Archives: Press Releases

PARIS, France (November 3, 2026) – Reju, the textile-to-textile regeneration company, today announced that it has been collaborating with six mills to develop fabrics in order to accelerate the integration of regenerated polyester into the global textile supply chain. The work is being carried out with A. Sampaio, RDD Textiles, Tintex Textiles, FOV Fabrics and Utenos in Europe and Swisstex Direct in the United States, thereby growing a network for premium knitting, seamless construction, technical wovens, and advanced dyeing and finishing. The ongoing work is designed to move Reju’s regenerated polyester further downstream, from raw output at its future Regeneration Hubs into finished fabric.

Together, these six mills bring complementary specializations across the textile value chain:

• Sampaio, a +79 year-old Portuguese leader in circular knitted fabrics
• RDD Textiles, a Portuguese seamless and circular knit producer with certifications for recycled content traceability
• Swisstex Direct, a sustainable knitting, dyeing and finishing provider based in Los Angeles, California and El Salvador
• Tintex Textiles, a certified B Corp specializing in smart jersey fabrics with advanced, lower-impact dyeing and finishing technologies
• FOV Fabrics, a Swedish manufacturer of high-tech woven fabrics for demanding technical and functional applications
• Utenos Trikotazas, a vertically integrated circular knit fabric and garment manufacturer in the Baltic States, combining over 50 years of textile expertise with European manufacturing excellence

This gives Reju access to mills spanning circular knit design, chain-of-custody verified recycling, high-volume jersey production, and sustainability-certified dyeing and finishing, the manufacturing capabilities needed to move regenerated polyester from raw material into finished, market-ready fabric at scale.

“Every selected mill with whom we are working adds to our circular textile system,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. “As plans for Reju’s future Regeneration Hub network grows, so will our ability to deliver a consistent, high-quality regenerated polyester that manufacturers and brands can then build on.”

Each on-going workstream is tied to specific development projects underway across Reju’s manufacturing network, work that reflects real market demand the company is tracking with its growing roster of brand with whom it has signed development agreements.

The mill announcements build on a year of strong momentum for Reju, including: the €135 million from NIKI the Dutch government funding to support the facility; the selection of Rochester, New York as its first North American regeneration hub and an additional site selection for a future regeneration hub in Lacq, France.

“By bringing mills like these into our ecosystem, we can turn regenerated material into real product,” Frisk added. “It’s how we close the loop, not just in theory, but from textile waste to finished fabric.”

With access to an expanded manufacturing network, Reju is positioning itself to deliver regenerated polyester at the quality and scale required for mainstream adoption, moving the industry closer to a true textile-to-textile circular system.

About Reju

Reju is a materials regeneration company focused on creating innovative solutions for regenerating polyester textiles from post-consumer PET waste. Owned by Technip Energies and utilizing technology originating with IBM Research, Reju is driven by its purpose to unlock infinite possibilities within finite resources. The company aims to establish a global textile recycling circular system to regenerate and recirculate polyester textiles. Learn more at https://www.reju.com/.

About A. Sampaio

With over 75 years of experience, we are market leaders in developing and manufacturing circular knitted fabrics.

We have always based our decisions on the values ​​we value most. Dedication to Work, Trust, Transparency, and Social Responsibility combined with our focus on Technology, Innovation, Know-How, Flexibility, and Sustainability. The blend of all these factors distinctively marks the essence of our business model and A. Sampaio’s path in the national and international textile industry.

We know how to anticipate customer needs and offer the correct solution, from essential fabrics to developments with increasingly innovative and complex structures and raw materials, crossing all creative boundaries.

At A. Sampaio, we pride ourselves on building relationships based on Trust and Transparency. These relationships underpin our company’s and all partners’ success in an economy that increasingly wants to be circular. We create value while respecting the ecosystem and everyone’s future.

About FOV

Thriving at the textile frontier, FOV Fabrics fuses advanced textile functionality with circular sustainability. And boasting a fully vertical process, which includes creative design, cutting-edge R&D as well as the latest production technologies, we believe anything is possible.

Swisstex Direct

Swisstex Direct is a provider of circular knit fabrics with locations in Los Angeles and El Salvador, offering knitting, dyeing, finishing, and collaborative product development for apparel brands. With more than 20 years of experience, the company offers a broad range of knit constructions, natural and synthetic fibers, recycled materials, and performance finishes. As a Bluesign® system partner, Swisstex Direct combines technical innovation with a commitment to responsible textile production, quality, and responsive customer service. For more information, visit swisstexdirect.com.

About Tintex Textiles

TINTEX specializes in crafting circular-knitted fabrics and developing sustainable strategies throughout the entire supply chain.

Based in Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, the company draws on over 25 years of textile experience to create both timeless and contemporary, eco-conscious, and innovative fabrics for the Fashion, Activewear, Loungewear, and Underwear segments.

About Utenos

Utenos Trikotazas, a vertically integrated circular knit fabric and garment manufacturer in the Baltic States, combining over 50 years of textile expertise with European manufacturing excellence and certifications including OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, GOTS, RWS, GRS, WOOLMARK, SMETA, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

About RDD Textiles

RDD is a Portuguese textile company developing innovative textiles, from fibres to finished fabrics. Using emerging technologies and novel raw materials, RDD creates sustainable fabrics through a more environmentally friendly production process. Its focus lies in bio-based, regenerative and recycled materials, along with pioneering dyeing technologies that reduce environmental impact, supporting more responsible production and consumption. By bringing together science, design and technology, RDD rethinks how materials are imagined, made and valued.

SACRAMENTO, CA – November 3, 2026 – The California International Marathon (CIM), known as the “Fastest Course in the West,” will serve up a different kind of challenge this year. Climate activist, author, and elite runner Tina Muir is spearheading twenty-five athletes in the “Carry Your Own” Athlete Cohort, a new initiative designed to promote athlete self-reliance along the marathon course.

“Carry Your Own” is part of a new strategic partnership between CIM and HydraPak, the Official Sustainability Partner of CIM in 2026. Through this partnership, three HydraPak water refill stations will be incorporated into the course to support runners and reduce reliance on single-use cup waste.

Using custom CIM-branded HydraPak gear, the cohort will run the entire marathon carrying their own water and fuel. Traditional aid stations will remain available to all CIM participants, while cohort members will take a different approach. HydraPak refill stations will be found at miles 6.7, 14, and 20.5. All race participants are encouraged to carry their own bottles or handheld systems to take full advantage of these new water refill stations.

“At CIM, we’re always looking for ways to make race day better for our runners and for the community that hosts us,” said Scott Abbott, executive director of the Sacramento Running Association and CIM. “The ‘Carry Your Own’ cohort lets us test whether runners can chase fast times while cutting down on single-use waste. We were excited to find a partner in HydraPak that shares that commitment, and the refill stations give us the infrastructure to find out what’s possible on one of the fastest courses in the country.”

CIM draws runners from across the U.S. who flock to the race to chase PRs and Boston qualifying times. The “Carry Your Own” Athlete Cohort will put a simple question to the test: Can runners pursue and achieve ambitious race goals while carrying and refilling their own hydration and fuel?

“Every runner has a unique fueling strategy, and we believe they should have the flexibility to execute it on race day,” said Jennifer Krupey, VP of Marketing at HydraPak. “Our partnership with CIM is about making it easier for runners to carry the hydration or fuel they want, refill when they need to, and keep moving. We’re excited to help give athletes more choice and control over their race-day hydration.”

“We don’t think runners should have to choose between a PR and a lighter footprint,” Abbott added. “This cohort is a real-world test on a course where every second counts. What we learn from Tina and these twenty-five athletes will help shape how CIM approaches hydration and sustainability in the years ahead.”

For more information about this partnership, please visit runcim.org/sustainability, and for media inquiries, please contact stacy@darbycommunications.com.

ABOUT HYDRAPAK

HydraPak® is the leading original equipment manufacturer of soft flasks, reservoirs, and water storage solutions globally. Founded in Northern California, the company is dedicated to producing flexible and durable hydration products tailored for recreational, athletic, and military use. HydraPak and its proprietary brand, Bottle Bright® cleaning tablets, are category leaders. Over the past 20 years, HydraPak has not only pioneered new product categories but has also become a trusted partner for hundreds of renowned global brands and athletes.

ABOUT CIM

California International Marathon (CIM) is a premier road race founded in 1983. It is a top achievement for marathoners and a major qualifying race for the Boston Marathon and the Olympic Trials. Learn more at runcim.org.

BOULDER, Colo. (Nov. 3, 2026) — SCARPA, the leading manufacturer of footwear for performance mountain sports, today named the eight athletes in its 2026/2027 SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Initiative (SAMI) cohort as the program enters its fourth year. Chosen from more than 200 applicants, the new class of climbers, skiers and mountaineers will spend the coming year working one-on-one with SCARPA athlete mentors toward individual athletic and career goals.

SAMI supports emerging mountain athletes from historically marginalized communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and adaptive athletes, as they grow into the next generation of professional athletes, guides and industry leaders. Through SAMI, SCARPA pairs mentorship and education with financial support, SCARPA footwear, and direct exposure to the outdoor industry.

The idea for SAMI grew from the personal and professional experiences of Kim Miller, outgoing  CEO of SCARPA North America, an experienced climber and skier, and a 40-year veteran of the outdoor industry.

“SAMI continues to show us what happens when established athletes open doors for the next generation,” said Miller. “The eight athletes we selected — from a para climbing world championships medalist to an apprentice guide in the Canadian Rockies — represent exactly who we want at every level of our sports, from the crag to the boardroom.”

The 2026/2027 SAMI mentees:

Keenan Griscom (Boulder, Colorado) — Climbing

Corey Ramos (Atlanta) — Climbing

Seneida Biendarra (Reno, Nevada) — Climbing

Jaxen Avila (Denver, CO) — Climbing

Viviana “Viv” Serrano (Los Angeles) — Mountaineering

Jayce Wong (Canmore, BC) — Mountaineering

Marvin Beecher (Salt Lake City)  — Ski Mountaineering

Alex Jessett (Pemberton, British Columbia)— Ski Mountaineering

The mentees will be paired with mentors from the SCARPA athlete team, including Shelma Jun, Lor Sabourin, Angela Hawse, Nina Williams, Joshua Jarrin, Luke Smithwick, Sam Elias, and Will Gadd, based on sport, discipline, individual goals, and location. The 2026/2027 cohort is supported by the following gear partners: Deuter, G3, 22 Designs, Mammut, Skratch Labs, Outdoor ProLink, Petzl and Hest.

Since SAMI launched in 2021, 58 mentees have completed the program. A few projects from past cohorts include Full Circle Everest’s first all-Black Everest expedition, Seeing Beyond’s push for deaf representation on the world’s highest peak, and the launch of All In Ice Fest’s inclusive ice climbing festival.

For more information on SCARPA, please visit us.scarpa.com.

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, Colo., 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 footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

 Nov. 2, 2026 – Thomson Bike Tours, the leading Official Tour Operator to the Tour de France, today announced its 2027 VIP Spectator Tours, now open for booking. Following the official route presentation in Paris, Thomson’s lineup takes fans from the race’s first-ever start in Edinburgh, Scotland to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet and the Grand Finale on the Champs-Élysées.

The 2027 Tour de France begins July 2 in Edinburgh, crossing Scotland, England and Wales before returning to France and finishing in Paris on July 25. It marks the Tour’s first visit to Great Britain since 2014, and Thomson’s spectator program is built to put guests at the center of it.

These aren’t trips for fans who are content to watch from a barricade three rows back. Thomson’s spectator program is designed for people who want to experience the race from the inside: mornings in the VIP Departure Village as riders sign on, time in the Team Paddock as teams prepare before the start, roadside lunches watching the peloton pass accompanied by a former professional and finish line views from the VIP tribune as the stage is decided.

The 2027 Thomson VIP Spectator Tours include:

• The Team Presentation at Edinburgh Castle
• Time-Trial in Toulouse from a private route-side restaurant
• Strategically chosen roadside viewing of the climb to the Col du Tourmalet
• Mountain stage finish in the Pyrenean village of Laruns
• VIP hospitality at the Finale on the Champs- Élysées

Every itinerary is led by Thomson’s dedicated spectator guides, with hand-picked hotels in the heart of each region and free time to explore the towns and landscapes the race passes through. Because the Tour has always been as much about the places it visits as the racing itself.

“The Tour de France is the pinnacle of the cycling calendar, and as passionate cyclists ourselves, we create unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Peter Thomson, Founder of Thomson Bike Tours. “Whether they want to ride the official course on the day of the different stages, enjoy first-row access to the riders, or experience VIP hospitality, we bring our guests closer to the action. But the 2027 Tour de France will be particularly special for me. As someone born and raised in Edinburgh, the opportunity to see the Tour start in my hometown and race along the very roads I rode growing up as a young cyclist is something I could only have dreamed of. Watching the peloton travel from Scotland through England and into Wales before heading to France will make this an incredibly exciting and personal edition of the Tour, and one I can’t wait to share with our guests.”

Thomson has brought cyclists and fans to the Tour de France for more than two decades, and as a Premium Official Tour Operator, offers access to the race that simply isn’t available to the public. Many of its spectator guests return year after year.

“The atmosphere, the excitement, the in-person connection with the riders and teams — these are all things about the Tour de France that you don’t get to see on TV,” said Norma Dragani, who has joined Thomson Bike Tours for ten of their Tour de France VIP Spectator Tours. “You connect with like-minded people who are just as crazy about cycling as you are. It’s hard to fathom the effort that goes into putting the TDF together day after day. And you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy it.”

For fans who want to ride the race’s legendary climbs as well as watch them, Thomson also offers Cyclist Tour de France trips, where guests tackle key climbs just hours ahead of the professionals before switching into fan mode to watch the race live, with a dedicated Non-Cyclist program for partners and friends who prefer to stay off the bike.

For full itineraries, pricing, and booking, visit thomsonbiketours.com.

About Thomson Bike Tours
Founded in 2002 by Peter Thomson, a former professional racer who organized a trip for friends to watch the Tour de France and never stopped, Thomson Bike Tours creates innovative and personalized cycling trips that are equally challenging and rewarding, pairing elite logistics and guiding with an unmatched commitment to the sport. Thomson offers cycling tours to the world’s most famous cycling destinations, including the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Switzerland, Spain, Scotland, Croatia, Portugal and Colombia, and is the leading Official Tour Operator to the world’s greatest cycling event, the Tour de France. Learn more at thomsonbiketours.com.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (October 29, 2026) — Black Diamond Equipment, a global leader in climbing, skiing, and mountain sports apparel and equipment, introduces its Fall 2026 lighting lineup, the most significant refresh of the brand’s headlamp range in years. The collection features the new Megawatt alongside the redesigned Storm, Storm+, and Cosmo and the updated Spot.

Adventures don’t always fit conveniently between sunrise and sunset. As days shorten and more outings start before dawn or stretch past dusk, the refreshed lineup gives climbers, skiers, runners, riders, and campers a light built for exactly how they move through the dark.

Black Diamond has designed technical headlamps for climbers and mountain athletes for decades, and the Fall 2026 refresh touches the whole range at once. Led by the 3,000-lumen Megawatt, the new lineup reinforces Black Diamond’s position as a leader in high-output sport lighting. Across the range, output increases, USB-C charging becomes standard, interfaces get easier to use in the field, and recycled materials make their way into headbands and internal structures.

The refresh also pushes Black Diamond lighting into new territory. The Megawatt is the brand’s first headlamp designed for the speed of fast-paced action sports like ski touring and mountain biking, with a remote switch and a versatile mounting system. The new headlamps also anchor Black Diamond’s Winter 2026 Designed for the Deep collections, from the Megawatt on dawn-patrol tours to the Storm+ on alpine starts.

“A headlamp is one of the most essential pieces of gear we make,” said Doug Heinrich, Black Diamond’s VP of Equipment. “When the day runs long, it’s what gets you home. We rebuilt our lineup based around what athletes actually need after the sun goes down: more power, simpler controls, versatile mounting, and rechargeable batteries built to last.”

Megawatt Headlamp (New) — Engineered for one more lap after the sun goes down, the Megawatt is the most powerful light in Black Diamond’s lineup. Six LEDs deliver up to 3,000 lumens in a beam optimized for high-speed descents, from catching pre-dawn first tracks to riding singletrack after work. A 50.32Wh rechargeable battery burns for four hours at max output, with an LCD screen that reports live burn time and a red safety flasher. A wireless remote switch mounts to ski poles, pack straps, or handlebars for on-the-fly adjustments, and the headband and universal GoPro-style quick-release system with two helmet mounts allow for versatility. USB-C fast charging works in both directions, so the battery also doubles as a power bank. The Megawatt body weighs just 75g, coming in at 480g total with the separate battery pack, and its IP67 housing is fully waterproof and dustproof.

Storm & Storm+ Headlamps (Redesigned) — The redesigned Storm and Storm+ are rugged, all-conditions headlamps with IP67 waterproof/dustproof housings and oversized buttons that are easy to operate with gloved hands. One button handles power and brightness, while the other cycles between low, medium, and high. Red, green, and blue night-vision modes and peripheral white lighting support close-range tasks like rigging rappels. Mode Memory turns the light on at its previous brightness, and patented Digital Lockout prevents accidental illumination in a pack or pocket. Both now run on serviceable, USB-C rechargeable batteries with pass-through charging and a battery power indicator, and feature recycled internal structures and headbands.

• Storm+: 750 lumens, a 2200mAh battery, and dual-lens optics pairing an Onsight flood lens and an Icon 700 spot lens for long-range illumination. 114g.
• Storm: 550 lumens with up to 70 hours of burn time from an 1800mAh battery. 102g.

Spot Headlamp (Updated) & Cosmo Headlamp (Redesigned) — Bright, versatile, and go-anywhere, the Spot and Cosmo are Black Diamond’s everyday Dual-Fuel lights. Both run on either the rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery (sold separately), which charges directly in the light via USB-C, or three included AAA batteries. Both are IPX7 waterproof, feature Mode Memory and patented Digital Lockout, and incorporate recycled materials.

• Spot: Boosted to 450 lumens in a 86g package, the Spot is a road-trip essential with flood and spot lenses, RGB modes, and PowerTap™ Technology for instantly toggling between max output and dimmed power.
• Cosmo: Redesigned around a super-compact and watertight 88g body, the Cosmo offers 350 lumens and adds a second switch for easier mode selection. A red LED with adjustable brightness and strobe preserves night vision.

The Fall 2026 lighting lineup is available now at blackdiamondequipment.com, with select styles at specialty retailers through the fall.

About Black Diamond Equipment

Black Diamond Equipment is a global leader in designing innovative outdoor-engineered equipment and apparel for climbing, skiing, and mountain sports. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Black Diamond is known for its commitment to performance, durability, and purposeful design.

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 29, 2026): Palm cooling research has focused almost entirely on thermoregulation, measuring whether cooling the palms can decrease core body temperature. NICE Recovery is looking beyond heat, and its latest research suggests the bigger story may be how palm cooling affects the nervous system and the body’s response to fatigue. In a randomized crossover pilot study conducted by NICE, athletes who used ROCC, the company’s handheld palm cooling device, between sets completed 9.5% more total work in 14.3% less active exercise time than they did without it.

Those results open questions the category has rarely thought to ask about what a precise dose of cold does once heat is no longer the only measure. NICE can ask them because the ROCC holds its cooling dome at a steady 57°F (13.9°C) without ice or water. Ice and frozen inserts warm as they are used, so the temperature dose changes from one minute to the next, while ROCC gives every athlete the same temperature dose in every session. Athletes place their palms on the device during natural breaks in training or competition, from rest between sets to halftime.

Palm cooling is not a new concept. The palms contain specialized blood vessels that help the body exchange heat, which makes them one of its most efficient cooling points. “There has long been an assumption that colder is better, but that isn’t the case,” said Dr. Ben Cowin, DC, ATC, Clinical Director at NICE Recovery. “When the hand gets too cold, the blood vessels clamp down and close off the very pathway you’re trying to use. Getting the temperature and duration right, and delivering them the same way every time, is what makes palm cooling precise enough to study properly. What we’re beginning to see is that palm cooling doesn’t erase fatigue, but it may give the body more room before fatigue takes over.”

The study builds on NICE’s earlier pilot work in baseball pitching and on a pattern the company kept seeing. Athletes reported feeling better with palm cooling and performed better even when their core temperature barely changed, which suggested heat removal alone could not explain the effect. In the strength study, 19 trained athletes completed the same demanding workout twice, once using ROCC between sets and once without it. Along with the gains in total work, athletes using ROCC averaged a 27.1% higher work rate while completing nearly the same number of repetitions, with 17 of the 19 improving.

The study also recorded physiological changes. Across the first three sets and rest periods, athletes trended toward releasing about 13% more heat on average, with a steadier heat flow. Between sets, markers of the body’s “fight or flight” response (sympathetic/SAI) trended down faster while markers of its “rest and digest” state (parasympathetic/PAI) trended back sooner. One physiological result was statistically significant: a measure of autonomic recovery was about 80% less variable with ROCC. These early findings do not establish what caused the performance gains, but they suggest palm cooling may help athletes manage fatigue through effects that extend beyond heat.

“We’re not interested in simply showing that an athlete feels better holding something cold,” Dr. Cowin said. “We want to understand what is happening physiologically and whether the response is repeatable enough to translate into performance.”

NICE is supporting research in the field by sharing its protocol and data with university researchers. The University of Essex is the first institution to independently test ROCC, in a study supported through the University of Essex Innovation Fund and led by Dr. Ben Jones of the university’s School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. The study examines palm cooling during football hydration breaks and halftime in a temperature-controlled hot laboratory, measuring body temperature, heart rate, muscle function, oxygenation and performance. It is separate from NICE’s pilot research, and initial results are expected in early 2027. NICE is also studying how palm cooling affects reaction time and decision making under fatigue.

Designed in Boulder, ROCC uses a closed loop thermal engine to hold its cooling surface at 57°F. A haptic timer pulses every 30 seconds during sessions of up to five minutes, and one USB-C charge lasts more than 90 minutes, enough for two to three workouts. ROCC brings the precision temperature control behind NICE1 into training and competition.

“Recovery has traditionally applied to what happens after training,” Dr. Cowin said. “What if we can start recovery during training or competition? What we’re seeing suggests palm cooling may extend an athlete’s runway before fatigue takes over. A few more quality reps in a single session is a small gain, but when that happens consistently, session after session across a full season, the added work has the potential to have significant impacts.”

That’s where the practical value is for coaches and athletes. ROCC works inside the rest periods already built into a program, without adding time or load. It just makes those rest periods work harder. Better recovery between sets may mean better quality on the next one, so athletes may get more out of the same session. Over weeks and months, that could add up to more quality training across an entire season, and that long-term effect is what NICE is working toward measuring.

ROCC is available now for $975 at getnice.com. NICE’s findings are being released as a research series, Bigger Than Heat, at https://getnice.com/blogs/research. ROCC is a general wellness product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

About NICE Recovery

NICE Recovery makes iceless cold technology that delivers a precise, repeatable dose of cold for athletes and clinicians. More than a device maker, the company sets out to be a trusted partner across the full arc of recovery, from the clinic to the field, with a premium, science-led approach and a commitment to doing the fundamental work well. Michael Ross founded NICE after his own recovery, when he found other cold therapy options heavy, inconvenient, and dependent on ice. He set out to build devices that deliver cold therapy without ice. NICE designs, engineers, and manufactures its own technology in Boulder, Colorado, reflecting its belief in American craft and control over quality. The company shares its research with independent institutions to build the science of recovery and performance. Learn more at getnice.com.