Mountain Hardwear Kicks Off 2015 UTMB as a First-Time Sponsor

Mountain Hardwear Kicks Off 2015 UTMB as a First-Time Sponsor

MHW and Columbia to provide a unique view of the legendary trail race

Richmond, Calif. (August 27, 2015) – Mountain Hardwear, creator of performance apparel and equipment that empowers outdoor athletes to live boldly, is pleased to help make the 2015 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) series a reality as a first-time sponsor and a part of the Columbia Sportswear family. Widely recognized as one of the most difficult foot races in Europe, the UTMB course takes runners over 166 kilometers throughout France, Italy and Switzerland. The rugged trail boasts a staggering elevation gain of nearly 9,600 meters.

This year marks the 13th annual event, now featuring five different race formats available for amateurs and elite athletes alike. This year, 7,500 runners are registered to race, representing more than 87 countries. The main event will take place on Friday, August 28th at the UTMB starting line in the mountain village of Chamonix, France at the base of Mont-Blanc.

Spectators will be treated to a unique view of the race this year, as Columbia Sportswear and Mountain Hardwear have partnered with the Freedom Conservation, a conservation group that aims to raise awareness of the plight of threatened birds of prey, to provide an eagle’s point-of-view of the race. Equipped with a tiny action camera, a trained white-tailed eagle will fly high above the race, around Mont-Blanc, recording an extraordinary bird’s eye view of the action. Broadcast of the unique footage will be available at http://www.ultratrailmb.com/en.

Mountain Hardwear is pleased to support six of its global athletes as they take on the UTMB this year. 

• Amy Sproston, United States
• Ruy Ueda, Japan/Asia
• Takaaki Nagato, Japan/Asia
• Takemitsu Ueno, Japan/Asia
• Ueli Steck, Switzerland, Europe

“From our athletes to the trail running apparel we create, Mountain Hardwear is devoted to seeking out challenges and pushing the limits. Our partnership with the UTMB is a natural one, as we are all committed to uniting a diverse global trail-running community,” said Byron Pittam, Mountain Hardwear’s sports marketing manager. “We’ll be celebrating each runner, from the front of the pack all the way to the last person across the finish line on Sunday.”

About Mountain Hardwear:

Mountain Hardwear is a leader in innovative, premium outdoor apparel, equipment and accessories. We celebrate bold ideas, the drive to challenge the edges of our potential, and the joy, friendships and personal growth that come from that endeavor. We work with era-defining athletes to develop lightweight, easy-to-use and incredibly well-crafted outdoor clothing and equipment. Mountain Hardwear, Inc., founded in 1993 and based in Richmond, CA, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company and distributes its products through specialty outdoor, running, and sporting goods retailers in the United States and 58 countries worldwide. www.mountainhardwear.com

For more information contact JAM Media Collective Julie Atherton at 415.839.7546 or julie@jamcollective.net