DYNAFIT Partners with Aspen Snowmass For Uphill Skiing Equipment Rentals, Demos and Events
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Two leaders in uphill skiing join forces to grow the sport
Boulder, Colo. September 13th 2017
DYNAFIT, the athletic mountain brand dedicated to delivering the best equipment and apparel for athletes to move fast and light in the mountains, today announced a partnership with Aspen Snowmass aimed at fostering the continued growth of the sport of uphill skiing. Effective this winter season and extending through the 2019/20 season, the partnership includes the exclusive equipment rental and demo of Dynafit uphill skiing hardgoods at the resort’s Four Mountain Sports stores, the sponsorship of Aspen Snowmass’ ski mountaineering events, and a variety of other collaborative marketing activations.
Dynafit is widely recognized as the leading global manufacturer of uphill ski technology and equipment, having invented the now-ubiquitous tech binding in the early 1980’s. As uphill skiing has experienced tremendous growth amongst recreational athletes, it has simultaneously garnered interest and support from ski resorts across the country.
Aspen Snowmass is at the forefront of this movement––a widely recognized pioneer in ‘on piste’ uphill policies and best practices; now offering uphill Ski School classes, an array of community events focused on “uphilling”, and providing equipment rentals and demos to give guests the full uphill skiing experience.
Dynafit hardgoods – including skis, boots, skins and poles – will be available for rent Four Mountain Sports: Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Snowmass Mall and Snowmass Base Village locations, and will be featured at on-mountain demos throughout the winter season.
As a part of the partnership, Dynafit will be the official presenting sponsor of Aspen Snowmass’ three-part SkiMo Race Series, as well as a Gold Sponsor of the legendary Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race, a world-renowned course which climbs and descends all four of Aspen Snowmass’ mountains each February.
“As the inbounds uphill skiing movement continues to pick up steam throughout North America, we can’t think of a better partner to work with to continue to democratize the sport,” states Dynafit’s North American Marketing Manager Jamie Starr, adding “for years, uphill skiing has been associated with the stereotype that it’s an activity reserved for elite athletes who take sizable risks in the backcountry to slog many hours (or days) to access remote locations. But the reality is––uphill skiing can be a very safe, low-impact, high-fitness-value sport that can be enjoyed everyday close to civilization. We feel strongly that through this partnership with Aspen Snowmass, we can continue to build upon a model that deeply and authentically integrates on-piste uphill fitness into the resort environment.”
The equipment available at Four Mountain Sports locations will include, in this first season: Dynafit Radical A/T Boots, Radical 2 Demo (adjustable) bindings, as well as SpeedFit 84 skis (men’s & women’s) from Dynafit’s new SpeedFit category—a collection specifically designed for those who ski uphill for everyday fitness, usually in a resort setting.
“We are excited to welcome Dynafit to our uphill family. Aspen Snowmass has a well-established uphill culture locally. This partnership will expand the opportunity for guests to experience alpine touring on our mountains and to participate in our uphill events,” says Rich Burkley, vice president of mountain operations, Aspen Skiing Company.
About Dynafit:
As the athletic mountain brand, DYNAFIT knows no compromise and is dedicated to delivering the best equipment and apparel for mountain athletes wanting to move fast and light in the mountain. Since the advent of the revolutionary “Low Tech” ski mountaineering binding over thirty years ago, DYNAFIT has been committed to developing the lightest and fastest most reliable gear for human-powered alpine pursuits in all season, enabling its customers to define and reach their Mountopia, DYNAFIT North America is part of Salewa North America, a subsidiary of the Oberalp Group, a family-owned business with global operations, specializing in premium outdoor consumer products. Boulder-based Salewa North American manages the USA/Canada sales, marketing, operations, distribution and customer service functions for the Salewa brand along with DYNAFIT (based in Munich, Germany), Pomoca (based in Aubonne, Switzerland), and rock climbing brand Wild Country ( based in Tideswell, U.K.) www.dynafit.com
About Aspen Ski Company
Aspen Skiing Company (ASC), based in Aspen, Colo., operates the four mountains in the Aspen Snowmass area – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. In addition, ASC owns and operates the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen Snowmass, a collection of rental and retail shops titled Four Mountain Sports and a hospitality division that includes the five-star, five-diamond property, The Little Nell and two contemporary Limelight Hotels, one based in the core of Aspen, and the other recently opened in Ketchum, Idaho. For more information about Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800-525-6200 or 970-925-1220, or visit the company’s website at www.aspensnowmass.com.
