EVENTS: Spy Holds Week Long Boot Camp for Retailers

kailee bradstreet

August 07 2008
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Although it was hard to tear ourselves away from the office, Transworld Business managed to make it out to Carlsbad Lagoon on Monday, La Jolla Shores on Tuesday and up to Pine Valley Ranch on Wednesday for Spy’s Sixth Annual Boot Camp. Besides getting a chance to enjoy some sun, surf, and riding, Boot Camp was a great way to catch up with the Spy crew and meet the seven contest winners from retail shops across the U.S. and Canada.

Winners were selected randomly from a drawing of retailers, who could enter their names in the contest after selling a specific number of Spy sunglasses. The week-long event immersed boot campers in the Spy Optic culture beginning with a weekend in L.A. for X Games and after-parties, followed by wakeboarding, surfing and a final motocross day. Stationed at a beach house in Cardiff, the seven campers were put to the test and a few found themselves in new territory when it came to several of the sports. Team riders and professional athletes, such as skater Rob Dyrdek, surfer Mike Losness and Supercross king Jeremy McGrath, even showed up on the scene.

According to Spy’s head of Media Liz Randall, the event is a way to have fun, get to know Spy’s retailers, and give them - and the Spy crew - a week to actually participate in the industry for which they work. We sat down with each contest winner after a long day of surfing to get their insight on the event, and find out what drives them toward continued success within the action sports industry. Here’s what they had to say:

Jacqueline Nealon, age 21, First Assistant Manager, Zumiez, Sandy, UT.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “X Games and the after party, and just being able to come out and hang out with everyone.”
Best Part About Working in the Industry: “Being able to work in an industry I love, and being able to do the activities that I love.”

Gregory Damus, age 26, Sales Associate, Spareparts, Calgary, CAN.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “Getting a chance to meet everyone who works at Spy and being able to put a face to the phone call, because these are people I talk to all the time.”
Best Part About Working in the Industry: “Seeing all the products when they come in and enjoying the laid back lifestyle. I also like having access to stuff like this.”

Griffin Blackburn, age 22, (consumer entry winner) shop wakeboard pro at Ski-N-Sports, Tyler, TX.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “The Monster DC party after X Games because I got to meet a lot of big-name athletes like Rob Dyrdek, there was an open bar, and the scenery was excellent.”
Best Part About Working in the Industry: “Helping people who are new to wakeboarding and who show a genuine interest to learn about the sport.”

Heather Algya, age 28, Assistant Parts Manager, RPM Motorsports, Lakewood, CO.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “The people, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow [motocross day].”
Best Part About Working in the Industry : “I love all the people I work with and the industry.”

Devon “Red” Johnson, age 21, Assistant Manger, Industrial Skateboards, Phoenix, AZ.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “Surfing and meeting Rob Dyrdek.”
Best Part About Working in the Industry: “In retail, and especially in this industry, you get to meet a lot of reps and you have to be really out going. I love going out and networking and meeting new people.”

Kai Goree, age 27, Manager, Maui Nix, Daytona Beach, FL.
Best Part of Boot Camp: “Going to X Games and partying in L.A.”
Best Part About Working in the Industry: “Just getting to deal with the surf industry every day, and selling product. I love having time to go do what I love. Surfing is something I want to be involved in for the rest of my life.”