ROANOKE, Va. — In January 2026, Alex Honnold free-soloed the 1,667-foot Taipei 101 live on Netflix. A few months later, on Honnold’s podcast Climbing Gold, Roanoke filmmaker Chad Heddleston floated an idea of his own: he wanted to climb the Roanoke Star.

He wasn’t entirely joking. In fact, he actually did it.

The result is Star Climb 101, a two-minute short film out today on Catching Pine Cones YouTube Channel and at https://www.catchingpinecones.com/.  It’s part playful spoof of Honnold’s skyscraper spectacle, part love letter to Roanoke, the mountain town Heddleston calls home. It opens like a blockbuster trailer, complete with booming voiceover and the promise of “the brightest urban free solo climb ever,” then turns into something considerably sillier: a dawn ride up the greenway, a stop for coffee, a detour onto the jump line, and eventually an 88.5-foot neon star with a filmmaker standing on top of it.

In this short film, Heddleston shares his concern that Honnold may swoop into town and solo The Star before he can, but thinks “Honnold lives in Yosemite, and I live here, so I’m going to get there first.”

Honnold turns up in the film himself, via a recorded segment, remarking, “I feel like you could definitely climb that.”

Heddleston originally appeared on Honnold’s podcast because of another film he worked on called Catching Pinecones. Heddleston directed the award-winning documentary about pioneering climbers and cave explorers Jan and Herb Conn, which has screened at Kendal Mountain Film, Wild and Scenic, and 12 other film festivals in the international mountain film circuit. The podcast episode airs August 21 — where the conversation drifts from Taipei to a certain star on a certain mountain in Roanoke, Virginia.

The Roanoke Star has stood atop Mill Mountain since 1949, and it’s 88.5 feet of steel and neon overlooking Roanoke’s downtown from roughly 1,000 feet above the valley floor. It’s the most photographed landmark in the region and the reason Roanoke is called the Star City of the South. Until now, nobody had climbed it.

Learn more about Roanoke at www.roanokeoutside.com and www.get2knownoke.com.

The climb was conducted with the cooperation of /under permit from the City of Roanoke. The Roanoke Star is not open to climbing.

Watch: www.CatchingPinecones.com

Media contact:
Chad Heddleston, Director Star Climb 101 and Catching Pinecones
heddlestonc@gmail.com
(540) 323-8658

BOULDER, Colo. (Aug. 20, 2026) — SCARPA, global manufacturer of high-performance mountain footwear, this week unveiled the new Alien Sky and Alien Ultra trail-running shoes, two limited-edition designs offering  a new technical platform focused on high-performance alpine running. Designed with input from SCARPA’s elite-level trail-running athletes, the limited edition Alien shoes preview a broader release as part of the Spring/Summer 2027 product collection.

Available starting today in limited quantities and with an exclusive launch colorway, both models share the same design philosophy and core technologies but are tailored to different needs. The Alien Ultra  is designed for long alpine distances, with a construction developed to provide support, consistency and efficiency even after many hours on the move. The Alien Sky is built for vertical racing in the most technical alpine terrain, where lightness and precision make all the difference.

Not From This Planet

The Alien Ultra and Alien Sky were created with one clear objective: to give athletes a tool capable of making running on the most technical terrain feel more natural, more fluid and more efficient than ever before.

Precision on foot placements, propulsion, ground connection and stability combine in a unique platform designed to support runners in the most demanding mountain environments. Every element of the construction works in harmony to promote a smooth, responsive stride while maintaining control on rock, mud and steep gradients.

Collaborative development with SCARPA athletes

The Alien Ultra and Alien Sky are the result of an extensive research and development program carried out together with SCARPA’s elite athletes.

The Alien Ultra was developed with direct contributions from Peter Frano, who worked alongside the SCARPA team to fine-tune the shoe’s performance over long alpine distances, along with input from other SCARPA running athletes. The Alien Sky was developed in close collaboration with Luca Del Pero and Marcos Villamuera, who were involved from the earliest stages of the design process and began testing prototypes in spring 2025.

The continuous exchange between designers and athletes made it possible to refine every aspect of the construction, turning real-world experience into tangible technical solutions.

Two interpretations, same philosophy

Designed for vertical races and the most technical alpine terrain, the Alien Sky prioritizes lightness, precision and fast response.

Weighing just 235g (½ pair, size 42) with a 26–20 mm stack height, the Alien Sky delivers direct ground contact and progressive impact absorption, enabling rapid pace changes and exceptionally precise movement, even on the most demanding sections.

Completing the construction is an Adaptive Propulsion Plate in the forefoot made from nylon reinforced with 20 percent glass fiber, designed to deliver more effective propulsion on steep climbs while protecting the foot from sharp rocks. Its distinctive central cut-out design also enables controlled torsional flex, enhancing adaptability, stability and ground contact even on the most uneven terrain.

The Alien Ultra shares the same technical DNA, reinterpreted in a shoe built for long-distance racing and alpine endurance events.

Its more protective construction, combined with a weight of 295g (½ pair, size 42) and a 38–32 mm stack height, provides greater impact absorption and continuous forward progression while maintaining outstanding stability and control over extended efforts.

The full-length Propulsion Plate, made from Pebax® reinforced with 30 percent carbon fiber, works in synergy with the A-TPU midsole to optimize stability, guide the gait cycle and enhance energy return. Its branched forefoot design and swallowtail-shaped heel structure improve terrain adaptability, maintaining control and traction even across the most technical alpine terrain.

Both models share a common technical platform that combines solutions developed by SCARPA with high-performance components specifically engineered for Alpine Running.

At the core of the construction is a dual-layer midsole made from Super Critical Foam 100 percent Aliphatic-TPU (A-TPU), expanded through a supercritical nitrogen infusion process. This formulation helps convert impact energy into propulsion, delivering exceptional lightweight performance, high energy return and consistent performance even during the most demanding efforts.

For fit and protection, the Second-Skin Precision Upper wraps the foot with precision, ensuring a direct connection to the terrain, while the integrated gaiter prevents rocks and debris from entering the shoe during the run.

Completing the platform, the Flow Arch geometry in the forefoot promotes a smooth transition and faster toe-off, while the Vibram® Megagrip outsole provides reliable traction on rock, mud and highly technical alpine terrain.

SCARPA opens a new chapter in alpine running

With the Alien Ultra and Alien Sky, SCARPA introduces a new technical platform developed for elite athletes and the most demanding trail runners. The two complementary models are united by the same pursuit of precision, efficiency and control, engineered to meet different performance needs: from the explosive responsiveness required in vertical racing to the sustained support and consistency needed for alpine ultra-distance events. It is the start of a new product family set to expand over the coming seasons.

The Alien Sky ($279) and Alien Ultra ($249) are available in limited numbers in North America starting today through the SCARPA North America web site.

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.

Media Contact

Verde Brand Communications

(970) 235-0268

scarpa@verdepr.com

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EDINBURGH, Scotland – 18th August 2026: Ooni, the trailblazing cooking product company and leader of the home pizza oven market, today announces the appointment of former Volvo Cars and Dyson CEO Jim Rowan as Chair of the Board, effective 1st August 2026. This appointment anchors a series of senior governance updates designed to accelerate the brand’s next phase of global growth.

Jim brings decades of international leadership from some of the world’s most innovative, design-led businesses including chairing Lime. At Volvo Cars, as CEO and President, he scaled a premium consumer product across complex global markets; at Dyson, as COO and CEO, he helped build a brand defined by design-driven engineering. He also served as COO of BlackBerry.

He joins Ooni’s Board alongside Ruth Chandler and Scott Maguire, whose roles have been formalised as Non-executive Directors following their previous positions as Board Advisors. Together, they bring extensive global experience across innovation, people and commercial success, further strengthening Ooni’s leadership as the company continues to expand and evolve.

The new Board structure gives Ooni a strong foundation to pursue its long-term ambition and continued growth. Under Jim’s direction, the Board will work closely with the CEO and management team to shape Ooni’s 10 year strategy and ensure the company continues to make the right decisions for the global community of Ooni customers.

Darina Garland, Founder of Ooni, said: “Since the early days of Ooni we made the strategic decision to have a board of advisors, to bring together world-class experience that would challenge, support and steer us into the next level. Today we are so excited to bring this group of global stars into Ooni. We leaned into our value of ambition and had a rigorous process to find these board advisors and our new Chair. Jim is an exceptional leader, and we’re delighted to have him as Chair. Alongside Ruth and Scott, he brings a huge amount of experience and perspective to Ooni at a really exciting time in our journey. I would also like to take this opportunity to give heartfelt thanks to Paul Ross for his wisdom and expertise in Chairing Ooni through the last 8 years of phenomenal growth. Having decided this is the right moment for him to hand over the reins with Ooni’s next chapter well underway, we are immensely grateful for everything he has done for the business.”

Jim Rowan, Chair of Ooni’s Board, said: “What excites me about Ooni is the scale of the opportunity ahead. This is a brand that has created its own category and built extraordinary loyalty, but is still early in its growth story. Having spent much of my career scaling design-led consumer businesses globally, I’m delighted to be appointed as Chair to lead the brand through this next chapter of growth by staying true to brand purpose and continuing to innovate world-class products.”

As Jim Rowan steps into the role of Chair, he succeeds Paul Ross, who is stepping down after eight years in the position. During his tenure, Paul has played an important role in guiding the organisation’s growth and development, leaving a strong foundation for the future.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Ooni Board

Ooni’s new Board comprises Jim Rowan, Chair; Founders Darina Garland and Kristian Tapaninaho; Ruth Chandler and Scott Maguire, Non-Executive Directors; Karthik Iyer, CEO, and Andrew Brown, CFO, as Executive Directors.

Jim Rowan – Chair – Biography

Jim brings to the role extensive international leadership experience across the automotive, technology and engineering sectors. Most recently, was the CEO and President of Volvo Cars, where he led the company to record profits in its 98-year history and was recognised as CEO of the Year by Newsweek and Automotive News, as well as named a Global 100 Climate Leader by Time Magazine. He previously served as COO and then CEO of Dyson, and as COO of BlackBerry. A Scottish-born engineer who began his career as an engineering apprentice on the production floor, Jim now holds a number of non-executive and advisory roles, including Chair of Lime and STAC, and an independent director at Lotus Cars.

Ruth Chandler – Non-executive Director – Biography

Ruth brings an impressive track record in HR leadership and executive coaching to Ooni’s Board. As Chief People Officer of Skyscanner, she played a key role in the company’s growth and successful £1.4bn acquisition. She now works as a Board Advisor at Skyscanner and executive coach helping leaders and organisations navigate growth and change.

Scott Maguire – Non-executive Director – Biography

Scott is a seasoned innovator with a passion for design, engineering and growing premium businesses, bringing extensive leadership experience to Ooni’s Board. He is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of On, having previously served as CEO of Specialized and COO of Dyson – experience spanning some of the world’s most respected design-led consumer brands.

About Ooni

Ooni revolutionised the outdoor cooking landscape in 2012 by launching the world’s first portable pizza oven, creating the category and turning a generation of pizza eaters into pizza makers across the globe. Founded by Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland, Ooni is the world’s No. 1 pizza oven brand with over 3 million gas, multi-fuel and electric ovens sold globally and over 92,000 five-star reviews.

In addition to award-winning ovens, in 2025 Ooni entered a new product category with the Ooni Halo Pro which was followed by the launch of the Ooni Halo Core in 2026. The innovative range of Spiral Mixers is designed to bring professional dough mixing into the home kitchen. Ooni also offers a full range of must-have accessories.

Ooni is known for creating trailblazing cooking products that feed both people and planet, redefining the everyday act of cooking through award-winning and high-quality design.

To explore the full Ooni product range, visit ooni.com.

DENVER, CO (August 18, 2026) — Before carbon plates and supercritical foam, runners already had an extraordinary piece of performance technology beneath them: the human foot. For the Vanish Carbon 3, Altra treated that anatomy as a central part of the racing system, then built the plate, foam, fit and lockdown around it.

Carbon plates have transformed racing shoes by adding stiffness and propulsion, but that can also change how the forefoot moves through toe-off. Altra saw a design problem inside racing’s favorite technology: how do you capture the speed of carbon without locking the foot?

The answer is Altra’s new patent-pending split-toe-carbon plate. It provides the structure runners expect from a super shoe, then separates at the big toe to allow for more natural movement and power.

Beneath the plate, FAST RCE, Altra’s lightest and most responsive supercritical, pure PEBA foam, supplies the rebound.

Above it, Altra’s signature roomy toe box gives the toes space to splay, while the unique eyestay design allows proper midfoot lockdown without restricting the toes. The eyestay design is an intentional detail that embodies Altra’s entire design logic: support the foot where it needs it, leave it alone where it doesn’t.

“We didn’t set out to build just another carbon racing shoe; we set out to build an Altra racing shoe,” said Kylee Barton, Head of Product at Altra. “Every element of the Vanish Carbon 3 was designed to work in harmony with the actual shape of the foot and our Altra Fit ™. The split-toe-carbon plate allows the foot to move, stabilize, and generate power more naturally, giving runners the propulsion they expect from a carbon plate while preserving natural movement and the qualities that make an Altra feel uniquely Altra. It’s race-day performance that works with the body, not against it.”

The result: super natural performance, and the fastest road shoe Altra has ever made.

The Footprint Blueprint

The Vanish Carbon 3 is the product of three generations spent focused on solving the same problem: how can Altra add race-day technology without engineering the foot out of the shoe?

The original Vanish Carbon went through 17 prototypes and used a Carbitex half-plate designed to flex with the foot. Vanish Carbon 2 extended carbon through the full length of the shoe and added asymmetry, while flex grooves in the outsole supported flexibility. Vanish Carbon 3 splits the plate itself.

Across those three generations, Altra has moved deeper into racing technology while becoming more specific about its own formula for speed. The gains are measurable: in lab testing, the Vanish Carbon 3 improved running economy by 2.6% compared with the Vanish Carbon 2, rivaling current super shoes in the market, while retaining World Athletics approval for road racing.

It’s this approach that’s driving Altra’s momentum. VF Corporation reported that Altra revenue rose 45% in the fourth quarter of 2026 and more than 30% for the full year, passing $270 million. VF CEO Bracken Darrell has said Altra can become a “billion-dollar-plus brand over time.” The Vanish Carbon 3 shows how Altra is pursuing growth: by pushing its foot-focused point of view forward, rather than blending into the pack.

Product Details

• New patent-pending split toe carbon plate: Provides stiffness while allowing natural movement through the forefoot
• FAST RCE foam: Altra’s lightest, most responsive foam in a two-piece sandwiched supercritical PEBA construction with Altra’s split toe plate in-between
• Altra Fit™ for Racing: Foot-shaped fit with 4mm drop, 40mm heel and 36mm forefoot stack for propulsion
• Unique eyestay design: Ensures proper midfoot lockdown while keeping the toes free to splay
• Race-day upper: Seamless, breathable engineered mesh with a soft, lightweight tongue for a zero-distraction feel
• Lightweight outsole: A new rubber compound designed to supply traction in a lighter package
• Weight: Men’s size 10: 7.7 oz / 220 g. Women’s size 8: 6.7 oz / 192 g.

The Altra Vanish Carbon 3 will be available beginning August 18 for $240 at AltraRunning.com and select global retailers in three colorways. To accompany the new design system, Altra will introduce the Vanish Tempo 2, a plated trainer, in September.

About Altra

Altra isn’t just a shoe. It’s a promise. It all started when we hacked the typical running shoe, challenging industry convention by opening the toe box so feet could splay naturally. Born from a passion for innovation and natural running, Altra designs footwear in Colorado that helps runners move more naturally. The Altra Fit allows toes to spread for enhanced comfort, balance and strength, so you can Stay Out There™ for more miles and more years.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Splitt, a Minnesota-built online marketplace for outdoor rentals, is now live and inviting operators, retailers, outfitters, experience providers, and local adventure businesses to join its vendor beta.

Splitt is a one-stop, searchable platform that offers a fast and easy way for people to discover local rentals, packages, and experiences. From bikes to boats and inspiration to instruction, Splitt helps people find the gear—and the confidence—they need to dive into any outdoor adventure.

For vendors, Splitt is an amplifier that can supercharge growth. Local outdoor operators can immediately boost visibility of their gear, services, and expertise by listing with Splitt. Which eliminates the need for expensive software, while also streamlining communication as well as building customer relationships and engagement.

Splitt will be a first-time exhibitor at Outdoor Retailer 2026 in the Minnesota Pavilion. Outdoor operators attending the show are invited to visit Splitt to learn more about the vendor beta and explore how the platform can help their rentals, packages, services, and experiences get seen, get booked, and get put to good use.

“Our purpose is to make the wide open outdoors more open,” said Imran Vaghoo, CMO and Co-Founder of Splitt. “That’s why we created a platform to help customers find what local outdoor businesses already offer. And give operators, who are often stretched for resources and time, a simpler way to grow bookings without growing frustration.”

“The incredible experience of standing on a mountaintop or feeling the rush of a river beneath you shouldn’t just be reserved for those who can afford to buy or own the gear to get there,” noted Mizan Hemani, CEO and Founder of Splitt. “Renting makes the great outdoors accessible to everyone. And that’s how it should be.”

Vendor beta sign-ups are open at go-splitt.com.

About Splitt: Splitt is a Minnesota-built online marketplace for outdoor rentals that connects customers with local operators, rental shops, and experience-based businesses. On a mission to make the wide open outdoors more open, Splitt makes being outside accessible to everyone by offering rentals, education, and community. And it helps vendors drive sales by providing a platform where their equipment, packages, and services can get seen, get booked, and get put to good use.

 

 

 

 

CALGARY, Alberta, (August 17, 2026) — Tersus Solutions, the leader in liquid CO2-based waterless cleaning and recommerce logistics for outdoor and fashion brands, as well as gear decontamination for first responders and workwear, is opening its first Canadian facility in Calgary, Alberta. Steve Bommer will serve as general manager of Tersus Solutions Canada effective immediately.

This is the company’s first owned and operated international facility, enabling Tersus to support brand partners with localized processing, reduced shipping distances, and faster turnaround for Canadian recommerce volume. The Calgary facility will continually add new positions in operations and logistics as demand grows.

“Calgary is the next step in building recommerce infrastructure and solutions where our brand partners operate and is a natural extension of our US footprint,” said Peter Whitcomb, chief executive officer of Tersus Solutions. “This facility puts us closer to the inventory and closer to the brands we serve in Canada.”

The Calgary site is Tersus Solutions’ fifth location in North America, adding more than 25,000 square feet of dedicated processing capacity. At launch, Tersus Canada will process items for Like New, lululemon’s branded resale program, providing cleaning, conditioning, grading and fulfillment services for the Vancouver-headquartered global technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company. The Calgary operation provides the same comprehensive services Tersus provides across its U.S. facilities, while expanding the company’s ability to support additional brand partners, first responders, and the oil and gas industry, as recommerce continues to gain momentum across Canada.

Steve Bommer will serve as general manager of Tersus Solutions Canada, bringing nearly four decades of experience to the job. Bommer is a Calgary-based business leader who co-founded Spirit West, a sustainably focused build-to-order outdoor apparel brand, and Tread Litely, a repair and alteration service dedicated to extending the life of outdoor gear.

“I’m proud to lead this team as we bring Tersus’s recommerce capabilities to Canada,” said Bommer. “This facility delivers the same high-quality standards our partners expect, with the additional speed and care that comes from being local.”

The Calgary opening follows a period of growth for Tersus Solutions. In June 2026, the company announced a new 31,000 square foot footwear-dedicated facility on its Denver-area campus, along with new brand partnerships and leadership additions.

Brands interested in launching or scaling a recommerce program are encouraged to contact www.tersussolutions.com.

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About Tersus Solutions

Tersus Solutions provides textile cleaning, repair, and recycling services for outdoor, athletic, luxury, and footwear brands. The company uses a patented liquid CO₂ cleaning process, an alternative to traditional water, and chemical-based cleaning methods that reduces water use and avoids harsh detergents. Tersus works with brands on resale and repair programs, handling garment reclamation, reconditioning, and logistics on their behalf. The company cleans personal protective equipment (PPE), applying its CO₂ process to workwear and firefighter turnout gear to remove contaminants, including carcinogens picked up on the job, more effectively than conventional laundering. Learn more at tersussolutions.com.

Media Contact:
Genny Boots, CGPR

genny@cgprpublicrelations.com

Santa Cruz, California — August 17^th, 2026

The Highline Collective today announced the launch of its online marketplace, introducing a new approach to outdoor commerce centered on intentional discovery and editorial storytelling.

Founded by Bryan Klavitter, Elias Larkin, and Derek Velzy; whose experience spans companies including Zero Motorcycles, Specialized, adidas, Amer Sports, Backcountry, Teton Gravity Research, Jaybird, and KURU Footwear; Highline was created from a simple observation: while the outdoor industry continues to produce remarkable independent brands, discovering them has become increasingly fragmented, transactional, and difficult to navigate.

Highline was built to offer an alternative.

Rather than presenting endless products and recommendations, the platform features a single independent outdoor brand at a time, giving each company the space to share its story, philosophy, products, and perspective through original editorial content, photography, film, playlists, and curated commerce.

“The outdoor industry has never had more incredible brands, yet meaningful discovery often gets lost in the pace of modern commerce,” said Bryan Klavitter, Co-Founder and CEO of The Highline Collective. “We believe the brands that leave the biggest impression aren’t always the loudest; they’re the ones you take the time to understand. Highline is our attempt to create more space for those discoveries.”

The philosophy behind Highline extends beyond commerce. Since announcing the company earlier this year, the team has gradually introduced its editorial identity through photography, playlists, field notes, and a newly evolved visual identity inspired by the rhythm of the natural world and the belief that meaningful discovery takes time.

Each featured brand becomes a multi-week editorial experience, combining founder stories, product exploration, original photography, film, music, and written content designed to create a deeper connection between people and the brands they discover.

The first featured brand marks the beginning of what Highline plans to become: an evolving platform where storytelling, community, and commerce exist together.

“We’re interested in building something people return to because they’re curious,” added Klavitter. “Commerce is part of that experience, but it isn’t the starting point. The stories, the people, and the culture surrounding the outdoors are what make discovery meaningful.”

The Highline Collective is now live, with its first featured brand available at thehighlinecollective.com.

About The Highline Collective

The Highline Collective is a curated online marketplace dedicated to helping people discover independent outdoor brands and the culture surrounding them. Through thoughtful curation, editorial storytelling, original photography, film, music, and commerce, Highline creates more intentional moments of discovery; one featured brand at a time.