THE

AMBASSADORS

THE

AMBASSADORS

”We believe in our athletes. We support their vision with our products, tracing the path of evolution and innovation in the outdoor world. Each team member has a personal story of experience, passion and dedication as well as values which La Sportiva echoes. Each story is a reality of its own, every success comes from work and application. Our athletes explore the boudaries of the World looking for the next step in the evolution of their disciplines, with the inevitable consequence of being ambassadors of the growth of their community”.

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”Rock, chalk, nerves, adrenaline”

Climbing and Mountains have made up the DNA of La Sportiva since its birth in 1928. Mountain is passion, mountain research, mountain is humility. We are each characterized by our own vision and our own ethics, a gem of pure genius and creativity. We are mountaineers, free climbers, boulder climbers and competitors. Exploration and travel are the cornerstones of our very essence that spur us on towards the rocks in search of new environments. The desire to pursue our research encourages us to become outsiders, lovers of the outdoors, characterized by a wild nature that takes us back to our origins as human beings living on pure instinct. We are what we are, in each molecule.

”We are the La Sportiva Ambassadors”.

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evolutionperspectivegenerationexpectation

desire

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WE ARE CLIMBERSLa Sportiva comes from the mountains, and the mountains have been providing the inspiration to create cutting-edge product since the company was founded in 1928. The company’s DNA is based on two essential chromosomes, innovation and passion, which allows La Sportiva to meet the many new demands of mountaineers, climbers and skiers, to carefully observe them and to listen to their needs. La Sportiva is able to transform their client’s wishes into products by translating their feelings.In the early days the company listened and responded to the requests received from woodcutters and shepherds: the first demanding clients of the small artisan workshop then called “La Calzoleria Sportiva” (“La Sportiva Shoe Repairs”) later, with the passage of time, the company started to become an attentive listener of mountaineers, skiers, runners, climbers. People have always been one of La Sportiva’s greatest assets, intense, charismatic characters have revolved around the brand, sharing the company’s quest for quality and innovation with the aim of constantly raising their standards. The company has been inspired by these people and both in the past as today, the company has always tried to help and support them, preserving the family nature of such a well assorted group.To all of these important people, we at La Sportiva would like to say a big thank you for having shared their thoughts with us, for having proposed new ideas and solutions and for helping to make the company one of the leading names in the outdoor world. For them and for all those interested in mountains and climbing , we renew the pleasure, the desire and the commitment to continue to constantly evolve in the field of what we love to do best.To all of them and all of you who love the mountains, we dedicate this yearbook that talks about our first Worldwide Ambassadors. Enjoy your reading.

Pietro dal Pra

S. SCHLUMPF

The young German talent.

Fabian Buhl first made his appearance in the climbing community at a very young age with the repetition of the block opened by Fred Nicole “Dreamtime”, rated V15 (8C). Alongside crags and bouldering came other activities such as multi-pitch and trad routes, completing a process of maturity in the normal course of a climber’s life, thus demonstrating his immense versatility. He considers climbing a personal experience which he prefers to share with only a select few people.Despite actively devoting part of his time to the University of Innsbruck, he has succeeded in some difficult reps, including the famous “Silbergeier”, “Nirwana” and “Prinzip Hoffnung”. In the spring of 2015 he succeeded in breaking the wall of the 9th grade, with the ascent of “Frontman Deluxe”.

FABIAN BUHL

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HIGHLIGHTS:

frontman deluxe | allgau | germany | 9aprinzip hoffnung | voralberg | austria | 8b+ E9/10

psychogramm | voralberg | austria | 8b trad

dreamtime | cresciano | switzerland | V15oliphants dawn | rocklands | south africa | V14/15

nirwana | loferer alm | austria | 8c+silbergeier | ratikon | switzerland | 8b+

THE AMBASSADOR

K. DELL’ORTO

S. KUERZI

The anything but average Italian.

Niky Ceria is an Italian climber and a luminary figure in the discipline of bouldering. Born in 1993 in Piemonte, Niky started to climb at the premature age of ten. Despite his quiet and shy nature, Niky has travelled extensively visiting the main climbing meccas in Europe, the USA and more recently in Australia too, where his repetitions did all the taking. His passion for pristine and remote areas, has recently led him to embark upon many trips in search of new lines to clean and climb, especially in Prilep in Macedonia.What he loves about bouldering is the combination of factors that must coincide when climbing at a high level.It’s all a question of physical fitness, mental strength, and the optimal condition of the environment, plus a little bit of good luck!

NICCOLO CERIA

'

HIGHLIGHTS:

the big island | fontainebleau | france | V15il mancino di bristol | grampians | australia | V14off the wagon | bavona valley | switzerland | V14

entlinge | murgtal | germany | V14the dagger | cresciano | switzerland | V14meadowlark lemon | red rocks | usa | V14

ubik assis | fontainebleau | france | V13 flash

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THE AMBASSADOR

S. KUERZI

R. FICHTINGER

The French woman that beats them all.

If there is a difficult or challenging climb, Caroline is certainly not the one that pulls back. She grew up on Reunion Island and she started to climb at the age twelve through the Union Nationale Du Sport Scolaire, a French multisport federation for students. At the age of sixteen she moved to France and began to train constantly and this commitment gained her participation in the first European and international competitions at a european and international level.She currently shares most of her climbing activities with her husband James Pearson, with whom she travels the world in search of and opening new routes and challenging multi-pitch trad and routes.

CAROLINE CIAVALDINI

HIGHLIGHTS:

mind control | oliana | spain | 8c/c+aaron | geyikbayiri | turkey | 8c

les mur des cyclopes | st.leger | france | 8b onsight

chupacabra | pembrokeshire | wales | E9chicama | angelsey | wales | E9

point blank | pembrokeshire | wales | E8

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THE AMBASSADOR

R. FELDERER

B. RUECH

The first lady of the Alps.

Angela Eiter is probably one of the most powerful climbers on the international scene, both on rock and on plastic.She was born in Austria in 1986, and her outstanding achievements would be the envy of many climbers: 43 podiums in the World Cup, including 25 times highest hold position and 3-time world champion in lead climbing. Indoor climbing aside, Angela is one of the few women in the world to have climbed a 9a route.She has always considered taking part in competitions as important, wanting to excel in all disciplines. In the past she has often considered giving up climbing, but we all know how that turned out.

ANGELA EITER

HIGHLIGHTS:

era vella | margalef | spain | 9ahades | gotterwandls | austria | 9a

big hammer | pinswang | austria | 9a

fragile steps | rocklands | south africa | V13tea with elmarie | rocklands | south africa | V12

in the middle of the ass | rocklands | south africa | V11

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THE AMBASSADOR

B. GIMENEZ

R. FICHTINGER

King Kilian.

Kilian is the competition king and, despite his recent retirement from competitive climbing, he will presumably remain so for a long time considering his incredibile international leadership performance in artificial bouldering.Since 2005 he has dominated the bouldering World Cup competition winning five editions, including three consecutive races. He has won the Bouldering World cup more times than any other athlete in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.Although he has spent a lot of time climbing indoors, he has also worked on important climbing routes on rock, both with and without the use of a rope (bouldering).

HIGHLIGHTS:

action direct | frankenjura | germany | 9aunderground | arco | italy | 9a

dolby surround | zillertal | austria | 8c+

insanity of grandeur | chironico | switzerland | V15 from dirt grows flowers| chironico | switzerland | V15

air star | rocklands | south africa | v14

KILIAN FISCHHUBER

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THE AMBASSADOR

R. FICHTINGER

E. HOLZKNECHT

Add a place at the table.

Oh yes! Mr. Ghisolfi (1993) has only recently taken his place at the international climbing table and while Adam Ondra still sits at the head of the table, Stefano’s latest performance definitley confirmed that his place was well-deserved. Growing up in the ranks of the Italian national team from a very young age, he continues to compete internationally, raising the standards of the Italian climbing federation. Stefano proves to be a climber of rare talent, last year alone, he managed the repetition of three 9a +, proving to be the strongest Italian climber of the moment. His most important climb was Biographie in Ceuse, opened by Chris Sharma in 2001 and which still has had very few repetitions.

STEFANO GHISOLFI

HIGHLIGHTS:

biographie | ceuse | france | 9a+demencia senil | margalef | spain | 9a+

la moustache qui fache | entraygues | france | 9a+

belly of the beast | peak district | great britain | V14gandalf il grigio | varazze | italy | V14

siamo già arrabbiati | novalesa | italy | V12 flash

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THE AMBASSADOR

P. SARTORI

R. FICHTINGER

I speak bouldering.

Anthony Gullsten is not a very talkative Finn but his style and the strength of his climbing, mainly in bouldering, need no introductions. Fascinated by the possibilites that the world has to offer, Andy lives life to the full as a professional athlete travelling from region to region in search of new lines to be repeated. He and his friend Nalle Hukkataival are responsible for the research and development of new bouldering areas in the Finnish peninsula, still unkown and little-publicized. Despite spending most of his time in the middle of nature, he is also attracted to the competition world, to which he diligently dedicates himself every year.

ANTHONY GULLSTEN

HIGHLIGHTS:

la cadre nouvelle | ceuse | france | 9aunendliche geschichte | magic wood |switzerland | 9a

total brutal | zillertal |austria | 8b+ onsight

practice of the wild | magic wood | switzerland | V15the globalist | sipoo | finland | V14

heritage | ticino | switzerland | V14

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THE AMBASSADOR

K. DELL’ORTO

M. PAVANA

Where’s Nalle? This is probably the question posed by most members of the climbing community who are aware of Nalle’s period of unbridled activity. Probably one of the three strongest boulderer in the world, Nalle is constantly on a manic journey in search of new lines to climb.So do not expect to find him at home.The contribution that Nalle has given the world of climbing on rocks is unmeasurable, he was responsible for opening some of today’s toughest existing blocks, breaking the barrier of human limitation. Many of his blocks have still not been repeated. Also noteworthy is his incredible performance on the repetition of “Gioia”, the V16 (8c +) boulder problem opened by Italian climber Christian Core in Varazze.

NALLE HUKKATAIVAL

HIGHLIGHTS:

gioia | varazze | italy | V16living large | rocklands | south africa | V15

the understanding | magic wood | switzerland | V15bugeleisen sit | maltatal | austria | V15

road sweet home | grampians | australia | V15

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THE AMBASSADOR

S. SCHLUMPF

S. SCHLUMPF

The power of change.

David Lama has grown quickly. He was considered a crystalline talent, heir apparent of Chris Sharma in the world of climbing. And it is not surprising that people expect great things from him: at the age of 10 he climbed grade 8a, at 11 he reached 8b, at 12 8b+ and at 13, 8c. At the age of 16 he won the World Cup. When at the age of nineteen he announced his plans to free climb Cerro Torre in Patagonia, the news aroused a great deal of controversy within the climbing community. Despite his lack of experience and the earlier failures, in 2012 David Lama finally managed to free climb Cerro Torre. He himself underlines how important is to be extremely committed to the sport and willing to adapt to completely new rules.

DAVID LAMA

HIGHLIGHTS:

nordverschneidung | hohe kirche | austria | 2013chogolisa | karakoram| pakistan | 2012

eternal flame | nameless tower | pakistan | 2012via del compressore | cerro torre | patagonia | 2012

pacienca | eiger |switzerland| 2011bellavista | cima ovest di lavaredo | italy| 2010

brento centro | monte brento | italy| 2010

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THE AMBASSADOR

L. ELSE

R. FICHTINGER

Constantly evolving climber.

Jacopo Larcher is one of the strongest multipurpose climbers on the international climbing scene. His climbing career until now is a perfect example of a climber’s normal and constant evolution. From a young age, after the first experiments on climbing structures, he began to participate in climbing competitions, which soon confirmed his strong climbing skills both as an Italian and European athlete. In 2006 he began to explore nature and the world outside of the gyms. He discovered the crags and began to repeat difficult routes up to the 9th grade.The years went by and Jacopo continued to repeat and open some very difficult routes, until his climbing went under a big change, which he says allowed him to see a more complete world. He discovered the art of mountain climbing and trad climbing, a new and complex game where psychological and mental aspects increase the level of a climber’s competence.

HIGHLIGHTS:

jungle speed| siurana | spain | 9ahelmutant | saustall | italy | 9a

prinzip hoffnung | voralberg | austria | 8b+ E9/10

jacopo larcher

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THE AMBASSADOR

R. FELDERER

MA FO

CLIM

DE RBERS

B. BERKIEN

Training? Yes, please.

Sean, who was born in 1987, takes part in all the most difficult bouldering and crag climbing competitions. He comes from the world of football, a sport which he played for 15 years. At the age of twelve he reached the level 8b + and in 2001 he started competing in the World Youth climbing championships. In 2006 he began to participate in the World Cup circuit, both in the lead and bouldering categories, gaining a place on the podium several times. In 2011 he won the first stage of the World Cup in Kranj, Slovenia, in the lead discipline. He admits that his victories are based on hard training sessions. He says that if you really want to win you have to live your training seriously but calmly, convinced that sooner or later the results will not delay in coming.

SEAN MCCOLL

HIGHLIGHTS:

aquaphobie | gorges du loup | france | 9adreamcatcher | squamish | canada | 9a

big paw | chironico | switzerland | V15kheops assis | fontainebleau | france | V14

the dagger | cresciano | switzerland | V14

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THE AMBASSADOR

S. CHALLÉAT

B. BERKIEN

One in a million, maybe more.

The strongest climber that the contemporary vertical world has ever known. At the age of twenty-two Adam Ondra has already done everything an average climber would dream of doing in two or three lives.He has climbed, opened and repeated the world’s toughest routes and boulders, as well as being the first climber to win the World Cup in both lead and bouldering in the same year. He has broken the 9b + barrier and the barrier of 9a onsight after the historic first ascent by Alex Megos.But we can forgive him.He became part of the international climbing scenario at the age of 15 and we have admired his evolution in climbing: determined, precise, incredibly strong and with the humility of a perfect gentleman.But this is only the beginning.

ADAM ONDRA

HIGHLIGHTS:

la dura dura | oliana | spain | 9b+change | flatanger | norway | 9b+

vasil vasil | sloup | czech republic | 9b+

gioia | varazze | italy| V16 terranova| holstejn | czech republic | V16

jade | rmnp | usa | v14 (flash)

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THE AMBASSADOR

B. GIMENEZ

R. FICHTINGER

Trad-itional.

James is born like the classic British climber, educated in the Peak District. At the age of 19 he is one of the brightest English talents and his undoubted affinity with the rock allows him to travel in search of more difficult lines to climb. His ascents of ”The Groove” and ”The walk of life”, two of the most technical climbs in the world officially mark his entrance in the world of traditional climbing.Despite his talent he chooses to work on his weaknesses, including sports climbing. He dedicates long and intensive work sessions and soon reaps the rewards. In April 2011 he made his first ”ground ascent” of an E10, ”Muy Caliente”. In 2012 he climbed his first 9th grade route: ”Escalatamaster” in Perles, Spain.

JAMES PEARSON

HIGHLIGHTS:

esclatamesters| perles | spain | 9aaquaphobie | reunion | madagascar | 8c+

excalibur | borneo | malesia | 8c+

the ganymede takeover | brione | switzerland |V13 flashthe great shark hunt | chironico | switzerland |V13 flash

schule del lebens | chironico | switzerland |V13 flash

muy caliente | pembroke | wales | E10joy division | val di mello | italy | 8b

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THE AMBASSADOR

R. FELDERER

R. FICHTINGER

A midsummer nights dreamer.

Silvio Reffo was born in Vicenza in 1990 and he began climbing at the age of 13-14 years old on the crags near home. Over time, climbing for Silvio became a 360° activity from the mountain routes to bouldering, choosing to focus primarily on crag climbing and the competition world. This passion has taken him to visit the world’s most famous climbing areas and has offered him the opportunity to test his limits as a climber. In 2008 he joined the Italian National Sports Free Climbing team, but later decided to leave this group to engage in the healthier activity of outdoor climbing. In 2012 he graduated in Physiotherapy. Since then his life has been divided between the research for new vertical limits and the rehabilitation of people with diverse orthopedic problems.

SILVIO REFFO

HIGHLIGHTS:

the ring of life| covolo | italy | 9a/a+l’attimo | covolo | italy | 9a

back road | rovereto | italy | 9abiologico | rovereto | italy | 9a

mind control | oliana | spain | 8c/c+ flashsuper vixens| margalef | spain | 8b+ onsight

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THE AMBASSADOR

M. PAVANA

E. HOLZKNECHT

The talented machine.

Jakob Schubert is one of the few climbers to be able to give his best in both lead and bouldering competitions. He knows no limits and always manages to work his way to the top spots on the podium. Despite spending a lot of time training on climbing structures,he also finds time to climb numerous extremely difficult outdoor routes, especially in the Santa Linya cave in Spain, a place that is well suited to his style of climbing.He is powerful and determined, and meticulously dedicates himself to the various stages of the World Cup. This year he managed to climb his first 9b ”Fight or Flight” in Oliana. Growing up in the centre of Innsbruck Tivoli, Jakob quickly climbed up the ranks of the Austrian national team, becoming a leading figure in the world of climbing and a symbol of national pride.

jakob schubert

HIGHLIGHTS:

fight or flight | oliana | spain | 9bpapichulo | oliana | spain | 9a+

open your mind directa | santa linya | spain | 9afuck the system |santa linya | spain | 9a

analogica natural |santa linya | spain | 9aseleccio natural |santa linya | spain | 9a

aitzol | margalef | spain | 8c onsight

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THE AMBASSADOR

LA SPORTIVA ARCHIVE

B. BERKIEN

The Tsar with strong hands. Dmitry Sharafutdinov excelled in some of the most significant stages of the World Cup with outstanding levels of performance.An extremely versatile athlete, since 2003 he has been participating in international climbing competitions in all specialties. He has specialized in bouldering, a discipline in which he won the World Championship three times: in 2007, 2011 and 2012. After having gained numerous podiums since 2007 and having reached second place in the finals in 2007 and 2011, in 2013 he won his first World Cup.The Russian Federation is notorious for producing some of the most crystalline talents on the international stage after many years of great sacrifices and gruelling workouts. And Russian athletes seem to be extremely proud of this.

DMITRY SHARAFUTDINOV

HIGHLIGHTS:

ali hulk extension | rodellar | spain | 9a+world champion in 2007, 2011, 2012

vice world champion in 2007, 2011, 2014

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THE AMBASSADOR

M. PAVANA

R. FICHTINGER

Who’s squeezing the holds the most?

Daughter of climbers, Anna began climbing with her parents when she was a child. In 2002 and 2003 she participated in youth climbing competitions in the lead specialty. In 2004, at the age of sixteen, she began to take part in the World Cup climbing events. In 2007 she won the gold medal at the World Climbing Championships in Avilés . In 2008 she won the World Boulder Cup. In 2011 she won the two major titles up for grabs: the gold medal at the World Climbing Championships in 2011 in Arco and the 2011 World Boulder Cup.In 2012 she won her third Cup in a preliminary competition. These successes earned her the 2012 La Sportiva Competition trophy. In 2013 she won her fourth Cup, winning seven of the eight events and taking the title with two preliminary competitions.

HIGHLIGHTS:

boogalagga | cresciano | switzerland | V13the vice | rocklands | south africa | V13

the power of one | rocklands | south africa | V13the riverbed | magic wood | switzerland | V13

pura vida | magic wood | switzerland | V13diophenous sea | hueco tanks | usa| V12

anna stohr

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THE AMBASSADOR

R. FICHTINGER

A. MULLER

The art of masochism.

If you can withstand a gruelling workout session with Patxi Usobiaga then consider yourselves lucky. Big Up Productions has immortalized the activity in training room and we all believe that is all true!Winner of the World Cup, in 2006 and 2007, and of the World Championship in 2009, Patxi is and will remain the first person to have climbed an 8c + on-sight, in the season that has made him one of the strongest climbers on the international scene.Following a tragic accident, he had to stop climbing for a few seasons and then returned to training until he was able to break the 9a barrier again. Currently, in addition to climbing, thanks to the reputation acquired, he trains many climbers including (guess who?) Adam Ondra.

PATXI USOBIAGA

HIGHLIGHTS:

la novena enmienda| santa linya | spain | 9a+la rambla| siurana | spain | 9a+

realization | ceuse | france | 9a+action direct | frankenjura | germany | 9a

home sweet home | chorance | france | 8c+ onsight

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THE AMBASSADOR

LA SPORTIVA ARCHIVE

R. FICHTINGER

A big smile on the wall..

Jorg Verhoeven is a Dutch climber who started climbing in 1997 at the age of twelve in a gym in Amsterdam. Since 2002 he has been taking part in international competitions. In order to rock climb he has always had to travel afar as the Netherlands does not offer many suitable climbing spots. To overcome this problem, he moved to Innsbruck, and later entered the Austrian National climbing team, raising some eyebrows. He himself admits that it was never a question of nationality, but simply a great love for climbing.After six years of participating in the World Cup circuit, in 2008 he won the lead trophy. In recent years he has concentrated on free climbing long routes.

JORG VERHOEVEN

HIGHLIGHTS:

pure imagination| red river gorge | usa | 9anordic flower | flatanger | norway | 9a

hades | nassereith | austria | 9a

esperanza | hueko tanks | usa | V14never ending story | magic wood | switzerland | V14

the nose | el capitan | usa | 8b+brento centro | monte brento | italy | 8b

the dutch corner | cerro trinidad | switzerland | 7c

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THE AMBASSADOR

M. PAVANA

K. DELL’ORTO

Always higher.

Barbara first started climbing with her brother at the age 14. For 6 years she focused almost exclusively on bouldering, travelling around the world. The turning point came in 2009, after a back injury, which forced her to change her perspective and approach to climbing. Not wanting to stay at rest she decided to pursue sports climbing.In doing so she met with his new and future passion. Today she says that she prefers to mix different disciplines and specialties, to keep motivation high. Barbara is one of today’s most influential climbers with an outstanding ability to repeat psychologically demanding routes: in recent years she has focused on climbing characterized by removable climbing protections equally distanced between one and another.

BARBARA ZANGERL

THE AMBASSADOR

HIGHLIGHTS:

helel ben schachar| voralberg | austria | 8c/c+mind control | oliana | spain | 8c/c+

prinzip hoffnung | voralberg | austria | 8b+ E9/10

pura vida | magic wood | switzerland | V13zwiederwurtz | silvretta |austria | V12

bellavista | alto adige - veneto | italy | 8cfirst female ascent alpine trilogy

super cirill | ticino | switzerland | 8a/a+hotel supramonte | sardinia | italy | 8b

49B. GIMENEZ

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CHORRO PANT SOLUTION PANT

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CLIMBING INSTINCT T-SHIRT FOR LASPO GIRLS T-SHIRT

MIURA VS WOMAN

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FOLLOW LA SPORTIVA STORYTELLER PROJECTBy Matteo Pavana

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PROJECT MANAGER

LUCA MICH

ATHLETES COORDINATOR

PHOTOGRAPHERSBRAM BERKIENSAMUEL CHALLÉATKLAUS DELL’ORTOLINCOLN ELSERICHARD FELDERERREINI FICHTINGERBERNARDO GIMENEZELIAS HOLZKNECHT

STEFAN KUERZIANNIKA MULLERMATTEO PAVANA

BERNIE RUECHPAOLO SARTORI

STEFAN SCHLUMPFHEIKO WILHELMMATTEO ZANGA

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MATTEO PAVANA

THE

AMBASSADORS

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