Marty Grabijas

Marty started in the outdoor industry, tying flies for a local Orvis shop. While other kids had paper routes, he tied flies. His family was not of means and he could not afford to purchase what limited outdoor gear there was in the 70s. As a result, Marty’s grandmother taught him to sew, and he made all of his own gear. Eventually, that led him to create an OEM design/manufacturing business where he did contract work for many of the largest brands. Prior to getting on his feet in the industry, Marty was in the military and became a dirtbag guide. He has maintained and added to those credentials over the years, guiding, instructing, and leading first descents on multiple continents.

Title: Freelance writer
Location: Durango, Colo.

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: Product development, kayaking, canoeing. alpine skiing, fly fishing, cycling, wilderness travel.
• Years in This Expertise: 50+
• Number of Products Expert Has Tested: Well over 1,000.

Education & Certifications

• Education: Various degrees in education and biochemistry.
• Years of Writing: 40+
• Certifications Held: Instructor, Instructor trainer, instructor trainer educator for most paddlesports disciplines. PSIA alpine instructor. USSS alpine race coach. WFR. WFA, CPR.
• Club or Association Memberships: American Canoe Association, Professional Ski Instructors of America, United States Ski & Snowboard, National Strength and Conditioning Association, Federation of Fly Fishers International. Mentor to Fort Lewis College School of Business Administration, Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs, and The Futurist Project.
• Awards or Recognitions: Numerous Gear of The Year and Editors Choice Awards for equipment that my team designed. A few podiums at nationals for various sports.
• Previous Publications: SNEWS, Forbes, Sporting Goods Business, Outside, Backpacker, Singletracks, Shooting Sportsman, Sporting Shot, Canoe & Kayak, Paddler, Sea Kayaker, et al.

A Word From Marty G.

My start in the outdoor industry was tying flies for a local Orvis shop. While other kids had paper routes, I tied flies. Our family was not of means. I could not afford to purchase the limited outdoor gear in the 70s. As a result, my grandmother taught me to sew, and I made all of my own gear. That eventually led to my creating an OEM design/manufacturing business where we did contract work for many of the largest brands. That background of being in closed-door meetings with management, developing products for them, auditing factories around the world, and overseeing production provided me with a very deep understanding of the products from white paper until you are using it in the field.

Prior to getting on my feet in the industry, I was a dirtbag guide after I had exited the military. I maintained and added to those credentials over the years, guiding, instructing, and leading first descents on multiple continents.

These days, I teach a bit of skiing, coach a bit of alpine racing, and take the occasional guiding gig to extraordinary locations domestically and internationally. Mostly, though, I am a Service Animal to My Canine.