Teva Mountain Games 2009

I just got this email concerning the future of one of the most inspiring outdoor festival/competitions in the world. Thought you guys would like a look. Stay tuned for updates on the 2009 Teva Mountain Games.

Dear Teva Mountain Games Friends,

It was over seven years ago that the Teva Mountain Games became a vision for the team at Untraditional Marketing.  In the months to follow, the goal of becoming the premier outdoor adventure event in the country quickly became a shared vision with Teva, the Town of Vail and some of the great adventure brands in America.  In our first year, the 2002 Teva Mountain Games attracted 252 athletes. Then, in 2008 we surpassed our wildest dreams of bringing 35,000 spectators and athletes into the Mountain Games environment, and over 1 million people tuned into the event through our television broadcast and online mediums.

At the conclusion of the 2008 event, our staff had an overwhelming conviction that we had realized our mark of being the premier outdoor adventure event in the country and arguably the world.  I will always remember sitting towards the back of the Mountain Games crowd with a PBR in hand with a handful of our key partners watching the first World Cup Climbing event to be on American soil in over 20 years.  I was awestruck by the pure emotion that we had created and very proud of what the Teva Mountain Games had become.  It was a special night for me and a moment of reflection that has allowed me to take the next big step…

In the coming hours, we will announce to the world that we have sold the Teva Mountain Games to the Vail Valley Foundation.  For those of you who are unaware, the Vail Valley Foundation is one of the most prestigious event producers in the country who has organized four World Championships in skiing and mountain biking, along with a myriad of other annual international events.  This opportunity gives our team a 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.  I have huge expectations for what the foundation will deliver for the Mountain Games, and I truly believe this move will enhance the event’s future.

It was a critical component of this deal that our athletes and our partners would be at the center of the event’s future.  I would have never considered this deal unless I believed that the Foundation will be able to deliver an event that will surpass my highest expectations.  I can assure you there are great things to come for you in the Teva Mountain Games, and I wanted to thank you for all of your support over the years.  The best has yet to come, so mark your calendars for June 4-7, 2009.  I will see you there!

Joel Heath - President/CEO/Dreamer and Founder