Ted McGuinness, president of the American satellite of TSL Snowshoes, said the new facility will allow the company to expand its offerings and “explore new avenues to increase revenue.”

TSL Snowshoes makes high-quality snowshoes and winter accessories for adults and children. The company started in France in the 1980s and has fast become Europe and Japan’s premier snowshoe makers, McGuinness said. He added the company is making inroads into the U.S. market, especially in the Northeast. Its line consists of two types of snowshoes — aluminum-frame and composite snowshoes.

“This is our fourth year of production in the U.S. and we’re growing at a rapid rate,” McGuinness said.

TSL Snowshoes, which has six employees, used to be located on Avenue C in a 4,900 square-foot office space, which McGuinness said the company quickly outgrew. The new location offers more space — 11,700 square feet — and more amenities. The space opened up when Hampton Direct moved its operations to the former KBA North America building on Hurricane Lane in July.

At TSL Snowshoe’s new location, there is increased room for storage, shipping, receiving and plenty of room for its production department. All of the company’s aluminum-framed snowshoes are built in Williston, using mainly domestic products. McGuinness said two companies in Vermont supply the snowshoe company with parts, and only one source is located outside the United States, just over the border in Quebec. The company also distributes the composite snowshoes produced in Europe to outfitters across the country.

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In recent years, the company has edged its way into the American snowshoe industry. McGuinness said TSL’s main competitor is the former Vermont-based Tubbs Snowshoes. That company, which made aluminum-frame type snowshoes popular, moved its production facilities overseas and its headquarters to Seattle when K2 Sports bought the business earlier in the decade.

When Tubbs left Vermont, TSL snatched up some of the former company’s employees. Doing so allowed TSL to develop its own brand of aluminum-frame snowshoes and, McGuinness said, at a higher quality.

“It was the perfect time to start up a partnership in the U.S.,” McGuinness said.

At local Vermont resorts, many snowshoe rentals are now exclusively TSL brands. McGuinness said winter sports enthusiasts can demo TSL snowshoes at Catamount Family Center, Bolton Valley Ski Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort, among other places.

Much of the company’s recent success has come because of the snowy winters in the Northeast over the past two years. More snow means more business and the potential to add jobs at TSL.

“Right now, we’re really hoping for another big winter,” McGuinness said.

Modeled after the highly successful Race for the Cure®, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer consists of a 3k or 5k snowshoe walk or a 3k snowshoe race.

The event has grown every year and now is the largest snowshoe series in the world.

The gorgeous snowshoe course, fun atmosphere, and FREE demo snowshoes* from Tubbs helps to attract participants of all levels. Nearly 25% of participants have never snowshoed before!

With ongoing partnerships with the local affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp is committed to helping stomp out breast cancer one snowshoe step at a time!

Got more questions about the Romp? Check out tubbsromptostomp.com

*first come first serve with event registration

Here are the dates for the 2010 Season:

New Jersey

Sat, January 23, 2010 – Mountain Creek Resort

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Vermont

Sat, January 30, 2010 – Stratton Mountain Resort

Utah

Sat, February 6, 2010 – Mountain Dell Golf Course, SLC

Washington – New!

Sat, February 20, 2010 – The Summit at Snoqualmie Nordic Center

Oregon

Sat, February 27, 2010 – Mt Hood

Colorado

Sat, March 6, 2010 – Frisco Nordic Center

Related posts:

1. Snowshoeing: Romp to Stomp 2010 Registration Open

Many people might think shoe shoeing is just a goofy way to spend some time in the snow. While it is a fun activity, what you may not realize is that snow shoeing is a great workout and a very enticing option for anyone who’s sick of the gym.

There are certainly levels of proficiency, but to be very frank, anyone can snow shoe without any training or practice. All you need is the gear and some snowfall to get you going. If you can get your hands on a pair of snow shoes and want a good workout, all you need to do is drive to a hill (the steeper the better) and you’ll not only have a great time, but you’ll get the added benefit of a phenomenal cardio workout while feeling as though you’re not really working out. The gym can get pretty mundane when you get into the long months of winter, but you don’t absolutely have to stay inside if you want to get a good sweat.

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Snow shoeing combines the great workout of an incline hike with the strengthening of stabilizer and major leg muscle groups. Going up will get you a great sweat, and coming down will get you a nice cool off. Just step outside and let the snow help you work.

Of course if you have specific goals with your workout routine, the cardio is nice but you’ll want to incorporate some good nutrition as well. A multivitamin and some whey protein are great places to start if you’re looking to supplement your diet. Essential fatty acids and any variety of fat burners can also promote greater health and well-being. If you’re into a more natural approach, green tea is n awesome addition to any diet as an antioxidant. The right combo is important as you work to shape your body, but you might start with a multivitamin pill, creatine shake, or whey protein bar to help you out.

Snow shoeing is a great way to break up the long winter months of looking at the inside of your gym. Cardiovascular training is an important element of any balanced workout routine, but the stationary bike and elliptical machine can only keep your interest for so long. If you want a good cardio alternative, just strap on some show shoes and head for an incline, nature will take care of the rest. Going up will be hard but beneficial, and coming down is the reward everyone likes after a long day of sweat. So when the treadmill just isn’t doing it for you anymore, take a multivitamin, calcium, whey protein, or chug a green tea then head to the hills and work out all your frustrations.

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Sporty types with ski boots dangling around their necks or snowboards balanced casually over their shoulders march about the place, exuding the confidence of people who are entirely in their element. And, as I suspected, I feel as if I don’t belong.

Apart from – and perhaps because of – one disastrous attempt at skiing a couple of decades ago, mountains and snow-sports are alien to me. Still, I’ve always wanted to see Queenstown in winter, although drinking mulled wine in front of open fires and sitting in bubbling hot tubs has more appeal than actually getting in the snow.

However, to confidently join in apres-snow chat with the aforementioned sporty types, non-skiers like me need at least one snow encounter, and NZ Guided Nature Walks has the ideal experience. They provide guided snow-shoeing excursions, taking small groups into the pristine backcountry to forge across vast expanses of unbroken snow.

Guides Peter and Marcus assure me that the only skill required is the ability to walk, but my apprehension grows as we snake up the narrow mountain road to The Remarkables ski area, negotiating hairpin bends where precipitous drop-offs plunge hundreds of metres to the valley below.

Half-way up it starts to snow and while to me it appears like white-out conditions, Peter and Marcus are unconcerned.

When I step out of the van the guides crouch at my feet, strapping on sandal-like contraptions that look like beachwear for Big Foots. I’m surprised. My only knowledge of snowshoes is from 1960s TV programmes of wintry wilderness where they strapped on unwieldy tennis racquet-like monstrosities and plodded away over the snowy ground.

Modern snowshoes look nothing like that. They’re sleek and lightweight, and feel extremely stable with amazing gripping power. There’s no special technique involved and within minutes I’ve negotiated a small hill.

We trudge away from the busy ski runs into the silence of the mountains, slipping into a rhythmic walking action which apparently has the added bonus of burning 500 calories an hour. Although we miss the magnificent views afforded by clear weather, for a mountain novice, being up there while it’s actually snowing is a splendid experience.

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Not only that, our well-outfitted group looks like they’ve been on a serious alpine mission and when we emerge from the gloom back at the ski run, heads turn our way. I’m confident that tonight when I join other visitors sipping mulled wine in front of the fire, tales of my mountain exploits will rival those of any skier.

CHECKLIST

Getting there: Air New Zealand has daily flights.

Where to stay: The Dairy Boutique Hotel, phone (03) 442 5164 or visit thedairy.co.nz.

The Rees Hotel & Apartments, phone (03) 450 1100.

What to do: NZ Guided Nature Walks offers half-day, full-day, and private snowshoeing experiences. Prices start at $135 (adult), $100 (child under 14). Call (03) 442 7126 or visit snowshoeing.co.nz.

Further information: For information about visiting Queenstown see queenstown-nz.co.nz.

Heather Ramsay was a guest of Destination Queenstown.

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10596451&pnum=0