We’ve been here before…a new tradeshow is coming to town, or is it moving towns, or maybe it’s an entirely new show you’ve never heard of in a new town. The answer is yes, all of the above.
Just before Thanksgiving, Switchback at The Running Event (TRE) delivered strong attendance and a boost of momentum as the outdoor industry began a countdown toward the debut standalone Switchback gathering, taking place June 16-18, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Successfully blending anchor outdoor brands and emergers, Switchback is a showcase collection of outdoor businesses at TRE, wrapping up its fall event (it’s third held inside the 18-year-old Running Event) amidst the high energy and heavy retailer traffic of a record-setting gathering.
As a standalone event, Switchback Spring will be centered around foundational outdoor experiences including hike, camp, trail and outdoor lifestyle, presenting a mix of soft goods, hard goods, accessories, and organizations. The event structure will share similarities with TRE’s proven formula, including a variety of educational programming and opportunities for connection and celebration, and limiting booth sizes to encourage focus.
Switchback Spring also recently announced Outdoor Industry Association as its Official Event Partner, amplifying the gathering’s appeal and reach to members and supporters of the outdoor sector’s premier trade group.
And while there were no paddling specific brands at the show per se, it was nice to see some of the familiar paddling adjacent brands there, including TEVA, Outdoor Research, The North Face, Scarpa, Patagonia, OBOZ, Keen and more. “We’ll be at Switchback Spring. As an industry, we’ve come full circle. There’s a fresh appetite to get back together and back to trade shows, as it’s an important part of who we are. Switchback will also be key for our business, an authenticator as we re-establish ourselves as a functional performance brand in the outdoors,” said Lee Cox, VP/GM of Deckers Emerging Brands, who was attending Switchback with Teva Footwear.
And with the power of OIA behind them, who knows if Switchback is truly poised to replace Outdoor Retailer as the outdoor industry’s primary gathering point. But organizers are hopeful. “The level of awareness and conversation around Switchback Spring on the TRE show floor was exciting and inspiring,” said Christina Henderson, Switchback event director. “Many brands and retailers are looking forward to a gathering that will be good for their business, great for discovery and new relationships, and also provide a space for the broader outdoor industry to gather and learn.”
“I’m excited for the opportunity to connect with retailers and friends in the industry at Switchback in June 2025. Everyone misses a gathering, and this TRE-format event in partnership with OIA should be really special. There’s a buzz here in discovering different brands and connecting with prospective retailers, and I’m looking forward to being a part of bringing that energy to the outdoor industry. And it’s only year one – I hope that we can continue to come together year after year and make it better for everyone,” said Josh Tedeschi, Arcteryx senior manager, U.S. specialty sales.
“As an industry it is critical that we come together to advance our business and values,” said Susan Viscon, Chief Merchandising Officer and Path Ahead Ventures Executive Director at REI Co-op. “TRE has been a successful formula that allows for education, trade, and gatherings. We’re looking forward to seeing how this approach can work in the outdoor space.”
As a whole, TRE drew a record-setting 336 vendors to a show floor that grew by more than 15 percent over the previous year. More than 1,800 retailers, endurance event management professionals, and other industry members attended TRE, while over 220 media professionals were in attendance, according to a release.
In total, 4,872 individuals filled the Austin Convention Center for the 2024 event, which is a 20 percent increase in attendance compared to 2023. “Looking ahead to Nashville, I think I share the same hope and optimism as many folks I spoke with at the show: that the magic formula TRE has used to rise into the ‘it’ event on the calendar will foster a new spring/summer gathering that builds stronger community and gives voice to the stories that really matter. I am, in a word, stoked,” said Adam Ruggiero of Gear Junkie.
In Nashville, Switchback Spring will support outdoor industry needs through the same four pillars of TRE: learning, discovery, connection, and celebration. In addition to two days of an open exhibit hall, the gathering will provide a robust schedule of forward-looking conference programming and peer learning that will be applicable to multiple business levels and roles.
Switchback Spring will be hosted within a dedicated portion of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a spacious venue with 12 restaurants and an attached premium hotel. With all attendees staying and meeting in a single location, the focused environment will enable both private planned meetings as well as organic meetups and run-ins. Switchback is owned and operated by Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. Upcoming dates for the event include Switchback Spring (Nashville, TN; June 16-18, 2025) and Switchback at TRE (Dec. 2-4, 2025; San Antonio, TX).
