Ep.073 - Yeti Gathering: PT3 - Garrett Davis, VP of Brand

Countdowntopodcast.com yeticycles.com zirkeloptics.com mtnops.com pendulumthreads.com - COUNTDOWNTO for 15% off trailsalliance.org/donate-join/ - Donate to Mt. Konocti MTB Trails Videographer: Tyler Vanderwall EP.073 — Yeti Gathering Pt. 3: Garrett Davis, VP of Brand The Yeti Gathering continues from Arapahoe Basin, Colorado, where we sit down with Yeti Cycles VP of Brand, Garrett Davis. Garrett’s connection to Yeti started long before he ever worked there. As a teenager growing up in Tucson, mountain biking became an outlet that helped keep him grounded and out of trouble. Seeing legendary Yeti racers in mountain bike magazines helped ignite a passion for racing that would eventually become a career in the cycling industry. After years working in design, advertising, and global marketing — including stops at major brands and eventually within the cycling industry — Garrett got the opportunity to join the company that had inspired him from the beginning. We dive into what it actually takes to protect and build a brand with more than 40 years of history, why everyone at Yeti wears multiple hats, the culture behind the polished turquoise exterior, and why Yeti isn't trying to build bikes for everyone — they're trying to build the best mountain bikes they possibly can. But this conversation goes much deeper than bikes and marketing. Garrett opens up about losing his father to cancer, dealing with anxiety, and how riding has remained a constant grounding force throughout his life. We talk about the importance of having something that keeps you on track, the people who step into our lives at the right time, mentorship, and the responsibility we gain as we get older to help the next generation find their own path. We also get into the infamous Yeti "dentist" stereotype, the decade-long development behind Sixfinity, the Gathering culture, and why the people surrounding Yeti may ultimately be just as important as the bikes themselves. From a 13-year-old kid flipping through mountain bike magazines to helping shape the future of one of the most iconic brands in mountain biking, Garrett's story is a reminder of how far one passion can take you — and how important it is to eventually pass that passion on. Broken to breakthrough. Two brothers transforming their lives one countdown at a time.