La Sportiva News

La Sportiva Names 2010 Running Team Roster And Associate Sponsors
02.01.2010 – La Sportiva N.A., makers of technical climbing, mountaineering, Mountain Running® and hiking footwear, announces its Mountain Running® team roster and associate sponsors for 2010. “Supporting the La Sportiva Mountain Running® team is one of many ways in which we aim to improve the vitality of the sport,” says Laura Fryer, La Sportiva’s Marketing Manager. “Ever since our Mountain Running® team’s inception in 2003, our goal has been to provide a network of support to regional race directors, volunteers, talented athletes and quality races throughout North America. We are very grateful for the assistance that our associate sponsors will be providing in 2010, as this mission would be impossible without their help.” La Sportiva’s running team roster includes over 25 athletes from around North America and includes such ultrarunning notables as Karl Meltzer, Luke Nelson, Leor Pantilat as well as the 2009 La Sportiva Mountain Cup Champions Matthew Byrne and Megan Kimmel. New additions to the La Sportiva team for 2010 include Andy Jones-Wilkins of Ketchum, Idaho, Nathan Yanko of San Francisco, CA, Ellen Parker of Seattle, WA, and Natalie Simms of Chattanooga, TN. Read More...

Daniel Woods top American, Lauren Lee 2nd & Paige Claassen 3rd at SCS Open National Championship Sandy, Utah.
Daniel Woods and Sasha Digiulian were the top American finishers at the SCS Open National Championship at Momentum gym in Sandy, Utah. The two climbers head the new U.S. sport climbing team, gaining access to international events. Though Woods was the top American male, Norway’s Magnus Midtboe won the men’s competition by flashing the final route, along with Woods; Midtboe’s better performance on the two qualifying routes gave him the edge. Results from both qualifiers and finals were used to choose the U.S. teams. See http://www.scsnationals.org/details/index.htm for full results. Read More...

Copp-Dash Inspire Award Announced!
La Sportiva, Black Diamond, Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia announce the Copp-Dash Inspire Award to be announced at next week's Winter Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah. Read More...

Gariepy and Glanc 2nd & 3rd female at Ouray and Mayo takes 3rd
The 15th annual Ouray Ice Festival Competition, held January 9, became a battle of the big guns as Josh Wharton and Sam Elias squared off among a field of 16 men to determine who would drive home with the $2,000 first-place prize, one of the richest purses in U.S. competitive climbing. Wharton, known for bold alpine ascents including a bolt-less attempt on Cerro Torre is a Rifle local and one of America’s top all-around climbers, and perhaps the only to climb an M10, V10 and 5.13 in a single week. Elias has redpointed 5.14c, bouldered V10 and climbed M11. Like Wharton, Elias has at times set up camp in Rifle Mountain Park. At this year’s Ouray competition, speculation raged about whether the alpinist or the sport climber would triumph. For all the results go to: http://ourayicefestival.com/competition/competition-results Read More...

Brad Weaver sends "One Inch Pinch" In Arkansas
Brad Weaver put together a short video of sending V12 "One Inch Pinch", in Arkansas check out this smooth style. Read More...

New Horsetooth Resevoir Guide Book
Cameron Cross and Ben Scott put together a new, updated version of the Horsetooth Resevoir guide book. This book contains sweet photos, easy directions and mapping, and a few new gems and variations to classic boulder problems in the area. Check it out! Read More...

My Triple Crown Deadline!!
The Triple Crown Bouldering Series has reached an end..with all things said and done all three events were a huge success! The My Triple Crown Contest put on by La Sportiva has also come to the top out. We need all log books turned in to the drop off locations no later than Dec. 15th if you wish to be entered into the contest for most creative. Remember this has a grand prize of 4 pairs of rock shoes so don't miss out!! Read More...

Conrad Anker Explains an Epic Montana Ice Season
At Hyalite Canyon in SW Montana we are totally happy to be in the first month of what promises to be an epic season. To start off the Mummy climbs received an ascent on the second weekend of October. Then in November the seldom seen climbs started filling in. The Big Sleep, Black Magic and Winter Dance all were climbed before the 1st of December. The standard climbs formed in well. So what brings on a good season for Hyalite Canyon? First off the geologic layup of the canyon favors ice climbing. The canyon is on the east side (read cold) of the divide and drains north. The peaks sit atop a layer of volcanic mudflow and andesite – both a bit more impermeable to water than the country rock above. Combine this with a very wet summer, a cold October and a heavy Sierra grade layer of snow the second week of November and everything lines up! Ice grows fastest (albeit brittle) when the temps are cold. As I type away on the 6th of December we have had a week of below normal temperatures. Which for next weekends Bozeman Ice Festival is good news. click the link to check out more... Read More...

Caitlin Smith Takes The North Face Endurance Challenge!
In just her first year running competitively at extra-long distances — 50 kilometers (roughly 31 miles) is her specialty — the 28-year-old Smith already has established herself as perhaps the best female ultra-runner in the country....click to read more Read More...

Take a look @ Renan Ozturk's typical day
Nikon is presenting a contest for people to put together a short film 140 seconds or less and display a typical day in the life of.... Check out Renan and what his day consists of. Read More...

The Continuum Project: Nepal
Audrey Gariepy, Jen Olson, and friends send a new route on the Hungo Face of Kwangde Shar in Nepal. Check out this video footage... Read More...

Access Fund Membership Info!!
Get this, The Access Fund estimates that only 1% of climbers in the United States are members of the organization. Yet membership is the very backbone of everything they do—funding 40% of their annual budget to keep climbing areas open. The Access Fund is running a special end-of-year promotion to help drive membership. Step it up and join today! Read More...

Willie and Juan Carlos Climb Guatemala's Volcanoes!
Willie Benegas and Juan Carlos Sagastume did it!! 37 volcanoes in 8 1/2 day covering. About 200 miles and. 24,500 meters of elevation gain, stay tuned Men’s Journal feature article to come...

Sarah Garlick and Friends Discover Newfoundland
Sarah Garlick, Janet Bergman, and Kristen Kremer road trip and boat ride to remote Newfoundland where they discover amazing lanscapes, uncertian cracks, and surprisingly great weather. Check out Sarah's story and pictures! Read More...

Willie Benegas goes for 37 volcanoes in 10 days
Willie Benegas and Juan Carlos Sagastume are attempting to climb 37 volcanoes around Guatemala in just 10 days! This will be the first time anyone has attempted to climb all of the volcanoes in such a short time period. The climbers will be giving updates regularly and to see their progress check out these blogs. www.benegasbrothers.com and www.juancarlossagastume.com.

Brad Weaver Pulling Hard @ Red River
Brad Weaver recently sent "100 Ounces of Gold" at the Red River Gorge which had previously been graded at 5.13c until a hold broke away on the crux and has since never been repeated. Brad was the first to send this route with its new crux sequence and gave a new grade of 5.13d/14a. Weaver is also projecting a 5.14c on the same wall. Great things down at the Red!

Triple Crown News
In this fourth Beta video, Colorado native Andy Wellman tells us how he ended up in Chattanooga, Tennessee by way of Horse Pens 40, Alabama, and shows how to crush two Stone Fort classic V4's, "Super Mario" and "Mystery Groove." Read More...

Rock/Creek Stump Jump
Now in it's 9th year running, the Rock/Creek StumpJump is gaining national recognition and prestige as one of the top 50k trail runs in the country, with racers from 20 states in attendance. This year's race will go down in Rock/Creek Trail Series history as the beginning of something tremendous for Southeast trail running, acting as a magnet for running talents and sponsored athletes such as Dean Karnazes (The North Face), Krissy Moehl and Bryan Dayton (Vasque) and hometown heroes like Wheeler and Greenhill. Moehl, who also represents Patagonia, had just come from a victory at the Tour de Mont Blanc, and decided not to race but was on hand to volunteer. Read More...

2009 Adventure Film Fest in Boulder, CO
Skiing, Mt. Biking, Enviro, Kayaking, Climbing Films and more........... Nov 12-14th 2009 The Adventure Film Festival in Boulder is an international forum for the best and most inspiring independent films of the year. The over 30 films featured in the Festival encompass all aspects of adventure from serious exploration and environmental heroism to gripping tales from the edge of the believable. With award winning films from around the globe‚ adventure art and powerful speakers‚ the annual Adventure Film Festival in Boulder continues to inspire and awaken us all to the world we live in. Check out this years Adventure Film Fest in Boulder, CO going on the weekend of Nov. 12-14th 2009 and experience the outdoor film industry like never before. Catagories included this year are: Fam/Kids show Featured Artist- Renan Ozturk China Episode Filmmaker Workshop Mt Biking Films Climbing Films Skiing Films Kayaking films Environmental Social change Get info about tickets at the following link: http://www.adventurefilm.org/store/tickets.aspx Get the latest trailers at the following link: http://www.adventurefilm.org/films/films/index.aspx Read More...

Summit For Someone Climb Series!
16 Challenging Peaks. 1 Great Cause! Join Backpacker Magazine’s Summit for Someone benefit climb series as we continue to climb North America’s most sought after peaks. Not only will you experience your choice of challenging, professionally guided ascents, but you’ll receive a mountain of free gear from our sponsors. And, you’ll feel good knowing your efforts will help fund a life-changing week in the wilderness for teens that need it most. La Sportiva is pleased to be able to play a role helping America’s young people. Amazing mountains, Spectacular settings! Grand Teton Mount Rainier Mount Olympus Mount Whitney Pico de Orizaba Alaska Expeditions Women-specific climbs Beginner – advanced options Big City Mountaineers’ programs serve hundreds of urban, under-resourced teens by providing access to life-altering outdoors activities with adult mentors. The money raised by each climber is enough to support 4 teens on a one week transformative backcountry experience. Sign up. Raise funds. Get gear. Go climb. Do Good! Read More...

Wilder Gets FA on his project "Cheating Reality"
Matt Wilder has been working a project all fall in the Boulder Flatirons on the North Face of the Devil's Thumb. The 5.14a route is totally new to the area which had never previously been climbed. Aptly named "Cheating Reality" this route is one for the books! Check it out on Matt's blog... Read More...

Caitlin Smith Takes Title in Nike Women's Marathon
The Nike Women's Marathon was held in San Francisco this year and welcomed close to 20,000 participants! The race raised around 14 million dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Caitlin rocking the Skylites was the first to cross the finish line posting a time of 2hrs 52mins. This race was a great success and was represented by 50 countries around the world. Congrats Caitlin and everyone who participated!! Read More...

Alex Honnold Wins the 2009 Bates Award from the American Alpine Club!!
To recognize his many contributions to American climbing and education of our nation's youth, the American Alpine Club established the Robert Hicks Bates Award for outstanding accomplishment by a young climber. It recognizes a young climber who, in the judgment of the volunteer selection committee, has demonstrated exceptional skill and character in the climbing or mountaineering arts and has outstanding promise for future accomplishment. This year’s Bates Award goes to…Alex Honnold. Alex burst onto the climbing scene with a splash of headlines, first in Fall 2007 with his one-day free-solo link-up of the Rostrum and Astroman, and then again in spring 2008, with a first free-solo ascent of Moonlight Buttress, (5.12+) in Zion. These impressive feats were followed by equally impressive ones: an 8.5-hour free ascent of El Capitan’s Salathé Wall, the first free-solo ascent of the Regular Route on Half Dome, and many others. At 23, Alex is one of the most accomplished rock climbers today. Some of his other groundbreaking ascents include an onsight ascent of Masters Edge (E7 6b) at Millstone, UK, as well as an onsight free solo of London Wall (E5) in the same area; a flash ascent of Gaia (E8 6c); and repeats of some of the hardest desert routes, such as Conception and Belly Full of Bad Berries. He lives in Sacramento, California. Read More...

La Sportiva's My Triple Crown Contest!
La Sportiva presents for the first time "My Triple Crown." This contest in association with the Triple Crown Bouldering Series will kick off at the first event at Hound Ears in Boone, NC. Climbers who wish to share their experiences throughout the three events will be able to pick up a signature La Sportiva climbing log book at the Hound Ears event. Climbers are asked to write about all of the funny, inspiring, and excited events that go along with this great climbing comp. Creativity is key to winning this contest which has a grand prize of 4 pairs of climbing shoes!! All participants who fill out a log book atleast half way and drop them into one of three banker boxes no later than December 15th!! along the tour will receive a free t-shirt and will be entered to win the grand prize. Share all of your thoughts and be original in your delivery and it just might pay off!! Read More...

McColl Does Second Ascent of Dreamcatcher (5.14D)
Sean McColl sent one of the toughest routes in North America by conquering Dreamcatcher a route first sent by Chris Sharma 4 years ago. The crux finishing moves were completed the first try by McColl and proves that his hard comp climbing in Europe is paying off. Congrats Sean!! Read More...

Jonathan Siegrist Establishes New Area Called Wizards Gate!
After many days of trail work, cleaning and bolting, Jonathan Siegrist managed to establish 9 routes up at this new area he has dubbed 'Wizards Gate'. Including a number of great moderates, Jonathan also cleaned, bolted and F.A.ed a 12+/13- terror slab called 'Afterlife', an amazing, long 13c called 'Cloak and Dagger', another brilliant and bouldery 13c/d called 'Magic Carpet Ride' and a wicked link up that combines both routes cruxes called 'Black Magic' 14a. Read More...

Jason Kruk, Will Stanhope, and Matt Segal First Ascent in the Bugaboos
The Canadian-American trio of Jason Kruk, Will Stanhope, and Matt Segal have completed the first free ascent of the west face of Howser Spire’s Central Tower in the Bugaboos at 5.12+. Tucked between the well-known South Tower (see 50 Classic Climbs) and the El Capitan–sized North Tower, the smaller Central Tower was only climbed by the west face for the first time in 1999, when two separate lines went up. Kruk, Segal, and Stanhope used a three-pitch variation to free-climb Chocolate Fudge Brownie (VI 5.9 A2), established by Sean Isaac and Brian Webster. After being weathered off the route once, the three climbed the 10-pitch face in a long day, with the crux coming with a steep slab traverse to the right to avoid an un-freeable roof. Stanhope and Segal both took whippers from the crux before Kruk was able to link the moves, opening the door to the North Vancouver/Miami Variation. Following this effort, the trio added Hazel Findlay to the team for a free attempt on Sendero Norte, a link-up on the east face of Snowpatch Spire. The route links In Harm’s Way, some new ground, and Deus Ex Machina to create a free line up the striking 2,000-foot face. Chris Brazeau and Jon Walsh created this route, bolting several face-climbing variations, and nearly free-climbed it; Stanhope and Brazeau tried the route in 2008 and freed all but the crux pitch, which was wet. Enjoying warm, dry weather this summer, Stanhope led the crux fingertrip crack at 5.12+. On both routes, the leader free-climbed while the seconds followed without jumars but not free-climbing every move. Read More...

Sean McColl Places 3rd at IMST World Cup in Austria
Sean McColl placed 3rd in Mens lead at the IMST World Cup Event in Austria last weekend, Just behind Patxi Usobiaga (2nd) and Adam Ondra (1st). Excellent work Sean! Read More...

Renan Ozturk and Zack Smith in Alaska's Ruth Gorge
Renan Ozturk and Zack Smith recently traveled to Alaska's Ruth Gorge. Here is a video of their trip.

Renan Ozturk and Zack Smith in Alaska's Ruth Gorge from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Jason Kehl - Behind the Scenes at the Mammut Bouldering Championships
Jason Kehl just put together a behind the scenes video documenting his route setting experience at the Mammut Bouldering Championships in Salt Lake City during the Outdoor Retailer Show. Check it out! Cool perspective from a setters point of view. Read More...

Kevin Wilkinson First Ascent in Ten Sleep Canyon
Kevin Wilkinson put up a new 5.14 in Ten Sleep Canyon last week. Check out the video on Cedar Wright and Renan Ozturk's Blog, Verical Carnival Dispatches. Read More...

Ptarmigan Traverse in 14.5 Hours
Colin Abercrombie and Leor Pantilat completed the famous Ptarmigan Traverse in the North Cascades of Washington in 14 hours 36 minutes in late July. The two men timed the route from the Cascade Pass trailhead to the Downey Creek trailhead. The previous fastest known time for this traverse, 15 hours 40 minutes, was by Joe Stock and Andrew Wexler. Abercrombie and Pantilat had previously done an 18:10 traverse in 2008. The Ptarmigan Traverse is an off-trail route that covers approximately 30 miles of glacial and scrambling terrain, with more than 10,000 feet of elevation gain. It is normally completed in about a week. Read More...

Daniel Woods Wins Mammut Bouldering Championship
Daniel Woods dominated the men's final, flashing three of the four problems and topping out on the remaining problem on his second attempt. Only one other climber, Paul Robinson, flashed any of the final problems; Julian Bautista topped out on all four problems in a total of 10 attempts, good enough to grab second place. Congrats Daniel! Read More...

Reel Rock Tour
Here is the latest news from the REEL ROCK Tour: Reminding all first-time, amateur and seasoned filmmakers: The submission deadline for year’s REEL ROCK Filmmaking Competition is July 20! Enter your best 2-minute Humor/Spoof or Action/Inspiration film before it’s too late! Check out: http://www.reelrocktour.com/#/contest for details. The fourth annual REEL ROCK Film Tour is coming to a venue near you this September and October delivering the best in cutting-edge climbing and adventure entertainment. This year REEL ROCK brings you the world premiere of Progression, the latest release from Big UP Productions. Also catch the sneak preview of the brand new series First Ascent, co- produced by Sender Films and Nat Geo Adventure Channel. Back by popular demand are the two winning short films from this year’s REEL ROCK Filmmaking Competition. Vote for your favorite films online starting in August. Gear giveaways, appearances by top climbers, and fundraising for non-profits always add to the fun and community spirit of REEL ROCK events. Come and celebrate your passion for climbing and outdoor adventure! Check out www.reelrocktour.com for more information and tour schedule. New shows and details are being added daily, so check back often! Interested in bringing REEL ROCK to your community? Email joss@reelrocktour.com to set up a show. For the latest news, join the 2009 REEL ROCK Film Tour Facebook page and Twitter at https://twitter.com/REELROCK09 Read More...

Kate Rutherford Free Climbs New Wall in Namibia, Africa
Kate Rutherford, Majka Burhardt, and Peter Doucette have climbed two new big wall routes: Southern Crossing (V 5.11+) and Painted Giraffe (V 5.9+), on the 1300-foot Orabeskopf Wall in Southeastern Africa. Read More...

Barr Trail Report – Team members tear it up!
A number of people flew in as the BTMR is a stop on the La Sportiva Mountain Cup, but as Mike Selig said, “Those Colorado Springs boys have it wired. They’re good at altitude, know the course, and this is the race they really train for.” Indeed, on the Mens side, Colorado (and Manitou) Springs runners took 1st thru 4th, as well as 8th, 10th, and 12th. Shiloh Mielke and Jason Bryant came out from North Carolina to contend for the Cup, and earned valuable points running respectable 6th and 9th places. Jason said, “A great experience; nice to meet more La Sportiva Teammates. It’s the best I’ve run at altitude, even though at 9,500′ I got a little dizzy; on the turnaround I was better placed but couldn’t get my head cleared until a couple miles down. Wherever you are, you get used to it – North Carolina has it’s challenges – this is a good, honest course, so the challenge here is the altitude.” The Women’s side was expected to be very competitive, which was a accurate, as two women went under the previous Course Record, which was set just last year. Brandy Erholtz, currently the dominant female mountain runner in the States, became the first woman to run under 1:50 with a 1:49:08. Megan Kimmel also ran under the previous CR with a 1:50:09; along with Stacey Chamberlain of Boulder, all three set age group records. Caitlin Smith, alone in the first 70 people in Women’s field that came from sea level, was 4th in 1:54:52, a time that would have won this race the majority of previous years. There were four women present who were current or past members of the US National Team. “It was beautiful,” said Caitlin. “A beautiful trail; so happy I came out here for it. It was great meeting everyone.” ” And the altitude kicked my ass.” Of the top 7 Women in the current Mountain Cup standings, 6 were at this race! Only Keri Nelson was missing. Current leading Master Lisa Goldsmith said, “Another really good day at Barr Trail. Super great to see the other runners coming in for it. That’s what makes it fun; good runners push you to be your best. I get inspired at races like this to get in better shape and come back. Heard from a few people, ‘Your team did really well!’ (La Sportiva Women were 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th overall, and the Men were 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th). It would have been even stronger if Laura (Haefeli) was here, but she was preparing for the Selection Race in two weeks.” Megan Kimmel will also be at the Cheyenne Cañon race in two weeks, as will Brandy, who took a 2 minute lead into the turnaround on Sunday and probably eased up in preparation. This was Megan’s first BTMR, and said, “Definitely a classic run. It asks for a lot – the grade isn’t steep, but it stays consistent and makes you work the whole way. On the way down it’s the same – it just keeps going, really fast the whole way. It was awesome running with Brandy; we sort of bonded in Europe last year. The Selection Race is going to be really fast.” Matt Carpenter, who clocked still another dominating win at age 44, said, “Both races were decided by less than a minute. But both had a cushion at the top allowing for the luxury of some downhill cruise control. The Women were tearing it up with 3 of the 4 course records coming from them.” (Note – The 4th was Eddie Baxter breaking my age group record). Matt not only runs a great race, but puts the same effort into Race Directing. ALL Entry Fees are given to local charitable organizations, and that is made possible by the Pikes Peak National Bank being the Presenting Sponsor, which picks up the expenses. In addition, La Sportiva is the shoe sponsor, contributing a new pair of shoes to every age-group winner. MOUNTAIN CUP Brandy accumulated a whopping 28 points for this event, as one receives 2 bonus points for each runner beaten who was in the top ten. At a highly competitive event such as this, she thus earned 20 for the win and 8 bonus. This makes perfect sense, as competitive events such as the BTMR are much harder to place well, so one should be rewarded for doing so. Shiloh is dominating the Men with 52 pts, having raced all 4 Mountain Cup events so far. Since he’s 18 pts ahead of 2nd place, he would appear to wrap up the title, but while he clearly intends to repeat his overall title from last year, it’s not a sure thin as only 5 events can count toward scoring, in order to prevent someone from simply out-traveling another competitor. Brandy has 50 pts, two less than Shiloh, but scored that after only two races – both were the most competitive of the entire series, so maximum points were earned. Overall Standings are HERE. Note that while only the Top Ten are shown, points are kept for everyone who have scored, so the Top Ten can change and all points will count. The Mountain Cup moves next to either Squaw Valley or Eldora, both in 3 weeks. Strategy may be employed as runners pick their remaining events to contend, and the very next weekend offers two events to choose from as well. Those weekends will really sort out the Cup, as those who are serious about contending will simply have to be there. Traveling the country, spending your summer running what are 10 of the absolute best trail races in the country, meeting and making new friends each time … good times! In more ways than one. By Buzz Burrell Read More...

Karl Takes Hardrock!
Karl Meltzer just won his 5th Hardrock, in his fastest time ever! Karl clocked a stunning 24:38, running off the front the whole way, and very consistently. During every section he was strong, fluid, and focussed; his form looking quite different from everyone else in the field. At the finish he looked happy and alert; I commented on his very solid run, and he exclaimed (as only an ultra runner could), “I peed the whole way!” At age age 42, Karl is having a great year; this is his 3rd 100 mile win so far this season. For comparison, the last time he did this event, Karl ran a 28:59 behind Scott Jurek’s Course Record 26:08; Karl obliterated that for a new “counterclockwise” CR. Kyle Skagg’s breathtaking (heh-heh) 23:23 of last year still stands and was never challenged. Diana Finkel, of South Fork, Colorado, is currently taking a very hard run at the overall Women’s Course Record; she started off blazing, leaving people speculating that she was overdoing it. At this point – the Kamm Traverse – she is on track to better by 1.5 hours Krissy Moehl’s outstanding CR set two years ago of 29:24. Diana is also a high altitude mountaineer … which doesn’t hurt on this course … and her pacer/boyfriend, Ben Woodbeck, has tried one 8,000 meter peak with her and is pacing the entire distance from Grouse to Finish. She is spending less than 30 seconds at each aid station, with the CR their goal from the outset. She ran and won her first Hardrock last year in 31:09. As of this writing, Karl is the only finisher, but presumably will be followed by Troy Howard and Finkel. Scott Jaime and Jared Campbell are doing their usual back and forth, with Jared’s stomach going completely south after Telluride, allowing Scott and probably AJW to forge ahead. The weather has been outstanding. Numerous storm cells threatened all day yesterday, resulting in some showers but mostly keeping the temps down. Overnight the skies were clear with no wind. My guess is that it won’t be long before trekking poles become standard issue for Hardrock. Americans have been notoriously resistant to adopting them, even has the Euro’s have been benefitting from them for years. Indeed, all the former Tour De Mont Blanc entrants were using them very effectively during this race, including Karl, who carried them Start-Finish. He said, “I’ve never used poles before. They rock. They keep your balance on the tricky stuff so your legs can just push you forward.” Many many more stories could be told; the above is just an early snippet. By Buzz Burrell Read More...

Sean Mcoll Dominates at World Championships in China
Sean McColl made the finals in both lead climbing and bouldering at the World Championships in Qinghai, China. He is the only climber to achieve this remarkable feat. His 43rd place in speed, 6th place in bouldering and 5th place in lead gave him the most overall points and the title. However, no North American gained the podium in the biannual competitions’ three big events. For a photo gallery of Sean's efforts at the World Championships please visit: http://www.climbing.com/photo-video/gallery/sean_mccoll_wins_overall_title_at_world_climbing_championships/ Read More...

Jenny Capel Wins the Montrail UltraCUP
Jenny Capel won the Montrail UltraCUP on Sunday. Congrats Jenny! Read More...

Bighorn Trail 100 Race Featured on Newy York Times Website
There is a great writeup on the Bighorn Trail 100 Race in Wyoming on the NY Times website featuring the Crosslite! Check it out! Read More...

Loren Rausch Climbing In Alaska
Loren Rausch just made it back from Alaska. There was some poor weather, and some great weather. Loren started her trip out by sitting in the tent for 6 days while is snowed, she skied boot top powder every day however. Loren then attempted to climb the Mooses Tooth via the Ham and Eggs Couloir. The route was in poor condition, requiring aiding off of ice tools on the "ice" (overhanging sugar snow). She climbed past the technical cruxes (about 11 pitches up) then bailed due to poor conditions. They had a 50 hour push with one open bivy, with only a single sleeping bag between them. The team tried skiing the Japanese couloir on Mount Barrille, but conditions were bad (they ended up skiing 1/3rd of the couloir). The team did climb the couloir to the top and summited at midnight. She then tried climbing the Muggs Stump route, Goldfinger. They made it 2.5 pitches up beautiful rock before sheeting water turned them around.

Honnold and Leary Set a New Speed Record on Salathe
Alex Honnold and Sean Leary have climbed the Salathé Wall on Yosemite's El Capitan in a record 4 hours and 55 minutes. After that, in the scorching heat, the pair ran up the Nose in 7 hours. It's reported that they planed to climb Half Dome next but were too exhausted. Read More...

Madaleine Sorkin Frees West Face of Leaning Tower
Madaleine Sorkin became the third woman to free the West Face of Leaning Tower in Yosemite, California. Read More...

Joe Kinder tearing it up in Utah and Nevada
About a month ago Joe sent a major project of his called the Re-Up and graded 14d. This is an outstanding line that links two 14b/c routes together for a stamina monster. You can see the video of the Re-Up on Deadpoint Mag's site here....http://deadpointmag.com/ Joe also put up another first ascent of a hard boulder problem project in a little cave called the Virgin Cave. He called this one Bovice. Check out the video here...http://vimeo.com/4694264 Joe also made it to Mt. clark in California and sent Jumbo Pumping Hate second go as well as two other 13cs second go. You can see the actual send on Deadpoint's site as well...http://deadpointmag.com/ And the second go ascent of Dios Mios an epic 13c on amazing white rock....check it out here....http://vimeo.com/4851983 Read More...

Paige Claasen sending in Rifle
Paige Claasen sent Zulu (5.14a) at Rifle on Tuesday! So Strong! She is headed to Europe to compete in the world Cup in July and August.

Bouldering World Cup in Vail, Colorado - Results
Daniel Woods placed 2nd in the Bouldering World Cup in Vail, Colorado on Saturday. The event, hosted by Teva, was part of the Teva Mountain Games and there were over 70 competitors from across the world. Nice work Daniel! Read More...

Caitlin Smith - Diablo 25k Course Record
Caitlin Smith ran the Diablo 25k on Saturday and was the first woman and set the course record! This past weekend the La Sportiva Mountain Cup (iRF's LSMC coverage) headed clear across the country for the Mount Diablo 25k run just a few miles east of Oakland, California. There on the flanks of the aptly-named Mount Diablo the LSMC participants would face an even greater challenge than they did last week at the Rock2Rock Run - 4,450' of elevation gain in just 25k. Fortunately, unseasonable cool temperatures beneath a marine layer set the stage for course record crushing performances... but with the talent being attracted to the LSMC races that's becoming the trend regardless of the weather! Read More...

Official Website For Copp, Dash and Johnson Search
Please consider a donation to help with search efforts. For up to date information on the Copp, Dash and Johnson search check this site. Until we meet again, sending love and prayers to your families and entire community... Read More...

Please donate to the Copp, Dash & Johnson search fund now!
Three Boulder, Colorado climbers—Jonny Copp, Micah Dash, and Wade Johnson are overdue, having missed their flight on June 3 from Chengdu, China. The three traveled to Mount Edgar (6818 meters/22,368 feet) on the Minya Konka massif, Western Sichuan Province, China. Copp and Dash are highly experienced alpinists and professional climbers who have many years experience tackling big unclimbed mountains around the world. They received the Lyman Spitzer Grant Award for this expedition from the American Alpine Club in 2008 but had to delay the climb until now, due to political unrest in the region. Johnson (a photographer with Sender Films) was accompanying Dash and Copp to base camp and did not intend to attempt the climb to the summit. On June 4, 2009, a small party of experienced climbers, organized through the Sichuan Mountaineering Association, arrived in “base camp” and are preparing to continue up to the “advanced base camp” to gather information. Search efforts are being professionally coordinated by friends and colleagues in Boulder and more climbers from China and the US are being deployed to the area. Developing information will be shared as soon as it is available. “We’re taking all the necessary steps to gather information about the climbers’ whereabouts and haven’t identified any complications beyond their lateness. Although we’re concerned, in alpine climbing it’s not unusual to for climbers to be delayed or out of contact for this long. We are still hopeful,” says Robb Shurr, spokesperson for the search effort. This search operation will be costly and any financial assistance that can be made will be incredibly helpful in terms of mounting the best search and rescue operation possible. Please donate to the search fund now. Read More...

Leor Pantilat and Caitlin Smith Win the Ohlone Wilderness 50k
Leor Pantilat and Caitlin Smith ran in the Ohlone Wilderness 50k on Sunday and both won and set course records. Check out the Mountain Running Blog for a full write up. Read More...

La Sportiva Athletes Clean Up at the Rock2Rock
The 3rd annual Rock2Rock 10k Trail Run saw beautiful weather, a grueling course and national caliber competition as it was the kick-off race for the 2009 La Sportiva Mountain Cup, a top-flight series of 10 events across the United States. 2008 winners and Asheville locals (and brother/sister) Shiloh Mielke and Meadow Tarves were clear favorites, but they would be challenged by top runners from around the country ... the La Sportiva Mountain Cup and it's $25,000 in overall prize money brought some of the big guns from out of state. Read More...

Full Slate of American Alpine Club's 2009 Grants Announced
Golden, Colorado; May 20, 2009: The American Alpine Club experienced a 32% increase in applications for its fiscal 2009 grants program, and responded by awarding 11% more funding to climbers than in fiscal 2008. The AAC provides more grants to climbers than any other U.S. organization; this year the club awarded $43,900 to climbers and to those who research and conserve climbing environments. The increase in funding comes at a time when AAC membership also continues to grow, up 9% for the fiscal year to date (October-April), compared to the same period last year. Growing corporate support for the AAC, including its grants program, contributed to the organization’s ability to step up its commitment to the climbing community. A full list of 2009 recipients can be found on the final page; project snapshots follow. Read More...

2009 REEL ROCK FILMMAKING COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
The 2009 REEL ROCK Film Tour (www.reelrocktour.com), presented by Sender Films and Big UP Productions is now accepting submissions for the 2009 REEL ROCK FILMMAKING COMPETITION. If you have a camera, computer, and a fresh idea, one of the short REEL ROCK ‘09 films could be yours! Building on the popularity of the 2008 filmmaking competition — in which tens of thousands of people voted for their favorite Humor/Spoof and Action/Adventure films — the 2009 competition has expanded with new rules and new prizes. Winning filmmakers will receive $500 in cash and rake in grand prize packages from title sponsors Windstopper and The North Face, gear sponsors Petzl Equipment and Sterling Ropes, and media sponsors Climbing Magazine and Urban Climber. The winning films, one from each genre category — as chosen by voters online and REEL ROCK judges — will be featured on the 2009 REEL ROCK Film Tour in over 100 locations worldwide. Submission deadline is July 20, 2009 Read More...

Austria rocks wc; Mccoll, Woods in top 10
Austria dominated the IFSC Bouldering World Cup May 2-3 in Hall, Austria, with wins for the men's, womens, and team competitions. The women's gold medal was a tie between Japans Akiyo Noguchi and Austrias Anna Stöhr, who both flashed the superfinal set up for them. The Austrian strongman Killian Fischhuber won the men's competition, while Vancouver's Sean McColl and Daniel Woods of Colorado made the top 10 in ninth and 10th. A first-hand account of the comp can be found on Sean's website: http://seanmccoll.com. Read More...

Kinder Links 5.14d FA in Utah
Joe Kinder has completed a link-up of two 5.14 routes at the Wailing Wall in southwestern Utah to create a 5.14d line called The Re-Up, the hardest route he has redpointed and one of the most difficult in the country. The Re-Up starts with the long crux passage of Unforgivable (5.14b/c), a route Kinder climbed in early April, shortly after Daniel Woods made the first ascent. After a “medium rest” and a leftward traverse, the route finishes with the long 5.14a crux of Schlachthaus Funf (“Slaughterhouse 5”). Read More...

Direct Start of Unforgivable
Joe Kinder bolted and prepped a direct start into the 5.13b Treebeard at the Wailing Wall cave in Southern Utah. In late March, Daniel Woods was able to complete the first ascent of Unforgivable (5.14b/c) in just a couple of tries. Joe made the route's second ascent after eight days of effort. Check out the commercial video he made for his sponsor Gregory Packs, which contains footage of his ascent. Read More...

La Sportiva athletes: woods, Kinder and Cardwell sending in St. George
A crew of strong climbers based out of St. George, Utah, has been sending hard at the Wailing Wall. Daniel Woods got the first ascent of a Joe Kinder project called Unforgivable, redpointing the route on just his second try; Kinder soon made the second ascent. Woods called it 5.14b/c, but Kinder believes it’s 5.14c. Read More...

Lauren Lee latest send, The Present, 5.14a
Lauren Lee just sent her project, The Present, "5.14a in thirty heinous feet!" Already moving on to a route in Zion...gal is on FIRE... Hopefully more details soon!

Leor Pantilat & Catlin Smith Win Big @ Way too Cool 50km
What was deemed one of the the most competitive fields, the 2009 Way to Cool 50km saw was stacked with favorites and lots of dark horses. Leor Pantilat and Catlin Smith took 1st Male and 1st Female! Congrats! Read More...

Matt Segal's new line Smart Went Crazy-5.13+ R/X
Matt Segal climbed a new 5.13+ R/X trad line in the Kloof Alcove in Eldorado Canyon, Colorado. After toproping the route successfully and testing the fall by throwing a loaded pack from the crux, Segal led Smart Went Crazy, taking a couple of falls from the beginning of the V10/11 crux passage before he linked the whole climb. Read More...

JC Hunter Breaks the Law 5.14c
On February 24, Jacinda “JC” Hunter clipped the chains on Dave Graham’s Breaking the Law (5.14b) at the Black and Tan wall in Southern Utah. The first woman to climb the route, Hunter spent most of this winter working the project. Hunter’s ascent of Breaking the Law marks one of the hardest female redpoints in the country, surpassed only by Beth Rodden’s Meltdown, a mere letter grade harder at 5.14c. Hunter is only the third American woman to send 5.14b, behind Beth Rodden and Emily Harrington. Unlike Rodden or Harrington, Hunter has four kids and a full-time nursing job. The kids tag along on Hunter’s trips, exploring the area as mom works her project on the crag above. Read More...

Daniel Woods takes 1st at adult Bouldering Nationals, Boulder, CO
Daniel Woods and Alex Johnson won the adult Bouldering National Championship at the Spot gym in Boulder, competing in a field that included some international superstars of bouldering

Emily Harrington wins SCS Adult Nationals
In a two-day comp near Salt Lake City, Coloradans Carlo Traversi and Emily Harrington won the 2009 SCS Adult National Championships, sponsored by The North Face and Sterling Ropes. Ryan Roden and Amanda Sutton won the speed-climbing nationals. Read More...

Colin Haley takes on Supercanaleta-Fitzroy, Patagonia
Colin Haley has done a rare solo ascent of Fitz Roy in Patagonia, via the Supercanaleta (a.k.a. Super Couloir), the amazing ice and mixed line that splits the mountain’s west face. Haley completed the mile-high ascent in a little over 14 hours from the bergschrund to the summit. This is the second known solo ascent of the Supercanaleta (1,600m, TD+ 5.10 90°), according to Patagonia historian Rolando Garibotti. Read More...

Dawn Glanc and Will Mayo take on Ouray Comp
On a extra spicy Vince Anderson mixed route, La Sportiva Athlete Dawn Glanc took 1st place, Will Mayo took 2nd and Pablo Stein gave an amazing crowd pleasing performance for 7th at the Ouray Competition. Congratulations! Read More...

McColl Wins Gold at IFSC National American Climbing Championship
The IFSC North American Climbing Championships yielded another gold medal finish for Canadian Sean McColl. This win assures McColl the title of 2009 North American champion and adds to his impressive list of national and international victories. Visiting Americans swept every other gold medal in the lead category with Tiffany Hensley winning the women’s open. Canadian men dominated the speed climbing event with John Bowles taking gold, Benoit Dubois silver and Dan Archambault bronze. More details here and here. Men’s Results 1. Sean McColl (CAN) 2. Mauricio Herta (MEX) 3. Bret Johnston (USA) Women’s Results 1. Tiffany Hensley (USA) 2. Paige Claassen (USA) 3. Emily Harrington (USA) Read More...

Vote for Athlete Heidi Wirtz Inspiring Soles
La Sportiva athlete Heidi Wirtz is in the running for the Inspiring Soles award. If enough votes are cast for her cause, Girls Education International, the organization will be awarded $25,000! Girls Education International, which works closely with communities in mountainous regions of the world to expand and support educational opportunities for women and girls. Learn more by going to http://girlsed.org Read More...

Alex Honnold is getting after it in the UK
La Sportiva Athlete Alex Honnold and Matt Segal have been busy on run-outs in the UK- Check out the link to see the list- Read More...

Wilkinson, Bergman, Ditto and Goodman bag unclimbed Indian Spire
Inspired by a postcard-size photo that Freddie Wilkinson had seen in a shop, Janet Bergman, Ben Ditto, Pat Goodman, and Wilkinson planned to attempt new routes in the Manikaran Spires, southeast of Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Read More...

Golden Climbing Shoes Award Seoul, South Korea
On Friday 7th of November, the first edition of the Golden Climbing Shoes Award will be held in Seoul, the capital of South Korea: an appointment set to become an important annual event in the Far Eastern mountaineering scenario. Thirty journalists from all over the world will elect the Far Eastern athlete to be awarded this first, exclusive title for outstanding performance in both indoor and outdoor climbing competitions. Read More...

Hound Ears Bouldering
Check out the report on the first event of the Triple Crown- Hound Ears, NC Read More...

Alex Honnold Free Solos Half Dome
Alex Honnold made his mark in the Valley again on September 6, 2008 with the first free solo of the Regular Northwest Face (VI 5.12a, 23 pitches) on Half Dome. Perhaps Honnold's greatest achievement prior was his landmark free solo of Moonlight Buttress (V 5.12+, 9 pitches), Zion National Park, Utah. Read More...

La Sportiva Mountain Cup Wraps Up, Vail, CO
The La Sportiva Mountain Cup wrapped up, appropriately enough, in Vail, Colorado, one of the capitals of mountain running in North America. Vail created a special course just for this event, which was greatly appreciated by these runners in particular, who were a "who's who" in the sport; it was like a mountain running convention. Every top placement - 12 in all - could still change when the gun went off at Sunday 9 AM. The final overall standings reflected the state of the sport today: some very close finishes, plenty of familiar names re-asserting their fitness, as well as new names getting closer to the podium. Read More...

Magic Mushroom in 20 hours- Tommy Caldwell goes huge
20 hours and 2 minutes — that’s how long it took Tommy Caldwell to free-climb Magic Mushroom (VI 5.14a), a strong contender for the world’s hardest big wall, in a single push, leading every pitch Read More...

Sean McColl takes the top spot at the Tour De Bloc Bouldering Championships
For the third consecutive year, Canadian wunderkind Sean McColl took top spot at the Tour De Bloc Bouldering Championships this past weekend (May 18, 2008), having little challenge defeating a strong field of contenders. Read More...

Caldwell and Sjong first free ascent of Magic Mushroom
After working the route for five weeks, Caldwell and Sjong began their free ascent on May 12 at 5 a.m. Climbing ground up in a push, they each freed every pitch, swinging leads. The route is reported as very high quality, and very steep: the top twelve pitches overhang the entire way. Though the 5.14a crux of the Dihedral Wall (VI 5.8 A3, Baldwin-Cooper-Denny, 1962), which Caldwell freed at 5.14a in 2005, is perhaps more difficult than any single move on Magic Mushroom, Magic Mushroom is far more sustained, with eleven 5.13 or 5.14 pitches and nine 5.12 to 5.12+ pitches. Read More...

Meltzer and McDowell take 2nd & 3rd at the Jemez 50 mile
The Third Annual Jemez Mountain Trail Runs took place under perfect conditions just west of Los Alamos, New Mexico. La Sportiva athletes Karl Meltzer and Nate McDowell took 2nd and 3rd. See the race report here! Read More...

First Ascent of Bat Ears by Sportiva Athletes
Ben Gilmore, Maxime Turgeon, and Freddie Wilkinson have completed the first ascent of the Bat’s Ears, an 11,044-foot peak that was possibly the highest unclimbed major summit in the Alaska Range. Read More...

Colorado Headpoint Gets Four Repeats
The trad-style/headpoint testpiece Must’a Been High (5.13c R), on the Rincon Wall in Eldorado Springs Canyon, Colorado, saw a record four ascents over a three-week period in late February, early March. Read More...

Daniel Woods magic v13
On April, 28 American Daniel Woods, 18, made a first ascent of Metamorphosis (V13) in Switzerland's granite bouldering mecca, Magic Woods. Woods, who placed third at the Bouldering World Cup ten days prior too his big FA, commented on his 8a.nu scorecard that the roof problem of Metamorphosis is steep and powerful. Read More...

Daniel Woods Takes 3rd in Bouldering World Cup
Daniel Woods finished third in the first bouldering World Cup of 2008, in Hall, Austria. The podium finish was Woods’ best result ever at a European competition. Read More...

2008 REEL ROCK FILMMAKING COMPETITION
The annual REEL ROCK Film Tour is gearing up for it's third season, with 100 or more screenings of the world's best climbing films coming to a city near you this fall. If you have a camera, a computer, and a fresh idea, one of the featured films could be yours! The first ever REEL ROCK Filmmaking Competition is accepting submissions of short films (3 minutes max) in two categories: Action/Adventure, and Humor/Spoof, through July 15. Judges at Big UP Productions and Sender Films will select the top entries in each category and post them for online voting. The two winners will have their films featured on the REEL ROCK Tour, and will rake in grand prize packages from Windstopper, The North Face, Petzl, Osprey Packs, La Sportiva and Climbing and Urban Climber magazines. Check out the REEL ROCK site for sample films and submission guidelines, then get those creative juices flowing, fire up the camcorders and laptops, and hit us with your best shot! Read More...

Alex Honnold Free Solos Moonlight Buttress
Alex Honnold Free Solos Moonlight Buttress...it is confirmed...more details to follow. Read More...

Audrey Gariepy cleans up in Icefall Brook Canyon, CA
In under ten days Audrey Gariepy, Caroline George, Jen Olson, Ines Papert and Jon Walsh blasted ten remote ice (up to WI6) and mixed (up to M12) routes, likely all new, in Icefall Brook canyon, Canadian Rockies. After taking a helicopter to the remote area, the five set up base camp within an hour of their farthest objective and climbed from March 11-19. Read More...

Beth Rodden Redpoints Meltdown- 5.14c
After 5 months of working it out, Beth Rodden has redpointed the first ascent of Meltdown (5.14c). Meltdown is the world's hardest traditional rock climb done by a woman. Yosemite National Park, California. Read More...

Lacelle and Gariepy Unearth Huge Ice Walls in Norway
Over two weeks in early February some of the world's best ice climbing talent—Guy Lacelle, Audrey Gariepy and Mathieu Audibert—ventured to Norway with filmmakers Chris Alstrin and Alex Lavigne in search of untapped ice. Even Lacelle, the ice expert who had been to Norway six times prior, was shocked at the quality and quantity of their discoveries. Within two weeks the team of four (Alstrin climbed; Lavigne was filming throughout) established six ice lines, likely all virgin and all at least 250 meters in length. Read More...

Paige Classen and Sean McColl take 3rd in Bouldering Nationals
Huge crowds gathered ti the Spot Gym in Boulder, concluding Season 9 of the American Bouldering Series. Congrats to Paige Classen and Sean McColl for taking 3rd. Read More...

New Englanders Complete Huge Traverse in Patagonia
New Hampsherites Dana “Mad Dog” Drummond and Freddie Wilkinson have done a superb three-day traverse of Aguja Guillaumet, Aguja Mermoz, and Fitz Roy by its North Pillar. The traverse was the culmination of three warm-up climbs, including two new routes or variations, completed during the incredible high-pressure system that settled over the Fitz Roy massif during the second half of January. Read More...

La Sportiva Athletes Jon Cardwell, Emily Harrington, and Pagie Classen send at USA Nationals
Momentum Climbing Gym hosted the USA Nationals Climbing Competition this weekend during the outdoor retailer tradeshow. Competitors put on quite a show for spectators, including super-finals and more! There were more than four hundred people there to watch as many of the top climbers in the USA battled it out. Read More...

Garibotti and Haley Complete Torre Traverse
Rolando Garibotti and Colin Haley have completed the much-discussed—and occasionally attempted—Torre Traverse: the link-up of Aguja Standhardt, Punta Herron, Torre Egger, and Cerro Torre in a single alpine-style outing. Congratulations! Read More...

La Sportiva Athletes Jonny Copp and Micah Dash win the Mugs Stump Award
La Sportiva athletes Micah Dash and Jonny Copp just won the Mugs Stump Award for an unclimbed granite mountain in Tibet. Climbing the first ascent of Dojitsenga (5800m), a triangular, alpine rock peak, all free in Alpine Style... The mountain lies between Rawu and Lhagu in the Kangri Garpo range of South Eastern Tibet. The peak has never seen an ascent.

Sean McColl Storms Bishop Bouldering
Since the end of December, La Sportiva athlete Sean McColl has sent Direction (V13) and Xavier's Roof (V12) in the Buttermilks; he also flashed a couple of V11 problems and added V11 sit starts to existing routes at the Sads. McColl completed The Mandala SDS (V13) once the snow melted...Congrats Read More...

Ouray Ice Fest Report
At 2008 Ouray Ice Competition, seventeen competitors qued up in near-zero temps for a go on what was certainly North America’s most unique—and exciting—mixed comp route ever. Congrats to La Sportiva Athletes- Audrey Gariepy, Will, Mayo, Guy Lacelle and Maxime Turgeon Read More...

Sir Edmund Hillary Passes Away
Legendary mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary has died at age of 88. Hillary is perhaps the world's best-known climber, thrust into the limelight for his and Tenzing Norgay's first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, an event said by some as one of the finest exploratory achievements of the 20th century. Read More...

Colin Haley Summited Aguja Descomochada, Patagonia
Colin Haley spent Christmas climbing the rarely summited Aguja Desmochada in Patagonia via a partial new route. Colin Haley and Carsten von Birckhahn climbed the Northeast Ridge of Aguja Desmochada, completing “by far the easiest route on this difficult-to-reach summit, but [one that] will likely never become the voie normale.” Read More...

Will Mayo's success on Cannon Cliff, NH
New Englanders Andy Tuthill and Will Mayo have climbed a difficult new mixed route on Cannon Cliff in New Hampshire, 200 feet to the left of Omega (IV 5+) and just right of the Henderson Buttress. Read More...

Chris Sierzant takes 3rd in Triple Crown
La Sportiva athlete,Chris Sierzant, took 3rd at the Triple Crown- the biggest competition in the Southeast. The event is a fund-raiser for the Southeastern Climbers’ Coalition and the Carolina Climbers’ Coalition and draws climbers from across the country. Congrats Chris! Read More...

La Sportiva Mountain Runners Chris Lundy and Anita Ortiz Mountain Runners of the year!
La Sportiva Mountain Runners Chris Lundy and Anita Ortiz are both awarded honors by the USATF as Mountain Runners of the Year. Read More...

Vasya sends 5.15a Jaws II
Vasya Vorotnikov has re-redpointed Jaws at Rumney, New Hampshire, after several key holds broke, giving it a new name (Jaws II) and a whopping big grade: 5.15a. HOLY WOW! Read More...

Four new route and three new summits for La Sportiva athlete Freddie Wilkinson
An American expedition completed four new routes in the Miyar Valley of India’s Himachel Pradesh mountains, climbing all free and bagging three virgin summits. Read More...

LaSportiva Mountain Running Athletes take 1st in Imogene Pass Run
Bernie Boettcher and Lisa Goldsmith take fist in the Imogene Pass Run. Congrats! Read More...

LaSportiva Trail Runner Tropy Series Down to the Wire
The La Sportiva Trail Runner Trophy Series enters its final month, early summer point-earners hold firmly onto top positions and only 19 races remain in the 2007 Trophy Series calendar. Read More...

Jonny Copp FA on the 19,200-foot “Shafat Fortress” in Kashmir, India.
Jonny Copp made a speedy, alpine-style first ascent of the 19,200-foot “Shafat Fortress” in Kashmir, India. Read More...

Haley and Westman send the Denali Diamond
Colin Haley and Mark Westman climbed the Denali Diamond route on McKinley's southwest face in June 2007. The pair is probably the fifth party to climb this asthetic line. Read more at Read More...

Emily Harrington 3rd in World Cup
Boulder climber placed 3rd in the World Cup in Zurich, Swizerland in June. To read about Emily's success visit Read More...

Daniel Woods nabs FA in RMNP
Daniel Woods has sent a new problem that has thwarrted many a suitor. Jade, known as Green 45, goes at V15. Read more at Read More...

Daniel Woods sends V13+
Daniel Woods has climbed a V13+ in Eldorado Canyon. To see photos and find out more about Suspension Disbelief go to Read More...

Mt Huntington Climbed in Winter
Colin Haley and Jed Brown made the probable first winter ascent of Mt Huntington in the Alaska Range. The pair made a rapied ascent of the West Face Couloir. Read more at Read More...

Ryan Nelson and Crystal Davis Robbins put up new route in Patagonia
February 11th, Ryan Nelson and Crystal Davis-Robbins established The Art of War (3300 feet, V 5.12a A2) on the South Face of Aguja de L's. To read more about the climb go here Read More...

Emily Harrington joins the 14b club
Boulder based climber Emily Harrrington has redpointed Burning Down The House at the Jailhouse crag in Sonora, CA. Read more here Read More...

Stephen Koch puts up a new route on The Grand
Hans Johnstone and Stephen Koch have established a new mixed route on the North Face of the Grand Teton. Squeeze Box (IV M7 A0) is a 1000 foot line splitting a steep granite buttress. read the story and see pics at Read More...

Daniel Woods wins ABS National Bouldering Championship
Daniel Woods has won another ABS Bouldering Nationals at the Earth Treks gym in Maryland on the weekend of February 17-19. Read more at Read More...

Mugs Stump Awards announced
The fifteenth annual Mugs Stump Awards grants have been announced and 3 of the 5 grants have been awarded to La Sportiva athletes and their partners. Among the recipients are new La Sportiva team member Colin Haley, Maxime Turgeon and Bean Bowers. To read more about the awards go to Read More...

Simone Moro attempting winter ascent of Broad Peak
Simone Moro has now reached basecamp on Broad Peak and is set for the summit bid for a winter ascent. Read more at Read More...

Cordes and Haley complete new link up on Cerro Torre
Colin Haley and Kelly Cordes have completed a fast alpine style ascent of a link up of two routes on Cerro Torre. The Masigny-Parkin line to the Col of Hope was strung together with the original 1974 route up the West Ridge to the summit. To read more check here Read More...

Near Miss in Nyainqentanglha
La Spotiva sales rep Mark Wilford along with Jim Lowther and Mark Richey came up just short on an attempt to climb Nenang an unclimbed 22,539 foot peak in far eastern Tibet. Read more and see great pictures here Read More...

La Sportiva launches Zero waste initiative
Here at La Sportiva N.A. Inc in Bouder, CO we have teamed up with Eco-Cycle to become a zero waste company. We will reuse, recycle and compost 90% of the waste from our facility in an effort to reduce our impact on the earth. Read More...

Woods sends in Frogtown
Daniel Woods made an impressive week-long, whirlwind visit to the Virgin River Gorge where he made an onsight ascent of Hell Comes to Frogtown (5.13d) on October 22, as well as ticking the VRG testpiece Necessary Evil (5.14c) in six attempts over four days, on October 28. Read More...

Bean Bowers and friends establish New Route on Mt Moran
Stealing a last bit of summer, Bean Bowers, Greg Collins, and Hans Johnstone onsighted a 5.12 new route on the South Buttress of Mt. Moran in Grant Teton National Park on September 29. Read More...

Daniel Woods sends Ode to the Modern Man V14
In September Daniel Woods sent Ode to the Modern Man a new V14 at Mt Evans. Read More...

Angela Eiter onsights 8B
The Austrian, Angela Eiter onsighted Skyline 8B at Burs, Austria. Read More...