Ahnu Footwear Sponsors Blind Athlete Trevor Thomas

ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA- Ahnu Footwear, the outdoor performance and lifestyle footwear brand, will join Trevor Thomas in his attempt to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the first ever Mexico-to-Canada endeavor by a blind athlete.

Thomas and his team of backcountry enthusiasts – known as Team Farsight – will begin their thru-hike of the 2800-mile PCT in April, 2010. Along the way, the four-person team will rely on Ahnu Footwear to safely and comfortably guide their steps as they pass through some of the most demanding terrain on the planet. An experienced expedition athlete, Thomas was the first blind person to make an unassisted thru-hike of the 2175-mile Appalachian Trail. Currently 40, Thomas lost his sight five years ago to a rare eye disease.

“We are incredibly proud to support Trevor and his team as they undertake this tough challenge,” said Ahnu Footwear founder and President Jim Van Dine. “Trevor is a true inspiration to the blind and sighted communities alike, and we’ll be following his progress from beginning to end. We can’t wait to throw him a party in August to celebrate this huge achievement.”

The challenge of the PCT thru-hike is one that few athletes have overcome, as fewer people have successfully completed a thru-hike of the PCT than have summited Mount Everest. One of the primary reasons for the low rate of success on the trail is that the PCT traverses some of the most rugged, remote and versatile terrain in the United States.

Beginning near San Diego and finishing in British Columbia, along their journey Thomas and his team will pass through the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges, parts of Yosemite National Park and the Ring of Fire Range. Snow run-off, native wildlife, non-existent trails and Mother Nature combine to make this trek one of the hardest on the planet, demanding on the athletes and their equipment.

Ideal for the numerous terrain and climate challenges on the trail, Ahnu Footwear’s unique NPS (Neutral Positioning System) technology will be essential to Thomas and his team. Rooted in advanced biomechanical design, Ahnu Footwear NPS positions the foot in a natural, centered position promoting proper foot balance for optimal performance in any terrain. Thomas and his team will start the hike in Ahnu’s rugged hike and cross-terrain products, including the Westridge Mid, Moraga Mesh and Firetrail styles.

Thomas carefully selected Team Farsight members to provide the PCT end-to-end expedition with the greatest possibility of success. Every member of the team contributes a unique set of skills along with extensive backcountry experience.

Follow Trevor Thomas and Team Farsight on Ahnu’s Facebook and Twitter sites, and on www.teamfarsight.org.

ABOUT AHNU FOOTWEAR® (a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation NASDAC: DECK): Deckers Outdoors Corporation strives to be a premier lifestyle marketer that builds niche brands into global market leaders by designing and marketing innovative, functional and fashion-oriented footwear developed for both high performance outdoor activities and everyday casual lifestyle use. Teva®, Simple® Shoes, UGG® Australia, TSUBO®, and Ahnu® are registered trademarks of Deckers Outdoor Corporation.

For media queries, please contact Caitlin Welter at caitlin_welter@madriver.com or call 802.583.6069.