How Tribu Is Growing Action Sports Across the U.S.

<p>Action sports might feel niche, but the momentum is global.<br>In this episode of The Playeasy Warmup, Kerri Shields sits down with Micah Desforges, Founder of Tribu, to break down how Jackalope has grown from a backyard event into one of the most recognized action sports festivals in the world.</p><p><br>From early grassroots beginnings to international expansion, Micah shares what it takes to build events that go beyond competition – blending sport, culture, and community into experiences people remember.</p><p><br>They also dive into how destinations fit into that growth, what makes action sports so compelling, and why the lead-up to LA28 is creating a major opportunity for cities to get involved.</p><p><br>If you care about experiential events, destination strategy, or where the future of sports tourism is heading, this episode is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 – Intro to Tribu &amp; Jackalope<br> 02:44 – Playeasy Innovators Summit<br> 03:46 – Micah’s Origin Story<br> 05:45 – Backyard Event to First Festival<br> 08:47 – Building Experiences That Feel Different<br> 12:26 – What Tribu Actually Is<br> 14:09 – The Growth of Jackalope<br> 17:00 – Why Culture &amp; Community Matter<br> 21:17 – Expansion &amp; RFP Strategy<br> 25:56 – What Destinations Need to Understand<br> 28:49 – How Events Are Built<br> 31:28 – Virginia Beach Success Story<br> 37:08 – Using Playeasy to Find Markets<br> 39:02 – Why Events Stay Free<br> 41:35 – What Experiential Marketing Looks Like<br> 49:00 – Biggest Lesson Learned</p>