I look forward to the Summer Outdoor Retail Show in Salt Lake City, Utah the way a kid looks forward to Disneyland. I've heard it referred to as a "Patagonia wonderland" more than once and it does not disappoint. We are blissfully aware that as media we don't have the added pressure of buying for a retail store or preventing a small business from going under. We're free to roam the isles of the zipp fizz charged endurance sports section, through the climbing zone riddled with barefoot Yogaslackers and get lei'd by big wave surfer Archie Kalepa as we pass through the paddleboards. There is the occasional wrong turn that leaves you lost in textile land but overall, it's hard to go wrong. The chance to run into your sponsored hero as they have coffee at prAna isn't too shabby either. For four days, we are treated to frantic running from meeting to meeting for a chance to talk with designers and marketing reps to get the inside track on what's new for 2012. Happy hour is every day at 4pm and makes for an interesting meeting while trying to talk over mountaineering reps letting loose in the isles. There is never a dull moment and that's bound to happen when you contain so many active, passionate people in one convention center. We weren't permitted to show you ALL the new gear (licensing issues), or any photos from after-hour parties (personal issues) but here's a small sampling of what we CAN show you: