NEWS &
NOTES
POLARIS ACQUIRES MINORITY INTEREST IN FLW
I
n November, FLW announced that Polaris Industries, Inc.,
had acquired a minority ownership interest in FLW,
extending and expanding the relationship between the
world’s largest tournament-fishing organization and the lead-
ing global powersports manufacturer.
“With recreational fishing being a popular and growing
sport in the U.S., this strategic partnership allows us to
leverage insights and more deeply engage with FLW’s net-
works, fishing consumers and outdoor enthusiasts across
the globe to promote our products and brands,” says Bob
Mack, senior vice president of corporate development and
strategy, and president of adjacent markets and boats for
Polaris.
FLW will continue to operate under the leadership of FLW
President of Marketing Trish Blake and FLW President of
Operations Kathy Fennel.
David Dudley will continue to represent Polaris in FLW
competition.
FLW FOUNDAtION, AMBASSADOrS INtrODUCe MOre tHAN
1,000 YOUtH tO FISHING IN 2018
10
The FLW Foundation and its FLW Ambassadors
– volunteers from throughout the FLW tourna-
ment ranks – surpassed the 1,000-youth partici-
pant mark at 23 Unified Fishing Derbies held at
FLW Tour and Costa FLW Series events as well as
20 other community-organized youth fishing
events in 2018. The milestone represents tremen-
dous growth in the program that helps to fulfill the
FLW Foundation’s mission to connect America’s
youth to their natural resources and promote
education, conservation and an active lifestyle.
“One of the most important pieces for the
future of our sport is the recruitment of the next
generation of anglers,” says FLW Foundation pro
Cody Kelley, who works with FLW National Youth
Director Scott Ellison to coordinate the Unified
Fishing Derbies. “The FLW Foundation fishing der-
bies are always completely free for the partici-
pants and allow them to experience fishing for the
first time and even walk away with their first FLW
trophy. Our ambassadors have been a huge part
of the success of the program. Their passion for
taking kids fishing is amazing.”
Among the Ambassadors who participated at
FLW Tour and Costa FLW Series events were
Sergio Arguello of North Hollywood, Calif.; Jimmy
Green of Tulsa, Okla.; Tom Stark of Angola, Ind.;
Rob Crane of Fairview Heights, Ill.; and Darren
Gallaher of Hixson, Tenn.
FLW also partners in the events with DMF Bait,
which provides worms for the participants.
Anglers interested in participating as FLW
Ambassadors in 2019 can contact Cody Kelley at
[email protected].
FLWFISHING.COM I WINter 2019