Columbia Sportswear Company Strengthens its Partnership with the UTMB

Press Release / 02.01.2016

­Inspired by the great success of 2015 UTMB® partnership, Columbia Sportswear Company is strengthening its partnership with the UTMB®, Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc®, with its four brands – Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, OutDry and Montrail – in 2016.

"Columbia Sportswear Company's mission is to connect active people with their passions. The UTMB® is a perfect partner to communicate and celebrate this mission across our portfolio of brands including Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, OutDry and Montrail. The UTMB® is an iconic and international event, bringing together 7,500 participants from 87 nationalities who share the same ultimate passion for the outdoors we have in the company. We are very excited about this partnership and look forward to continuing our support of the UTMB® across our portfolio of leading global brands.", Franco FOGLIATO – SVP General Manager EMEA

Columbia - the New Presenting Partner of the UTMB®

In 2016, Columbia becomes the Presenting Partner of the UTMB®. This new sponsorship status reflects Columbia's and UTMB's shared values and vision concerning the future development of the event, and gives Columbia extremely strong visibility in all event communication before, during and after the event. Presenting Partner status also gives Columbia an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with the UTMB® organizing team, volunteers, partners and athletes in introducing, testing and developing its innovative outdoor technologies, clothing and footwear in the most demanding conditions.

"We were impressed by the great success of 2015 UTMB® partnership. In 2016, the Columbia brand is very proud to become the Presenting Partner of UTMB®. Chamonix and Mont Blanc is an incredible outdoor playground and the UTMB® is the perfect platform to test and launch new innovations.", Antti KARAVA – Director of Marketing and Communications EMEA

Mountain Hardwear, OutDry and Montrail

Columbia Sportswear Company is also pleased to announce on-going support from its broader portfolio of brands.
 
Mountain Hardwear will maintain a strong partnership with the UTMB® as an Ultra Partner, featuring its exclusive and unique outdoor equipment.

"The UTMB is a truly unique event that captivates participants and spectators alike, an experience like no other. Whilst at Mountain Hardwear we aim to create performance apparel and equipment to empower outdoor athletes to live boldly and live up to the challenge of the UTMB event, it's the UTMB's ability to connect and inspire all kinds of people from all around the world that we feel most proud of.", Andy BARKER, Mountain Hardwear & Montrail Brand Director EMEA

OutDry® - with its revolutionary waterproof-breathable solutions – becomes a new Official Partner of the UTMB®. This partnership will help celebrate and raise awareness for OutDry's patented waterproof construction process in footwear, gloves and equipment.  

"At OutDry®, we are really excited about this partnership. Rather than a challenge, we always consider competitions and field tests as the best opportunity to demonstrate the superiority of the OutDry® waterproof-breathable technology. The UMTB®, with its high technical level of the participants, is the perfect testing environment to prove that OutDry® provides the most advanced weather-protective solutions to extreme trail competitors and other outdoor enthusiasts. ", Luca MORLACCHI, CEO OutDry

Montrail, The Original Trail Running Brand, will continue in its position as an Official Supplier of the UTMB®, with its products available at selected trail running specialty stores in Europe in 2016.

"At Montrail, we are first and foremost a trail running brand, and believe Nothing Beats A Trail. This belief in trail running as freedom, and that moving through the epic mountain and wilderness routes of the world under one's own power is the ultimate running experience goes hand in hand with the ethos of the UTMB®, and is why we are so excited to continue our partnership with this spectacular event.", Eron OSTERHAUS, Sr. Brand & Business Manager, Montrail