SCARPA adds Sean McColl to climbing roster for 2016

January 18, 2016

Addition of accomplished boulderer, climber and World Cup Competitor reflects SCARPA’s commitment to rock-shoe category.

BOULDER, Colo. (January 18, 2016) – As it continues to lead the way forward in rock shoe design and performance, SCARPA will add world-renowned boulderer and climber Sean McColl to its athlete/ambassador roster for 2016.

Adding athletes like McColl and fellow World Cup competitor Alex Puccio in recent years, along with a new North American Climbing Category Manager in 2015, reflects SCARPA’s commitment to, and continuing growth in, the rock shoe category.

McColl’s climbing credentials speak for themselves. He has on sighted 5.14a (8b+), flashed: 5.14b (8c) and repointed 5.14d (9a). On the bouldering side, he is only one of a handful of boulders to flash V13 (8B) and redpoint V15 (8C). A familiar face on the World Cup circuit, he has won four events (two in bouldering, two in lead) and been on the podium another 23 times. During his youth career, McColl claimed five world titles.

“SCARPA offers the best performance and craftsmanship across the spectrum of rock shoes built for different types of climbing.” McColl said. “I’m excited to partner with a brand that’s so driven by its desire to lead in the rock-shoe category, and one that backs up that desire with such outstanding and specialized products.”

McColl said the level of innovation in SCARPA shoes, driven by world-renowned rock shoe designer Heinz Mariacher, paired with SCARPA high-quality construction was part of the appeal in teaming with the brand.

SCARPA Climbing Category Manager Mark Busby said the fact that leading climbers like McColl and Puccio are looking to partner with SCARPA speaks to effort the brand has put into rock shoes in recent years.

“It’s interesting to reflect on the trends over the last couple of seasons,” Busby said. “We’ve been flattered and almost overwhelmed to be approached by so many top, international-level climbers, instinctively drawn in by Heinz Mariacher’s innovative, high performance concepts, and looking to push their limits using our shoes. We’re particularly excited to grow our team in North America in a sustainable manner, and the upcoming years with Sean will help us to do that.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to add Sean to the SCARPA climbing team. His blend of professionalism and unquestionably high performance mirror the upward trajectory of our 2016 climbing collection,“ Busby said.

SCARPA’s rock-shoe line is rooted in Mariacher’s designs using Active Rands. Rather than simply pushing the foot as far forward in the shoe as possible, SCARPA critically tensions the rubber rands in different directions to cradle and support the foot, allowing the shoe to dynamically adapt while loading and unloading body weight. Thus, they store and release energy, channeling power to desired areas of the shoe at exactly the times it’s needed, yielding a new level of performance and sensitivity for steep technical climbing.

For 2016, SCARPA is adding seven new and redesigned rock shoes to its collection, creating a collection of 17 models, and a line that offers a tool for any kind of climbing situation. For more information about SCARPA’s complete collection of rock shoes, visit the SCARPA climbing page.

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America
Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA, visit www.scarpa.com.