The Future of Winter Sports & New Salewa Ortles Collection FW 22/23

February 1, 2022

/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Mountain sports are currently undergoing major changes. The Alps have a fascinating allure and are attracting more and more visitors. This creates new risks and opportunities – for mountain sports, for the environment, for regions and for the retail industry. What should the future of mountain sports look like and what can companies do to promote positive change? The Oberalp Group intends to address these issues at the next virtual Oberalp Convention in October as it gears up for the fall/winter season 2022/2023.

Focusing on the theme “The Future of Winter Sports”, the fourth edition of the convention provides a diverse platform for different voices and perspectives. This includes glaciologists, alpine farmers, ski resort operators, cable car manufacturers, journalists, sociologists and athletes from Europe, US, Canada and Japan. Together with the Oberalp Group, the keynote speakers will be considering how winter sports can develop as a particular aspect of mountain sports over the coming years.

Salewa and the other brands in the Oberalp Group are committed to sustainable mountain experiences. At product level, this means having the highest standards when it comes to quality, functionality, service life and safety. Salewa’s focus highlight for the fall/winter 2022/2023 season is the launch of the new Ortles alpine mountaineering collection.

New Salewa Ortles Collection FW 2022/23

Working in close cooperation with climbers and alpinists, Salewa is launching its new highly-functional and completely reworked Ortles Collection for Fall/Winter 2022/23 to offer a new level in technical performance. The collection reflects the brand’s desire to continue to evolve with and in response to developments in progressive mountaineering. To this end, Salewa’s apparel design team combines it technical expertise with first-hand testing by experienced mountain professionals – including mountain rescue organisations, such as the helicopter rescue service Aiut Alpin Dolomites.

Salewa’s Alpine Mountaineering collection is the result of a detailed and carefully considered clothing concept for men and women that meets the requirements of mountaineering in extreme alpine conditions across all four seasons. The products in the Ortles line represent the pinnacle of the brand’s technical expertise and incorporate premium materials from high-end suppliers, such as Gore-Tex, Schoeller and YKK. In addition to the Ortles 3L GTX Pro Stretch Jacket and Pant, the collection also includes fleece and down styles. And the Ortles Ascent Mid GTX Shoe rounds of the alpine outfit.

Ortles 3L GTX Pro Stretch Jacket and Pant

The new Ortles 3L GTX Pro Stretch Jacket and Pant are designed for ambitious mountaineers and the most extreme conditions. They combine benefits that were long thought incompatible. Thanks to new Gore-Tex Pro 3-layer fabrics, the robust technical hardshell outfit matches enhanced freedom of movement and agility with excellent weather protection and high breathability. “New activities and combinations are being added to the classic disciplines of mountaineering. A new, young generation of athletes has raised performance standards significantly in recent years. We want to keep on developing our products and grow as a brand together with them, at the cutting edge of modern mountaineering. This is precisely what underpins the development of the Ortles 3L GTX Pro Stretch outfit,” explains Marco Busa, General Manager Salewa.

Gore-Tex Pro is available in three technology categories: “Most Rugged”, “Stretch” and “Most Breathable”. It’s based on a new laminate membrane construction that features a super-light and robust outer fabric and a specially developed, hardwearing inner lining.

The Salewa Ortles Jacket combines Salewa Gore-Tex Pro “Most Rugged” with ergonomically-placed Gore-Tex Pro “Stretch” inserts across the shoulders and at the elbows. The Pant has Gore-Tex Pro Stretch sections at the seat, knee and hem. As such, it offers enhanced agility and comfort with uncompromising protection for progressive mountaineers. The Ortles 3L GTX Pro outfit is available from September 2022 and comes in high-visibility colours for added safety.

Further features: adjustable, storm hood with zipped gusset for full helmet compatibility, grippy silicone print inside hood for improved movement and vision, soft, perforated neoprene fabric chin guard for increased comfort, two chest pockets, one with Salewa Direct Access System for quick access to avalanche transceiver and/or layer underneath, additional inside pockets, underarm ventilation zips, waterproof YKK zip, Velcro-adjustable cuffs.

The jacket comes in the colours gold (yellow), electric (blue) and pale frog (green) for men and gold (yellow) and electric (blue) for women.

RRP: 650 euros

Ortles Ascent Mid GTX Shoe

Alpine mountaineering involves moving over rock, ice and snow, often in severe conditions and difficult terrain. Maybe more than any other piece of equipment, you need to be able to trust your footwear. The new Ortles Ascent Mid GTX mountain boot is a solid solution for alpine mountaineers. It’s selected materials and crafted expertise make it exceptionally robust and durable, while our proprietary technologies increase comfort, protection and stability.

Engineered for high-alpine terrain, the Salewa Ortles Ascent Mid GTX features the new, highly-functional Vibram® Alpine Guide outsole. It has a climbing zone for grip and precision on rock and a tread pattern especially developed to provide secure traction on snow and ice. Mountaineers looking to make an alpine start, picking their way over frozen ground by headlamp in the early hours of the morning, will appreciate this reliability. And the double-density PU midsole combines a good balance of cushioning and stiffness to cope with long periods in both flat and steep, high terrain.

For the upper, Salewa uses particularly robust, high-quality 2.2 mm leather. This is combined with a Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort membrane that features an integrated layer of waterproof, breathable insulation to keep feet warm and dry, even in extreme winter conditions. The Ankle Protector System (APS) provides enhanced stability and support. On long tours and big mountain routes, this is also important to prevent against injury on strenuous descents.

Main features:

Vibram® Alpine Guide sole with climbing zone
Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort membrane
MFF+ Footbed
Double density PU midsole
Salewa 3F system

Specifications:

Drop: 11 mm
Made in Europe
Weight: 850 g (UK size 8)
Insole: Crampon compatible stiff nylon fibreglass carbon loaded
RRP: 370 euros