Shock Doctor Announces 2nd Annual Shock Doctor and Cutters Gloves Fearless Performance Tour


     

SHOCK DOCTOR SPORTS ANNOUNCES 2nd ANNUAL
SHOCK DOCTOR AND CUTTERS GLOVES FEARLESS PERFORMANCE TOUR
Expanded Tour Offers Education, Sports Protection and Athlete Safety for Coaches, Parents and Athletes of All Ages


Shock Doctor Sports, the #1 mouthguard company in the world and leader in performance-driven sports protection gear and apparel with brands Shock Doctor and Cutters Gloves, has kicked off a 12 month tour across the country to bring the Shock Doctor Sports mantra of “Hardcore Protection, Fearless Performance” to life.  Inspiring and educating athletes, parents and coaches about the importance of athlete protection and sports safety, Shock Doctor Sports has expanded the 2nd annual Shock Doctor and Cutters Gloves Fearless Performance Tour, to include more states, more events and more sports. 

Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit advocacy group, released a survey in 2013 showing that young athletes visit hospital emergency rooms more than a million times a year for sports related injuries.  With participation in organized sports on the rise, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Shock Doctor believes it more important than ever for youth athletes, coaches and parents to learn about performance and protection gear so that they can play with confidence every practice and every game.

“The Shock Doctor Sports message is simple:  When kids feel protected and confident on the field, they perform better and have more fun,” says Tony Armand, CEO of Shock Doctor Sports. “We want to educate athletes to take charge and protect themselves on the field, ice or court so that they can play their best.”
Making stops at sporting events across the country, the 2014 Tour will add lacrosse, soccer, hockey, basketball, volleyball and triathlon events.  Also scheduled to stop at football and baseball events, the Tour will make special retail appearances in select markets as well. Some of the notable event stops on the Fearless Performance Tour include College World Series, Omaha SlumpBuster, Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, NSSSA State Championships, NSSSA GLOBAL WORLD SERIES, USA Hockey High School National Championship Tournament, 2014 FIL Men's World Championships, National Youth Football Championship Tournament, and Pop Warner Super Bowl and Dance Championship

The Tour will feature a custom Tour van wrapped in Cutters Glove and Shock Doctor product images, canopies featuring product displays, and giant blow up “Orange Guys” that stand over 10 feet tall. The Tour will also be accompanied by a field manager that will interact and educate consumers, as well as a real life “Orange Guy”, who acts as a walking mannequin and entertainment for Tour-goers. The Orange Guy often takes photos with athletes, throws out the first ball or puck of the tournament, dances and has fun with the players.

With the company’s athlete-centric approach and commitment to developing game-changing technology, both Shock Doctor and Cutters Gloves have expanded their line of protective gear and performance apparel to cover more athletes, in more sports, and at all levels.  The interactive exhibit is designed for athletes to learn about the technology, fit, usability, and the best options for their needs, including more about the following product lines:
·      Cutters new Football Receiver Gloves
·      Shock Doctor Mouthguards including the new flavored line, Flavor Fusion
·      Shock Doctor Performance Sports Therapy
·      Shock Doctor Performance Apparel
·      Shockskin Impact Gear
·      Shock Doctor Protective Accessories
·      And more, including sport specific products
Shock Doctor and Cutters Glove products will also be available to purchase.

Using the social media hashtag, #FPtour, Tour visitors can create their own Cutters Gloves using the BYOG (Build Your Own Glove) kiosk, which they can share via Twitter to be put into a drawing each month to win their custom designed gloves.

Shock Doctor and Cutters have also enlisted their Pro Athletes to be ambassadors of athlete safety, including: Akeem Ayres: Linebacker, Tennessee Titans (NFL); Anquan Boldin: Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers (NFL); Kiko Alonso: Linebacker, Buffalo Bills (NFL); Yoenis Céspedes: Outfielder, Oakland Athletics (MLB); Carlos Santana: Catcher, Cleveland Indians (MLB); Wilin Rosario: Catcher, Colorado Rockies (MLB);  Nick Leddy: Defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL); Jack Johnson: Defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets  (NHL); among others.

For a complete list of Fearless Performance Tour stops, go to Shock Doctor’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shockdoctor. Updates and additions to the schedule will be posted online throughout the run of the tour at www.shockdoctor.com.



About Shock Doctor Inc.
Shock Doctor is a leading manufacturer of protective and performance sports equipment.  With a relentless focus on innovation and technology, its products are trusted by athletes, from youth to amateur to professional, across a growing number of sports.  Shock Doctor has the best-in-class mouthguard product line and also provides a full continuum of superior athletic products, including core protective, compression, performance sports therapy, sports gloves (under the Cutters® brand), and insoles.  Its products are sold through major sporting goods retailers, independent dealers, online retailers, and health care professionals throughout the United States and around the globe.  For more information on Shock Doctor, please visit www.shockdoctor.com and www.cuttersgloves.com.





Rookie Defensive Phenomenon, Kiko Alonso, Signs With Cutters Gloves



 ROOKIE DEFENSIVE PHENOMENON KIKO ALONSO
SIGNS WITH CUTTERS GLOVES 
  
MINETONKA, Minn. --  Cutters Gloves is proud to announce that it has added NFL defensive rookie sensation, Kiko Alonso of the Buffalo Bills, to its roster of professional endorsees.  The middle linebacker from the University of Oregon signed a three-year deal with Cutters, where he will join a star-studded list of professional football and baseball players who turn to Cutters Gloves for the ultimate in performance, grip and durability.

Cutters is turning heads across all professional and amateur sports with recent innovations in its proprietary C-TACK™ Performance Grip material.  The company announced that a new line of game changing football gloves, to include the REV and REV PRO, will hit retail stores in March of 2014.  Professional players from the NFL were part of the development and testing of the new line, and as word spread about their superior performance, players have been lining up to get their hands on--or more accurately, IN--the new gloves.

In just the eighth week of his rookie season, Kiko Alonso is second in the NFL in tackles having notched 81 to date, including a blistering performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he racked up 22 tackles, the second most tackles in a single game in NFL history.  On top of that, Alonso has shown that he has great hands with his four interceptions, a number that ties for the NFL lead this season.

"Kiko Alonso is a very special and very rare talent," said Tony Armand, CEO of Shock Doctor Sports and Cutters Gloves.  "He is a complete athlete who is unwavering in his dedication to his sport and to his team, and he is the epitome of integrity and fearless performance on and off the field."

Added Armand, "Kiko has a bright future as a professional athlete, and we at Cutters and Shock Doctor are thrilled to have him on our team."

Alonso currently wears the Cutters X40 gloves, and he will wear a custom version of the Cutters REV gloves for the 2014 season, designed in the color scheme of the Buffalo Bills.  Consumer versions of the line will be in stores in March of 2014, just in time for Spring passing leagues and other training camps.

The all new REV line of lightweight gloves that will be worn by Alonso and other professional players are designed with advanced fit, flexibility, progressive levels of palm-conforming constructions, and the legendary C-TACK extreme grip technology that has made Cutters the industry leader in performance gloves.  The line has models for players of all abilities, including the REV PRO 3D in adult sizes, and the REV PRO and the REV models that are available in both youth and adult sizes.
  
ABOUT KIKO ALONSO
Kiko Alonso attended the University of Oregon, where he played for the Oregon Ducks football team from 2008 to 2012. After redshirting in 2008, he spent the 2009 season as Oregon's primary reserve middle linebacker. He appeared in the final 12 games, accumulating 13 of his 16 tackles unassisted.  Alonso was named the 2012 Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game with one interception and five tackles, including career-highs of 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. In his final season, he started in all 13 games and earned second team all-conference honors while recording 87 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
On April 26, 2013, Alonso was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (46th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Alonso made an immediate impact for the Bills notching 9 tackles in his first NFL regular season game against the New England Patriots.  The next week against the Carolina Panthers, Alonso had a total of 10 tackles, 1 interception, and a sack to lead the Bills to their first win of the season.  With an interception against the New York Jets in week 3, Alonso became the first Bills player to record an interception in back to back games since Jairus Byrd in 2009.

On October 3, 2013, Alonso was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for the month of September.

In a Week 6 game vs. Cincinnati, Alonso had the biggest game of his young career, where he recorded 22 tackles. Although Buffalo lost in overtime, Alonso got nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week for the second time of his career.
  
ABOUT CUTTERS GLOVES
Cutters Gloves® manufactures, markets, distributes and sells an industry leading line of gloves and accessories for football and other sports including baseball, fitness, golf and soccer. Made with their exclusive C-TACK™ Performance Grip Material, Cutters Gloves are crafted from the highest quality materials for the best performance and durability.  Cutters Gloves are also sold in 15 countries worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 110 Cheshire Lane, Suite 120, Minnetonka, MN 55305.  For more information, visitwww.CuttersGloves.com. 

Shock Doctor Promotes Athlete Protection, Health & Safety on KTLA



LOS ANGELES LOVES SHOCK DOCTOR!
 
Company Promotes Athlete Protection, Health & Safety
On #1 Morning News Show In LA

MINNEAPOLIS  -  Shock Doctor took to the airwaves in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 1 as part of its mission to educate athletes, parents and coaches about the importance of athlete protection, health & wellness and sports safety.  KTLA, home of the number one rated morning show in Los Angeles, joined Shock Doctor in promoting the company message by airing interactive segments throughout the entire morning’s broadcast.

View two of the athlete safety and protection segments on KTLA:
http://ktla.com/2013/05/01/sports-safety-personal-training-techniques/#axzz2S5T6OMFs
http://ktla.com/2013/05/01/sports-safety-baseball-attire/

The stop in Los Angeles is just one of many for Shock Doctor in Southern California this month as part of its Shock Doctor/ Cutters Fearless Performance Tour.  Officially launched in March during spring training activities in Arizona, the tour is an aggressive six month, seven state interactive product and education tour aimed at creating awareness and support for Shock Doctor product lines, and to drive retail traffic to partners carrying Shock Doctor and Cutters products.

Said Darci Eckermann, Director of Marketing at Shock Doctor, “With so many choices in sports products today, it’s important that consumers have all of the information they need to be properly equipped on the field.  Our goal on the Fearless Performance Tour is to provide that information, to support our products and retailers by generating interest, and to help athletes and parents alike feel safe and confident when they play.” 

With a total of 15 minutes of air time in the 5:00am, 6:00am, 7:00am, and 1:00pm hours on May 1, KTLA on-air journalist Allie Mac Kay talked to Shock Doctor’s Eckermann about the complete line of Shock Doctor baseball protective gear.  Joining them during the broadcasts were Katie Davis, a Certified Athletic Trainer for CSU Long Beach who talked about nutritional health and warm up tips, as well as Steve Springer, former Major League Baseball player and performance hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays who talked about getting mentally ready for the game.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to reach an enormous audience and to spread our message of athlete protection, health and safety,” added Eckermann.  “Our inaugural Fearless Performance Tour will be on the road throughout August, and we will continue to tell our story at every stop!”

For complete Shock Doctor/Cutters Fearless Performance Tour dates and schedules, please visitwww.ShockDoctor.com.