9 from 5:30 to 7:30, and possibly Backwoods Mtn Sports in Ketchum the day before (still to confirm).

On to CA, we're looking at one or two Bay Area locations (suggestions?), and of course Mariposa and El Cap Meadow, where we'll spend about two weeks starting the 14.

Joshua Tree on Oct 27, the Red Rocks on Oct 28, where we'll be at Desert Rock Sports.

Elevate Outdoors has expressed some interest in Mon the 29th, and then it's Boulder on the 30.

Putting together all sorts of new gear to show, and whether there's a splicing workshop or not, all Zartman Rigging gear will be offered at wholesale price out of my van.  (Can't believe I'm selling gear out of my van.....)

Reach out if there's not a venue near you, and I'll do my utmost to arrange a personal gear demo.  Looking forward to seeing lots of you next month!

Find out where and when Mountain Rescue is having their convention. Seems like SAR would be an appropriate venue??

I see Salt Lake City on your list, depending on how big of a venue the folks at IME might be interested hosting. 

Also my usual educational posting. Do realize that such events held in National Parks, national forests, and BLM managed lands would likely be consider commercial events and subject to permitting. Many do not realize such permitting is required. Hosting with local shops would be ideal, especially for advertising. 

@Old lady H:  Thanks for the suggestion.  It's not during the time frame for this trip, but I'm scheming for trade shows and events in future

@Allen Sanderson:  IME is one of several venues in Salt Lake I've pinged....one will come online no doubt.  Thanks for the heads' up about parks.  I'll look into it.

Ben, I just ordered your manual “Methods and Materials of Modern Climbing Gear”. Am interested in knowing more about this!

Terry Ewrote:

Ben, I just ordered your manual “Methods and Materials of Modern Climbing Gear”. Am interested in knowing more about this!

Hi Terry,  thanks for buying!  I see you ordered the digital version.  Still trying to automate the website so you can download it immediately, but haven't overcome that obstacle, and I have to manually authorize the download.  You should have access to it now.

We're still looking for Bay Area venues to do a workshop: open to suggestions if you can think of any around Oct 16 or 17.

Here's a pic of the book for everyone else:

Road trip Update!

We have venues in Californa!  We'll be at Sports Basement in SF Presidio on Fri, Oct 17 at 5pm, and the next day at Sports Basement in Berkeley at 11 am.  Sign up in advance at the webstore, or show up on-the-spot!

Moses Climbing has generously opened their shop in Atascadero for a workshop on Fri, Oct 24, and 6pm.  We'll be at all the workshops early in case anyone wants a gear demo without taking the splicing class--got lots of cool new gear we're launching on this trip: a Dyneema-cored 6mm rope for tagline/rappel; a friction plate and unique joiners for it; some friction-cord snatch blocks for crevasse rescue, and lots more.  Everything will be on sale at 30% off retail to all who approach the van.

Keep an eye on the YouTube channel (zartman rigging) for videos I'm dropping here and there to illustrate new gear, and come see us at one of our cross-country stops! 

^ Super cool, Ben!!!

Mega bump for Ben.   I just took the workshop with him last night and it was super interesting and fun.   If you have any interest in learning how to make your own soft goods, sign up for one of Ben’s workshops near you.  He really knows his stuff, is a patient teacher, and leaves you with a ton of confidence in the methods and the results.   

The road trip has made it all the way to the West coast!

We've done workshops in New Palz, Omaha, and Reno, and visited a dozen shops, some of which now carry our gear! (others order gear in the spring).  You can check it the gear out in person at Rock and Snow in New Palz, NY; IME in North Conway and in Salt Lake City; at Nevada Adventure Rentals in Reno, and at the Gear Exchange in Bishop.

Going up to Yosemite as soon as this weather clears, then we have workshops in the Bay Area: Sports Basement Presidio this Friday from 5-7pm, and Sports Basement Berkeley next morning at 11 am.  There's a page on our webstore to sign up for a workshop in advance.

Next confirmed worshop is at Moses Enterprises in Atascadero on Oct 24th at 6pm, then we start heading east: Joshua Tree, Red Rocks, Moab, Boulder.

We're having a killer time, moving lots of gear, and making tons of friends.  Anyone who approaches the van can get wholesale price on whatever gear we still have (some it going pretty fast)

Looking forward to seeing some of you!