Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1187620
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. Time to start making our list. No, not the one about who has been naughty and who has been nice. (Well, that one, too.) In this issue of the magazine, we are focusing our list more on the nice part. As in, let's talk about a few categories and trends that have been creating some "nice" buzz in the industry. In this issue we focus on three: Pickleball, fitness and running safety. 1. Pickleball is a sport that's been around for decades, but it has been given a mega kickstart in recent years. This kickstart came in large part due to its surging popularity among the Baby Boomer set in the Sunbelt states. And now the sport has taken off with a much broader demographic and is poised for growth with all ages. As Franklin Sports president Adam Franklin tells us of his company's commitment to the sport of pickleball, "We started to see a growth trend in pickleball year-over-year that was unlike any other sport… it is beyond incredible." 2. Each year, as the winter months roll in, as the sun sets earlier, and the weather gets colder, running safety becomes a topic that gains more attention. In this issue, we talk to brands about how they design for safety all year-round in running apparel, footwear and accessories. As Asics' Paul Lang tells us, "Reflective is no longer a special feature, it's an expec- tation!" Adds Saucony's Sarah Clark, "Some runners want to be seen no matter what, others want a more stealth look and rely solely on well-placed reflective to do the job." For AfterShokz, safety is integral to its product development. "We want to offer an awesome listening experience, but with safety in mind," says AfterShokz VP Jayme Schwartz of the brand's bone conduction headphone technology. 3. Also on our list of nice things: trends driving sales in the fitness world. We highlight a variety of new products turning heads — from multi-activity fitness shoes to eco- friendly yoga mats to innovative recovery massage tools and much more. As November fades and the new year approaches, we look forward to seeing which products steal the spotlight during the Holiday Season, and we can't wait to put together a whole new list of "nice" trends to watch for in 2020 and beyond. Cara Griffin Editorial Director cgriffin@formula4media.com Making Our List & Checking It Twice TIME OUT sportsinsightmag.com Editorial Director Cara Griffin cgriffin@formula4media.com Senior Editors Bob McGee Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Contributors Emily Walzer Suzanne Blecher Michael Jacobsen Publisher Jeff Nott jnott@formula4media.com 516-305-4711 Advertising Katie O'Donohue kodonohue@formula4media.com 828-244-3043 Sam Selvaggio sselvaggio@formula4media.com 212-398-5021 Art Director Francis Klaess Production / Digital Brandon Christie 516 305-4710 bchristie@formula4media.com PO Box 23-1318, Great Neck , NY 11023 Phone: 516-305-4709 Fax: 516-305-4712 www.formula4media.com Sports Insight Sports Insight Extra Outdoor Insight Footwear Insight Footwear Insight Extra Team Insight Team Insight Extra Textile Insight Textile Insight Extra Trend Insight sportstyle Subscriptions: store.formula4media.com One year, $24.00 (U.S. Funds) in the United States. All other countries, $54.00 (U.S. Funds). Sports Insight ® is a registered trademark of Formula4 Media, LLC. ©2019 All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by authors and contributors to Sports Insight are not necessarily those of the editors or publishers. Sports Insight is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Articles appearing in Sports Insight may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the publisher.Sports Insight is published bi- monthly: Jan/Feb; Mar/Apr; May/Jun; Jul/Aug; Sep/Oct; and Nov/Dec. Postmaster: Send address changes to Sports Insight, P.O. Box 23-1318 Great Neck, NY 11023 4 • Sports Insight November/December 2019