1. iFIT Enters Reality TV With New Competition Series “Trainer Games” on Amazon Prime Video
Connected fitness giant iFIT is expanding into mainstream entertainment with its first-ever reality competition series, Trainer Games, premiering January 8, 2026 on Amazon Prime Video. The six-episode series, produced with Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction and Brass Monkeys Media, marks a major step in iFIT’s strategy to deepen its media ecosystem and strengthen global brand visibility.
Filmed on the island of Mauritius, the show follows 10 competitors as they face extreme physical and mental challenges designed to test endurance, strength, agility, and resilience. The winner will receive a $250,000 training contract, the title of Trainer Games Champion, and a coveted role on the iFIT Global Trainer Team.
iFIT’s top coaches—including Hannah Eden, Ashley Paulson, and John Peel—serve as mentors, while TV host and fitness entrepreneur Amanda Kloots leads the show. The production team includes veterans from Top Chef, Undercover Boss, and The Amazing Race.
The series reinforces iFIT’s push into content-driven brand building, positioning its trainers and digital ecosystem at the center of its next growth phase.
2. Trek Recalls 74,800 Kids’ Bikes in North America Due to Brake Failure Risks
Trek Bicycle Corporation has issued a recall for approximately 74,800 kids’ bikes and cruisers across the United States and Canada due to a safety defect involving coaster brakes that may fail to engage, posing a risk of crashes. As of November 10, 2025, no injuries have been reported.
The recall covers 68,000 units in the U.S. and 6,820 units in Canada, sold from August 2023 to September 2025 through authorized Trek and Electra retailers and online channels. Affected products include various color options and replacement rear wheels priced between $66–$77.
Consumers can check whether their bike is included by entering the serial number (starting with WTU) on Trek’s recall lookup tool. Dealers will provide free repairs.
3. STEPR Partners With NRG Fitness for Exclusive Distribution in Benelux and DACH
NRG Fitness has been appointed the exclusive distributor for STEPR, the rapidly growing stair climber manufacturer, across the Benelux and DACH regions. The partnership brings STEPR’s full product line—including home-use compact units and commercial-grade stair climbers—to two of Europe’s most influential fitness markets.
STEPR, founded by engineers and fitness industry specialists, is positioning itself as a modern alternative to traditional stairmaster systems. Its products prioritize compact footprints, smooth mechanics, low-noise operation, and optional interactive touchscreen consoles.
NRG Fitness highlighted STEPR’s engineering reliability, long-term product roadmap, and suitability for both home and professional environments as key reasons for the partnership. The full STEPR lineup will soon be available to gyms, hotels, studios, and residential users.
The collaboration signals a renewed emphasis on stair-climbing modalities throughout Europe, with both partners committing to category innovation and long-term market development.
4. DICK’S Sporting Goods Sees Rising Institutional Investment Amid Mixed Analyst Ratings
DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) reported growing institutional investor confidence in recent filings, with TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increasing its position by 7.4%, alongside significant stake expansions by Wellington Management, Westfield Capital, and Vanguard Group. Institutional ownership now stands at 89.83%.
Despite this momentum, analysts remain divided:
- 12 Buy ratings
- 10 Hold ratings
- 2 Sell ratings
Consensus rating: Hold with a target price of $234.29.
Following strong Q2 earnings—EPS of $4.38 on revenue of $3.65 billion—several firms raised their target prices to the $250–$270 range.
The stock traded at $202.91 on Friday, with a 12-month high of $254.60.
Financial highlights include:
- 8.52% net margin
- 36.54% return on equity
- 5% YoY quarterly revenue growth
- FY2025 EPS guidance: $13.90–$14.50
The company continues paying a quarterly dividend of $1.2125, yielding roughly 2.4%.
CEO Lauren Hobart recently sold 20,083 shares, although insiders still hold 32.55% of shares.
5. Matrix Fitness Launches Magnum Plate-Loaded Range for Modern Strength Training
Matrix Fitness has officially unveiled its Magnum Plate-Loaded Range, a new series of 10 high-performance strength machines engineered for commercial gyms responding to the global surge in strength training participation.
The line includes advanced designs such as the Belt Squat, Elevated Biceps Curl, Incline Lever Row, Pendulum Squat, and Standing Hip Thrust, each built with biomechanical precision, intuitive adjustments, and heavy-duty construction. Features include oversized footplates, rotating grips, band attachment points, and customizable frame colors.
The Magnum range is designed to withstand relentless daily usage while providing diverse training stimuli for hypertrophy, functional performance, and biomechanics-focused lifting.
Matrix Fitness UK Managing Director Matthew Pengelly stated that the new line reflects Matrix’s commitment to supporting both facility operators and end users with equipment engineered for high-intensity, long-term performance.
6. ISPO Munich Concludes Its Final Edition Before Moving to Amsterdam in 2026
The 50th and final ISPO Munich tradeshow concluded on December 2, 2025, marking the end of its long-running presence in Germany before relocating to Amsterdam in 2026. This year’s show featured six exhibition halls, industry forums, and approximately 1,700 exhibitors, including hearly 800 from China.
Fitness equipment suppliers were mainly located in Hall C1 and B1, featuring exhibitors such as Ironmaster, Kpower, ZX Fitness, Bokang, and others. Notably, traditional European fitness brands had limited presence, with Egym (Germany) and YORK (UK) participating but with a relatively small booth.
Many Chinese exhibitors are uncertain about joining the 2026 edition due to the show’s new Amsterdam location and its timing, which conflicts with the Autumn Canton Fair (Nov 2026)—a major sourcing event for Chinese manufacturers.
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