New Sales Manager at Sportube
Author:
Dec 9, 2020
Highland Trading Company, Inc, which celebrated its 26th anniversary last month, has announced the hiring of industry veteran Mike Stepanek as Sales Manager. Stepanek brings over 20 years’ experience in sales and business development in the outdoor, ski and bike industries. Highland Trading Company is the manufacturer and distributer of Sportube and Wildsyde Vintage Electric Bicycles. “I am excited and proud to be a part of the team as I really fit into the vibe and culture at the office,” said Stepanek. “We are living in unprecedented times and are adapting to the uncertainties of the travel and ski industries. We have a positive outlook, but there is a lot of unknow still. But with new challenges also comes new opportunities. Highland Trading Company has built an incredibly successful business establishing Sportube as the leader in hard case protection for skis, boards and gear. Our ski bags, boot bags and especially our heated boot bag have a quality and functionality second to none. We will continue to focus efforts in the snowsports space, but we are also exploring new avenues to grow like the spearfish and waterski industries. And Wildsyde, these vintage electric cruiser bikes are just so sexy and cool. We are at the beginning stages of an enormous opportunity and I am quite enthusiastic about joining Paul (Hields) and building something distinctive.”
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Paul Hields, founder and CEO of Highland Trading Company, Inc stated, “Mike brings diverse experience to the team and we work well together. I am confident he will add value in all aspects of the company. And, the lunch time mountain bike rides next summer just might get a bit competitive.”
Ideally situated in the Rocky Mountains between Vail and Beaver Creek, Sportube has been a manufacturer of ski travel cases since 1995. Proudly made in the USA, Sportube is considered the #1 supplier of hard cases to the winter sports market with distribution to over 40 countries in the ski, snowboard, spearfishing and water ski markets. In 2014, Sportube naturally expanded their product mix to include ski bags, boots bags and luggage and in 2017 launched their award-winning heated boot bag, the Toaster Elite. “2020 has brought unique challenges to everyone’s business,” states Hields. “Our plan coming into winter 20/21 was to have a positive stance with inventory. We have ample stock in our Series 1, 2 and 3 hard cases as well as our ski and boot bags. Our inventory is still in good shape today, but this is changing daily as we have been fulfilling dealer’s inventory needs where they may have seen incomplete deliveries. Out team has done a great job this season shipping preseason orders and getting ASAP PO’s out the door.”
Stepanek adds, “The airline travel industry remains a bit of a mystery today so we are reminding our customers that our hard cases are versatile and can be used on a roof rack, in the back of a pickup, or inside of your car protecting the interior. I think the biggest spike in 2020 fall has been our Toaster Elite heated boot bag. Accounts are selling this to the folk planning to do more backcountry skiing. It’s easy to convey the message to consumers to plug the bag into the car portal on the way to the trailhead and have toasty warm boots to put on before you begin your adventure. We anticipate our Toaster Elite heated boot bag will be a great holiday seller, especially for the consumer looking for that special gift for that hard to buy for person on their list.”
Wildsyde strives to create a new innovative and stylish commuting option. Why drive when you can ride your bike? Since 2018, Wildsyde has manufactured vintage electric cruiser bikes with a bit of WWII motorcycle aura. These class 2 Ebikes are built with comfort in mind and target the daily commuter heading to work, for a coffee, to a friend’s, off to the yoga studio, to the store or the pub. The Beast, the Shadow and the Hunni Bunni will continue in the lineup and Wildsyde will launch the new Paree (step thru) and Roam as more traditional looking Ecruiser for spring. Stepanek adds, “We have bikes to ship today, but we are taking deposits for the new Paree and Roam which we cannot ship until later this spring.” Wildsyde also supplies a small collection of retro style baskets, racks, and drink holders. For more information please contact:
Sportube: info@sportube.com or 970-949-4014

New Sales Manager at Sportube

Sportube Custom Bags for Stores and Events
Author:
Booth #44003-UL
Avon, CO - (January 10, 2019) After 23 years of crafting hard cases, Sportube has a full line of soft and padded luggage to protect snow sports equipment using the same philosophy and similar technology that is found in their hard cases. Sportube offers these high-quality bags co-branded with store or event names at very low minimums per model and no set up fee. Custom print and embroidered logos are crystal clear and of the finest quality, combined with the highest quality manufacturing, Sportube will present custom brand products in the best way. The Sportube full line of bags and travel cases focus on high quality components that won’t wear out over time and provide more protection than a typical soft bag can offer. Using top quality materials such as YKK zippers, durable, water resistant Korean made 600D, 840D and 1680D ballistic polyester fabrics and GearShield™ Technology (high density polyethylene protection), ensure Sportube bags stand the test of time and the rigors of travel. ADVERTISEMENT
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With a diverse line of ski and boot bags, there is a bag for everyone traveling with their equipment. The Overheader™ and Cabin Cruiser™ are both airline carry-on compliant. The Cabin Cruiser™ is a wheeled carry-on option while the Overheader™ is a backpack style gear and boot bag. Both are specifically designed to hold all you need for a day on the hill including, coat, pants, boots, goggles, gloves etc., with comfort and convenience in mind. ADVERTISEMENT
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Their biggest boot bag at 70 liters, the Freerider™, and it’s younger sibling, the Freestyler Jr. Bag™ at 50 liters, are equipped with padded backpack straps, padded boot compartments and enough room to fit your boots and all the gear you need for the day or multiple day trip with the 70 Liter. The Sportube collection includes a softer side to their hard cases for skis and snowboards, offered in longer lengths for race skis or Nordic skis and poles in 2019. The Ski Shield™ ski bag uses GearShield™ Technology to protect valuable equipment with hard plastic HDPE sheathing at both the tips and tail end of the bag, those areas prone to abuse while traveling. The Ski Shield is fully padded for more protection and can hold up to two, possibly three pairs of skis and poles or two snowboards, and multiple pair of Nordic skis and poles. The Wanderer and Adventurer series, including both a ski bag and a boot bag, delivers a more affordable line of bags to the market, while still offering high quality materials with expert craftsmanship. This series is a great option for the cost-conscience customer, looking for basic protection from the elements and ideal for personal branding. Unique to Sportube, the top of the line ski and boot bags are compatible via Hitchin™ technology. Allowing the Freerider, Overheader and Traveler boot bags to be attached to both Sportube Hard Cases and Ski Shield™ ski bags and wheeled together, effortlessly, as one; making traveling with gear hassle-free. Sportube will be attending the International Snow Show at the Denver Convention Center, January 30- February 1 at Booth #44003-UL (upper lever near the main door entrance). # # # #
For 22 years in the Rocky Mountains, Sportube hard cases (Made in the USA) and soft transport cases have been the tried and trusted method for transporting and protecting valuable ski and snowboard equipment when traveling. Sportube has a case or bag to meet everyone’s needs, with models that accommodate both nordic and alpine skis and poles; snowboards and boots; or even a pair of skis, snowboard and boots. Made from high density polyethylene, Sportube hard cases are adventure ready and will stand the test of time. If you’re a serious skier, rider or angler and you want to keep your equipment at its best, check out the benefits of traveling with a Sportube®. Contact: Paul Hields - Sportube

Sportube Custom Bags for Stores and Events

Hard-case ski bag proponent touts his soft side
Kate Tracy
Sportube makes heated soft bags for ski gear. (Sportube)
The last thing Paul Hields needs — both on the mountain and in his business — is cold feet. As the owner of Sportube, an Avon-based company that makes hard cases and soft bags for ski gear, Hields decided it was time to improve skiers’ comfort by making soft bags that keep ski boots warm. After debuting the product, dubbed the Toaster, at last year’s Snowsports Industries of America show, Sportube started selling the heated soft bags last fall in preparation for ski season. “We started about two years ago to get a number of inquiries for heated bags,” Hields said. “To fully develop our soft bag line, we needed to bring a heated boot bag to the marketplace.”
The Toaster is big enough for one pair of boots and other ski accessories, such as a helmet and gloves. The Toaster Elite is a slightly bigger version that can fit two pairs of boots. The bags cost $230 and $250, depending on the size. “What’s nice about it is you can warm the bag at home,” Hields said, adding the soft bags can plug into standard and car outlets. “You start the morning off with a pair of warm liners.”
Hields, who’s from England, immigrated to Vail in 1990 after falling in love with Colorado skiing six years prior. He worked at Gorsuch before launching Sportube in 1995 as a manufacturer of hard cases for skis, snowboards and fishing equipment. “For 20 years, we were known as the hard-case company,” Hields said. “I spent 20 years of my life trying to convince everyone to use hard cases. (But) not everybody in the world wants to use a hard case.”
Five years ago, Hields decided to start making soft cases for outdoor sports, as he realized the company needed a wider selection of bags. Sportube’s heated bags are available at five Colorado ski shops, including Double Diamond Ski Shop in Vail and Fuxi Racing at Copper Mountain. The bags are also available on Sportube’s website, Amazon and Colorado-based Ebags.com. “Heated boot bags are a growing trend,” Hields said. “There are more skiers that are traveling from Denver. Any skier that doesn’t have a locker at the base of the mountain benefits from a heated boot bag.”
Sportube manufactures its heated boot bags in Vietnam, while the hard ski cases are manufactured in Michigan. Other companies such as Transpack and Kulkea also sell heated boot bags. “Some of the materials we’re using are lighter while still strong,” Hields said, including zippers and shoulder straps that make the bag more comfortable to carry. In addition to the heated bags, Sportube also is introducing four new bags to the market, including a large one for airline travel. The company employs five full-time staff members in an 800-square-foot office in Avon.

Hard-case ski bag proponent touts his soft side

Eleven secures Serie A football streaming rights for Italy
September 25, 2017
Eleven Sports has secured live rights to Serie A football in Italy and will air three games live every match week on its Sportube streaming service during this season. Eleven has secured rights to show three live game each match week on mobile, tablet and online, starting with the Napoli-Cagliari, Benevento-Inter and Milan-Roma matches. According to Eleven, its line-up of live games will typically include the 18:00 Saturday match and the games at 12:30 and 15:00 on a Sunday. Eleven has announced an aggressive pricing plan for its coverage, with individual game being available for €1.99, or all three games in a given week being available for €3.99. Contacted by DTVE, Eleven said that the rights were for online and mobile distribution, and covered all the teams in Serie A. It declined to disclose the duration of the deal. Eleven acquired Italian OTT TV sports service Sportube in May. The service already produces and airs Serie C games via a dedicated online platform. During the 2016/17 season, Sportube produced and distributed 1,287 Serie C games. Coverage of these matches had in most cases only been available locally previously. “Our model of acquiring smaller rights with economically viable production costs and widespread appeal amongst domestic fans in Italy has proved very successful and we are thrilled to take our coverage of football to the next level by delivering top Serie A action for the fans.” said Danny Menken, Group Managing Director, Eleven Sports. “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Serie A to help them reach and grow their fan-base across Italy by providing access to the biggest and best teams and players at an affordable price.”
The acquisition of top-tier football rights marks a significant upping of Eleven’s investment in Italy, following its acquisition of the streaming platform in May, which made Italy the company’s seventh international market. Sportube had 4.3 million unique visitors during the 2015-16 season, up from 3.5 million during the 2014-15 season. In August 2016, Sportube introduced a pay-per-view system as part of its monetisation strategy and to enable it to improve its services for fans across Italy. Sky Italia currently holds the TV rights to all live Serie A matches until 2018, with Mediaset Premium holding the rights to show the matches of Juventus, Milan, Internazionale, Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and Genoa live. RAI holds the rights to highlight packages. The Lega Calcio said in June that it would rerun the auction for the 2018-21 rights after Mediaset and TIM declined to participate in its initial attempt to auction the rights for the next three seasons. Perform Group, operator of the DAZN online sports service in Germany, was widely reported to have submitted the only bid for the online rights for the 2018-21 seasons, but with a bid that was about half the amount being sought by the Lega.

Eleven secures Serie A football streaming rights for Italy

Eleven enters Italy with OTT TV acquisition
May 10, 2017
Eleven Sports has launched itself into the Italian market by acquiring a majority stake in local OTT TV platform Sportube. The platform, which is available online and on mobile, will be re-branded as Eleven Sports this summer. The move makes Italy Eleven Sports’ seventh market, following its entry into the US market in March. Eleven is available via a number of platforms in Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan and the US, where it has distribution agreements with broadcast, OTT and mobile partners. Eleven Sports in Italy will be overseen by executive chairman Marc Watson and group managing director Danny Menken. Day-to-day operations will be overseen by Marco Pistoni, president of the network in Italy and a former director at Sky Italia and Infront Sports & Media, and Bruno Stirparo, currently Sportube CEO, who will become the new managing director for Eleven in Italy. Founded in 2010, Sportube has secured exclusive rights to a number of Italian sport leagues including Italy’s third tier football league, Lega Pro, which offers live access to 60 regional clubs in more than 1,200 games per season across all competitions. Other current Sportube rights include live coverage of the top Volleyball League, Lega Volley Serie A; Italy’s top waterpolo league; domestic and international fencing; Italy’s 162 team amateur football leagues; the Italian Badminton Championship and an offering of motorsport including Superbike, Motocross, Enduro, Italian Rally Championship and the Campionato italiano di velocità – Italy’s premier motorcycle championship. The platform had 4.3 million unique visitors during the 2015-16 season, up from 3.5 million during the 2014-15 season. In August 2016, Sportube introduced a pay-per-view system as part of its monetisation strategy and to enable it to improve its services for fans across Italy. “We are thrilled to expand the reach of Eleven Sports to Italy, enabling us to capitalise further on the growth in demand for online sports consumption and giving the fans the flexibility and freedom of choice to watch their favourite sports – how and when they want,” said Marc Watson, executive chairman, Eleven Sports. “The acquisition of a majority stake in Sportube – a successful, profitable business with a loyal following – presents a fantastic opportunity for Eleven and we are very excited about the growth opportunities for this business in Italy and beyond.”
Stirparo said: “This is an exciting moment in the development of our business and we are delighted to become part of an innovative, global sports provider such as Eleven Sports, Eleven Sports has achieved fantastic success and rapid growth in a short space of time in each of its other markets and we are looking forward to harnessing the expertise of Eleven’s dynamic and entrepreneurial team as we aim to replicate that success here in Italy.”

Eleven enters Italy with OTT TV acquisition

Corporate Majority

Sportube operates a free web tv dedicated to volleyball, basketball, motorsports, etc. The web tv partners with several sports leagues including Lega Pallavolo Serie A1, Legadue (Basketball), Aci/Csai (Italian Tournament GT, Formula 3 etc.) CIV (motorbike) and F1H2O (off shore). It operates 5 channels in streaming, and an on-demand section available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

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