Like a kayak getting sold from one user to the next, the venerable Teva Mountain Games is now under new ownership – only this is one product that’s not close to getting outdated. This week, the Vail Valley Foundation announced that it has acquired the event from Untraditional Marketing, Inc.
As the world’s most lucrative kayaking event for paddling competitors, drawing the world’s top kayakers to Vail to compete for a share of up to a $100,000 purse, the Teva Mountain Games is the nation’s largest celebration of mountain sport, lifestyle and culture featuring the top professional and amateur athletes from around the world. The Vail Valley Foundation is a nonprofit group that has organized four World Championships in skiing and mountain biking, along with other annual international events.
The agreement marks the culmination of over one year of discussions between the Foundation and Untraditional Marketing, with the Foundation beginning the production of the Games immediately. The 2009 Games are scheduled for June 4-7 in Vail. “We set out seven years ago to build the premier adventure event in the world, and we feel we have hit our mark,” says event founder Joel Heath, who will play a key consulting role in the future development of the property. “This gives our team the chance to invest in our future while continuing to focus on our core competencies as a brand promotions agency for the world’s great adventure brands.”
“We’re thrilled to carry on the great legacy of the Teva Mountain Games,” says Ceil Folz, president of the Vail Valley Foundation. “Untraditional has done a tremendous job of growing the event to what we all know and enjoy each year, and we anticipate a great collaboration with Joel Heath in taking the event to new heights. Our resources and collaboration with Untraditional will ensure that the Mountain Games not only continues its worldwide dominance as the premier outdoor adventure event, but builds on the legacy and purity that the Mountain Games has delivered for the last seven years.”
“The Teva Mountain Games has grown exponentially in its short history, and we’re honored that the Vail Valley Foundation will carry our vision forward,” adds Heath. “I truly believe this move will enhance the event’s future.”
Athletes are excited about the transition as well. “As an athlete, this is an exciting step in the evolution of the Teva Mountain Games,” says adventure racer Mike Kloser.
Founded in 2002, the Teva Mountain Games takes place each year in Vail, Colorado. The environmentally-friendly adventure sporting event hosts up to 2,500 professional and amateur outdoor athletes from all over the world with an estimated 35,000 spectators. Athletes converge on Vail’s mountains and rivers to compete in seven sports and 21 disciplines for over $100,000 in prize money. Events include kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, World Cup and amateur climbing, fly-fishing, trail running, diving dogs and multi-sport racing. An estimated 1.4 million people tune into the Teva Mountain Games on its national television and on-line broadcast.
In addition to the outdoor mountain events, the Teva Mountain Games also includes a mountain photography competition, an interactive exhibition and demo area, the Green Light District, live music and mountain lifestyle parties.
Info: www.tevamountaingames.com
