Race, Charge, Explore: A Look Back at June

We exist to thrive on physical challenges, chase the sunshine, and push ourselves just a little further than the day before. The real magic happens when we get to do it together, side-by-side with the collective outdoor community. This past June we were able to get out in our backyard to participate in four events: SOS Outreach Career Day, the GoPro Games, FIBArk, and the Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half. We grabbed our event gear, our favorite pairs of sunglasses, and hit the road to support the athletes, spectators, and future leaders who treat the outdoors as a way of life.

From our headquarters in Wheat Ridge to the Arkansas River in Salida, and all the way up to Leadville, we traveled around the state and set up shop.

SOS Outreach Career Day

Early in June, we opened our doors, pulled back the curtain, and hosted an incredible group of young minds for a hands-on career day with SOS Outreach. For over thirty years, this impactful 501(c)(3) organization has dedicated itself to its mission: changing young lives, building character, and developing leadership through mentoring outdoors. Using outdoor-based mentorship to teach life skills to kids and teenagers, we wanted to continue our partnership efforts to help showcase how a lifelong passion for the mountains can evolve into a meaningful, sustainable career path.

During the visit, our team guided the participants through various parts of our independent eyewear brand. Everything from the logistics of warehouse management to the customer service provided by our customer experience team to the creative strategy behind branding and marketing. As part of many site visits for SOS Outreach's Career program, we wanted to highlight how vast the outdoor industry is. You don't have to be a professional athlete to make your mark here.

By sharing these diverse professional paths, we hope to inspire the next generation to embrace their independent spirit, ignore what the "Joneses" think, and confidently follow their own unique journey.

GoPro Games

The GoPro Games always demand a massive weekend, but heading up the canyon to Vail is a true homecoming. It brings us right back to the place where it all started for us in 1982. If you've ever been to Vail early in June, you know the mountain air during the Games is electric. It's a melting pot of trail running, climbing, whitewater, biking, disc golf, fishing, yoga, slackline, and more, all fueled by a shared, healthy addiction to the outdoors.

Getting back and supporting the community in Vail is important to us. We are proud to continue to support our local community and provide high-quality optics and protection to all athletes and spectators out there. When you are surrounded by palpable passion, you remember exactly why a life spent outside is always worth it.

FIBArk

Held along the banks of the Arkansas River in Salida, FIBArk is America's oldest whitewater festival. The festival brings a vibrant, state-fair energy directly to the water. It is a historic gathering place for river enthusiasts who know firsthand that there is absolutely no indoor substitute for a walk on a beach or a paddle down a river.

It's always good to make it out to these events to get to engage face-to-face with the people who treat the outdoors as a way of life. Both us and them know that the outdoors is the world's best playground. With polarized gear for the water, full coverage shields for protection, and everyday sunglasses for style, we wanted to make sure we were ready to serve the needs of those who love to get outside and adventure.

Leadville Trail Marathon and Heavy Half

To wrap up a massive month of mountain sports, we headed straight up to Leadville for their Trail Marathon and Heavy Half. Starting at 10,167' elevation with over 6,000' of elevation gain, this course is meant to test the grit of every athlete. We are lucky to share our backyard with so many relentless runners, and we love watching athletes test their grit against some of the toughest, most beautiful singletrack terrain in the country.

For both marathoners and half-marathoners, having reliable eye protection is a massive asset at this kind of elevation. The power of the sun lifts you up, but when people are charging hard at above 10,000', high-quality optics are essential to help them see clearly, stay focused, and soak it all up without worry. It's always a privilege for us to get out there and connect with our local community. We would be nothing without our amazing customers and supporters. Thanks for letting us protect your vision while you follow your own path.

Colorado High School Mountain Bike League Bike Library

Before the month finished, we were able to participate in one more event with the Colorado High School Mountain Bike League. This year, they teamed up with The Pro's Closet and Yeti to create a Bike Library to provide "loaner bikes" to 15 team-nominated student-athletes during the 2026 season. Each recipient receives a Yeti ARC hardtail mountain bike for the 2026 season, in addition to a helmet from 6D Helmets, gloves, sunglasses from us (Optic Nerve), and a swag kit, all of which they get to keep.

The first round of recipients received their bikes from the library on Saturday, June 27th, at The Pro's Closet in Thornton, Colorado (pictured above). While the rest of the bikes will be awarded prior to the 2026 season, we're proud to be a part of this project to make cycling more accessible to the youth in Colorado.

To learn more about the program, check out The Pro's Closet article about the program.

Upcoming Events

Our summer adventures are just starting. Here's where you can find us in July and August.

• ICast Trade Show - Booth 2245
  • July 14 - 17 | Orlando, FL
• VRD Mountain Bike Race 5: Beaver
  • July 22 | Beaver Creek, CO
• Sports, Inc. Outdoor Trade Show
  • August 13 - 15 | Nashville, TN
• Leadville Trail 100 MTB
  • August 13 - 14 | Leadville, CO
• Leadville 100 Run
  • August 21 | Leadville, CO