Margo Hayes joins The North Face Global Athlete Team After 5.15a Ascent of ‘La Rambla’
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The North Face announces Hayes to athlete team along with four additional world-class climbers.
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Mar 1, 2017 – The North Face, the global leader in outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, is announcing the addition of Margo Hayes, Matty Hong, Savannah Cummins, David Allfrey and Anna Pfaff to outdoor athlete team.
Margo Hayes,‘La Rambla’ Spain. Photo: Greg Mionske
Margo Hayes, of Boulder, Colo. recently sent the classic ‘La Rambla’ in Spain, becoming the first women to climb a confirmed 5.15a. Last August, she became the first woman to send ‘Bad Girls Club’, one of Colorado’s most difficult routes at 5.14d, proving she can keep up with the best in outdoor climbing. The reigning national champion in women’s sport climbing has quickly become a consistent podium finisher in sport and bouldering competitions around the world, first in the youth categories and now in the open age category.
“None of us achieve our dreams alone, and I follow in the footsteps of generations of climbers and athletes who have pushed themselves to reach new heights. I am honored to be a part of the international climbing community, one that respects each other and our environment. I am also excited to be among The North Face team of athletes who share this appreciation and reflect the potential that each of us possess.” – Margo Hayes
Since 1966, The North Face has been challenging athletes to push their boundaries and commit to a life of exploration. These athletes are the pinnacle of the company’s promise to “Never Stop Exploring”. Joining a world class roster with the likes of Ashima Shiraishi, Alex Honnold, and Jimmy Chin.
About the Athletes:
Matty Hong – Born to climber parents, Hong was hanging out at the crag before he could even talk. While he has some impressive competition results under his belt, outdoor rock is where his heart lies, and Hong has ticked some of the toughest routes around. His resume lists some impressive sends, including ‘Papichulo’ (5.15a), ‘La Rambla’ (5.15a) and a handful of 5.14d’s, as well as a grip of V14 boulder problems.
Savannah Cummins – The Ohio native finds solace in the mountains, whether it be tackling rock objectives, ice climbs or documenting others tackling their dream routes, she’s always on the move. Cummins ticked off a notable first ascend of Cognitive Dissonance W15 and was named as one of “The 10 Best Climbing Instagrams” by Climbing Magazine.
“My time in the mountains has just begun, but while I work on ticking my own objectives, I’m probably even more excited to be in the places where I can document others ticking theirs. Capturing the moment while experiencing the adventure is what I most want to do, and I’m determined to send that project no matter how much sweat, suffering and sucking it takes.” – Savannah Cummins
David Allfrey – This “jack of all trades” has a deep love for big walls, free climbing and alpine routes. No stranger to Yosemite Valley, Allfrey has climbed nearly 100 big wall routes in the area and established almost 20 different speed routes on those walls. In 2014, he and Alex Honnold completed the “7-in-7” where they climbed a route of El Capitan every day for 7 days, and establishing 4 new speed records.
Anna Pfaff – Pfaff is a climber, nurse and humanitarian based in Oakland, CA. She has a passion for remote mountain ranges and has been on expeditions to Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal and India to name a few. Setting notable first ascents on ‘Unattached’ (WI3, AI4, M4, 5.6, 600 meters), ‘Apocalypse Now’ (WI7, M9, 300 meters) and ‘Lungartse Peak’ (6,070 meters), Pfaff continues to climb where most never have. Additionally, she serves as a volunteer surgeon with a nonprofit organization called Mission of Hope Bolivia in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
About The North Face® The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today we are the world’s leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested, expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits of human potential. We protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability. The North Face products are available at premium and specialty retail sporting goods stores globally and we are headquartered in California on a LEED Platinum-certified campus. For more information, please visit www.thenorthface.com.
