Archives: Press Releases

SAN FRANCISCO (August 25, 2026) — AllTrails, the app for exploring the outdoors, has surpassed 100 million members. The milestone reflects the growing community of people around the world who use and trust AllTrails to help them spend more time outside.

Millions of people return to the app daily to recap their adventures, share photos and discover new trails. Together, they have:

• Logged over 2.5 billion miles (4 billion kilometers) and 1.3 billion hours of outdoor activities
• Downloaded over 185 million maps to confidently explore beyond cell service
• Saved over 293 million trails to lists, to keep track of their favorites and plan future trips
• Shared 117 million photos, helping others picture and plan their trail experience
• Submitted nearly 72 million reviews across AllTrails’ 500,000 global routes, giving others real insights from real people who’ve been there

“Surpassing 100 million members means people everywhere are choosing to spend more time outside with AllTrails as their trusted companion,” said Liz Hamren, Chief Executive Officer of AllTrails. “Our community thrives on shared expertise and a passion for exploration. AllTrails members are at the heart of everything we do, and this milestone is a celebration of their adventures and contributions.”

Meeting a growing need for the outdoors

AllTrails membership tripled from 10 million in 2019 to 30 million by 2021, reflecting a growing interest in the outdoors for its physical and mental health benefits. The company built on this momentum by investing in new experiences and features in the app, and expanding to 14 languages to reach new people around the world.

AllTrails Plus is the essential membership for getting outside, with offline maps, 3D trail previews, wrong-turn alerts, live share and community-powered trail conditions, and popular times. The company recently expanded its membership offering with the addition of AllTrails Peak, which provides advanced planning tools like custom routes and detailed map layers.

AllTrails’ evolved memberships are one part of its broader commitment to innovation. The company constantly develops new ways to help members explore, plan, and connect — drawing on community feedback to guide its investments. Most recently, AllTrails enhanced its wearables apps and integrations for hands-free exploration and introduced dedicated apps in Claude and ChatGPT, bringing its trusted trail expertise and community insights to AI users worldwide. AllTrails also launched a suite of advanced tools for backpacking, including a first-of-its-kind feature that helps people plan and customize multi-day hikes.

“Community feedback has moved the AllTrails experience forward for over a decade, from small details to our biggest app updates,” said Carly Smith, Chief Business Officer at AllTrails. “Members’ contributions show up in their photos and reviews, but also in how we build AllTrails and think about what comes next. We’re building for our members and with them.”

More members, more impact

As AllTrails has grown, so has its commitment to giving back. In 2024, the company launched the Public Lands Program, a free resource for land management agencies and nonprofits that provides visibility into how people are using their trails plus custom tools for managing trail information, analyzing data, and connecting with visitors to elevate the trail experience. The following year, AllTrails introduced the Stewards Fund, awarding its first round of grants to 24 grassroots organizations and helping improve 1,022 miles of trails.

AllTrails has been a 1% for the Planet member since 2019, contributing a portion of its revenue to conservation and access nonprofits, with more than $3 million given to date. The company detailed the social and environmental impact work it’s maintained alongside its community’s growth in its inaugural 2025 Impact Report.

Looking ahead, AllTrails is focused on a community-first approach to innovation, a growing commitment to giving back, and its core mission to help the world find its way outside.

About AllTrails

AllTrails is the app for exploring the outdoors. We help people spend more time outside by connecting them to their next adventure. We’re home to the world’s largest outdoor community, with members and trails around the globe. Find AllTrails in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and at alltrails.com.

Kennesaw, GA, August 25 – CORDURA^® Advanced Fabrics today announced Atextile as its first official mill partner for CORDURA Adventurer™, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the curated outdoor fabric collection. During Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics 2026, Atextile will showcase the new CORDURA Adventurer™ fabric collection, presenting innovative outdoor fabric solutions to brands, designers, and industry partners. As the first official mill partner for CORDURA Adventurer™, Atextile will leverage the exhibition platform to highlight its technical expertise, innovation capabilities, and shared commitment to advancing performance-driven outdoor fabrics. This strategic partnership brings together shared expertise and technical investment to address the evolving needs and performance challenges of the global outdoor apparel market.

Developed to support outdoor designers seeking confidence, clarity, and proven performance, the CORDURA Adventurer™ fabric collection is built on deep technical expertise and close collaboration with carefully selected mill partners, beginning with Atextile. Chosen for their strong manufacturing heritage, technical capabilities, and proven success in performance-driven categories, Atextile shares a commitment to innovation and quality. With support from CORDURA^® Advanced Fabrics, Atextile is expanding their reach further into the outdoor apparel segment and will support CORDURA Adventurer™ programs globally.

“This partnership is about working together to solve real market needs,” said Ryan Castanet, Director of Business Development, CORDURA^® Advanced Fabrics. “By collaborating closely with mill partners like Atextile, we can deliver meaningful innovation faster, pairing material performance with a trusted brand platform that helps designers and brands move forward with confidence.”

Innovation Focused on Outdoor Performance

As part of the CORDURA Adventurer™ collection, Atextile will introduce a range of fabrics engineered specifically for outdoor apparel applications, including recycled nylon developments and advanced constructions designed for durability, protection, and comfort.

Among the upcoming innovations are:

• Down-Proof Lightweight Fabrics – Engineered with a tight weave construction and a sheer coating to prevent down leakage, helping extend garment life by minimizing fill loss while maintaining lightweight performance.
• Next-Generation Waterproof Lamination – A newly developed laminate system designed to meet a critical market need, offering enhanced durability and improved breathability compared to current industry benchmarks, while addressing long-term wear and performance breakdown seen in traditional constructions.
• Additional Performance Constructions – Including unique mesh structures with crossover potential into complementary categories such as bags & packs.

The new fabrics Atextile is launching today demonstrate its strength in stretch fabric platforms for outdoor, sport, and workwear pant applications. These materials reflect a shared commitment to thoughtful material engineering, tighter process control, and real-world performance testing aligned with the demands of outdoor use.

A Mutually Beneficial Partnership

This partnership reflects the broader strategy behind CORDURA Adventurer™—creating value across the supply chain through collaboration. “The textile industry is becoming increasingly competitive.,” added Castanet. “The strength of the CORDURA^® brand helps elevate our mill partners in terms of brand recognition, trust, and perceived quality. At the same time, our global business development team connects those mills with brands seeking proven, performance-driven solutions. It’s a relationship designed to create value for everyone involved.”

“As a strategic partner, CORDURA^® brand’s empowerment and implementation of products will help us gain a stronger market share, and CORDURA^® brand will also bring added endorsement to many brands.” Said Figo Wu, Atextile CEO.

Global Visibility at Performance Days and Functional Fabric Fair

The new CORDURA Adventurer™ fabric collection featuring Atextile will be available to designers, developers, and sourcing teams at Performance Days in Munich, Germany October 13-14 as well as the Fall Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon October 27-28, where attendees can explore the fabrics firsthand and learn more about their unique capabilities and performance stories.

“We’re excited to share this first mill partnership with our brand partners worldwide,” said Castanet. “Showcasing Atextile’s fabrics and technical strengths through the CORDURA Adventurer™ platform underscores our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and delivering confidence to the outdoor market.”

Learn more at: cordura.com/adventurer
For general brand information, visit www.CORDURA.com.
To connect directly with the sales or marketing team, click Contact Us on the website.

To learn more about Atextile visit: www. ATEXTILE-XMN.COM

To connect directly with the sales team, reach out to: iris@atextile.com.cn

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About CORDURA® Brand

CORDURA® fabric is a primary ingredient in many of the world’s leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from casual apparel and activewear to footwear, backpacks, tactical wear, and workwear. The CORDURA® brand is a registered trademark of INVISTA, a global manufacturer of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. To distinguish the CORDURA® brand, the word “CORDURA®” must be spelled out in all caps and used with an ®, and it must be followed by the word “brand” or “fabric.” To learn more about INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, end-use products, and  marketing tools please visit www.CORDURA.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About INVISTA

INVISTA is a global manufacturer of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. From parts for the automotive industry to medical equipment, air bags, food packaging and clothing, our ingredients in the nylon 6,6 and polypropylene value chains help bring many of life’s essential products to market. A Koch company since 2004, INVISTA is committed to innovation and responsibly creating more value for its customers and society while consuming fewer resources to make these products. See the bigger picture at INVISTA.com.

About Atextile

Atextile is a global textile manufacturer focused on performance-driven woven and laminated fabrics for outdoor, sports, and workwear markets. With advanced capabilities in lamination, coating, and functional finishing, Atextile develops materials engineered for waterproofness, breathability, durability, and comfort. Headquartered in Xiamen, China, the company collaborates with international brand partners to deliver innovative fabric solutions backed by strong manufacturing control and technical development expertise. Visit www.atextile-xmn.com for more information.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (August 24, 2026) — Outdoor Retailer, owned and produced by Forge, wrapped its Minneapolis debut with more than 1,800 attendees, 275-plus brands and 150-plus media and creators from 45 states and 20 countries. The event marked a meaningful reset for the outdoor industry, reinforcing Outdoor Retailer’s role as a platform for connection, learning and innovation.

The three-day show also surpassed its goal of 400 qualified retailers, established when Outdoor Retailer announced its new direction in October 2025. Through more than 850 onsite connections, creators engaged with new and emerging brands while reaching a combined audience of 21.2 million outdoor consumers.

“Moving a legacy event to a new city while navigating significant change is no small undertaking,” said Matthew Mathiasen, group show director, Outdoor Retailer. “It takes trust, patience, curiosity and a willingness to believe in what’s possible. Our buyers, exhibitors, partners, brands, retailers, media and friends across the industry brought all of that to Minneapolis. Most importantly, they reminded us why this industry comes together: to discover what’s next, champion great ideas, make connections and move the outdoor industry forward, together.”

Day one drew more than 600 founders, retailers and industry professionals for a full slate of programming, anchored by the new Retailer Playbook Lab workshop series and an Industry Day featuring keynotes from Eoin Comerford (principal, Outsize Consulting and former CEO of Moosejaw), Neil Fiske (brand president, Black Diamond Equipment), and author and endurance athlete Mirna Valerio.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the most surprising part was the level of buyer activity,” said Comerford. “Booths were busy with exhibitors taking orders onsite.”

Exhibitors and attendees noted a decisive turnaround, with a sold-out show floor and strong buyer activity. Specialty and regional retailers from six continents attended, supported in part by Outdoor Retailer’s Specialty Scholarship and Hosted Buyer Program.

“The quality of buyers that we saw were fantastic,” said Scott Jensen, founder of Near Zero. “I had to have more staff come in – there was a line of people trying to talk to us.”

“We had the right kind of buyers show up and the right kind of people who understand what we’re trying to do,” said Ponch Membreño, commercial director, Flowfold. “It feels really good that the group of people putting on Outdoor Retailer understand the need for supporting emerging brands.”

Founder-led brands were a significant presence at the show, with more than 150 brands represented through the Ascent Program, Garage Grown Gear, Founded Outdoors and REI Path Ahead Ventures. Garage Grown Gear and Founded Outdoors also debuted the inaugural Ascent Summit, bringing together 75 up-and-coming founders for workshops and peer-led sessions focused on scaling, retail distribution and brand growth.

“Footprints and quantity of people don’t explain that there is a heartbeat in the show that hasn’t been here for at least seven years,” said Roberto Gutierrez, director of brand marketing for Backcountry. “Outdoor Retailer focusing on the emerging brands makes a ton of sense. I love the fact that it’s more of a discovery engine as it once was.”

Working with Popfly, a content platform connecting brands with relevant adventure creators, Outdoor Retailer created the Wild Reach program, matching exhibitors that opted in with over 150 creators creating measurable content onsite during and after the event.

“Throughout the show, Wild Reach connected exhibitors with curated outdoor storytellers, driving verified engagement through Popfly’s tracking suite and providing brands with an asset library designed to extend their ROI long past closing day,” said Taylor Hoekstra, founder of Popfly.

“The show is at a time when small retailers can attend, and there are plenty of interesting brands to talk to,” said Wes Allen of Sunlight Sports in Cody, Wyoming. “It was a very worthwhile trip.”

Minneapolis and Minnesota welcomed the show with a civic reception led by Mayor Jacob Frey, who opened the event with a ceremonial ribbon cutting alongside the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, one of Minnesota’s sovereign tribal nations and longtime stewards of the land. The Mille Lacs Honor Guard completed the ceremony, marking Outdoor Retailer’s arrival in its new home.

“Outdoor Retailer got three days to prove whether a year of hard conversations and decisions mattered,” said Lindsay Hubley, senior vice president, Sports and Outdoor Division. “Rebuilding the show meant asking the industry to believe again, one courageous yes at a time. In Minneapolis, brands could launch products, reach more than 20 million followers through structured creator matching, meet with Backcountry and REI buying teams, access more than 400 specialty retail accounts and leave with a content library – all in three days.  Was it perfect? No show ever is. But it was progress. It was energy. It was a community deciding Outdoor Retailer’s story isn’t finished.”

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About Forge

Forge is a leading global B2B events and media company, connecting buyers and sellers across high-value industries through live events, trusted media brands, digital products and year-round communities. Powered by first-party data, technology and deep market expertise, Forge helps businesses discover opportunities, build the right relationships and stay engaged well beyond the event itself. It is a company guided by a single purpose, Moving Markets.

For more information, visit forgelive.com.

Contact: Chris Goddard, CGPR, chris@cgprpublicrelations.com, 781-640-8387

August 24, 2026—Boulder, CO—Lems Shoes, the Boulder-based footwear brand known for its commitment to natural, foot-shaped designs, is officially entering the road running category with the launch of its debut collection: ZenSpeed+ and ZenSpeed Lite. Both models will be available for pre-sale beginning August 24, with the official launch following in early October.

For Lems, this launch represents both an evolution and a return to where the brand started. In 2008, founder Andrew Rademacher was a collegiate decathlete with a lifelong passion for running. He grew frustrated with the lack of running shoes that truly fit the foot’s natural anatomy. In search of something better, he began dissecting his own running shoes, cutting away excess material and studying their construction to understand why traditional footwear felt so restrictive. That early obsession became the foundation for Lems itself. Even as the brand built its name in casual and outdoor footwear, its roots stayed in movement and performance, with a running shoe always on the long-term roadmap.

“The running category today is filled with highly engineered, often overbuilt shoes with thick, cushioned stack heights and designs that can feel disconnected from natural movement,” said Rademacher. “That works for some runners, but we saw an opportunity to offer something different. We believe there’s a place for a return to basics with a shoe that draws from our traditional philosophy of a simple, uncomplicated design that lets your foot move the way it was intended. Stepping into the running category felt like a natural next step for us. It lets us connect with runners who are thinking deeply about how they move and what they’re putting on their feet, which is, quite honestly, something I am always thinking about. We’re excited to see how these land, and we’re just getting started.”

For this collection, Lems developed its first-to-market TrueFit™ last and Natural Running Platform to give runners a more natural, efficient ride. Built around the true shape of the foot, the last keeps the big toe properly aligned and allows all five toes to splay on impact, supporting better stability and power transfer. Its sleek profile removes the bulk and unwanted movement common in wide toe box shoes, creating a more secure, responsive fit. The Natural Running Platform encourages a natural midfoot strike, and the smooth rocker design delivers a more connected running experience. Both models feature Lems’ proprietary injected rubber outsole, which is lighter than traditional solid rubber while offering high abrasion resistance. The brand’s new ZENCELL™ midsole foam is engineered to deliver an energetic push-off for effortless motion. Together, these elements reflect the same idea baked into the collection’s name: Zen for the calm, connected, natural movement Lems has always built around, and Speed for the performance to back it up on the road.

The ZenSpeeds are designed for runners and active people of every skill level and body type who are ready to ditch the overbuilt, overcushioned shoe and get back to a natural stride, whether that’s on the road, at the gym, or just moving through everyday walking and urban wear. It’s a daily running shoe as much as a race-day one, made for runners easing into the sport and veterans craving more ground feel alike. The ZenSpeed collection is available in men’s and women’s styles, each offered in wide and medium fit options.

ZenSpeed+: Built for Longer Miles and an Energetic Ride

The ZenSpeed+ is Lems’ first road running shoe, built on the healthy fit and low drop that define Lems footwear. Designed for runners, walkers, and anyone who believes movement should feel natural, it’s engineered with a smooth rocker profile to promote an efficient midfoot strike and a stable, energized stride. MSRP: $175

• Weight: 9.4 oz. (Men’s size 10)
• Heel stack: 31 mm
• Forefoot stack: 26 mm
• Drop: 5 mm
• Last/fit: TrueFit™ last (foot-shaped and streamlined)
• Width: Available in Wide (D width, similar to the original Lems Wide Fit) and Medium (less wide, B width)
• Midsole: ZENCELL™ — highly responsive EVA + 10% PEBA
• Outsole: 3.5 mm injected rubber, super-light floating design
• Insole: Minimal Cork Insole
• Available in Blackburn, Chalk, and Lime (Men’s only, Wide), Firecracker (Women’s only, Medium)

ZenSpeed Lite: Designed for a Minimal, Grounded Feel

The ZenSpeed Lite is the more minimal counterpart to the ZenSpeed+, delivering a lighter, lower-profile ride for runners who want to stay closer to the ground. With a 2mm drop and reduced stack height, it pairs Lems’ Natural Running Platform with just enough cushioning for a connected, grounded feel. MSRP: $165

• Weight: 8.8 oz. (Men’s size 10)
• Heel Stack: 24mm
• Forefoot Stack: 22mm
• Drop: 2mm
• Last/Fit: TrueFit™ last (foot-shaped and streamlined)
• Width: Available in Wide (D width, similar to the original Lems Wide Fit) and Medium (less wide, B width)
• Midsole: ZENCELL™ — highly responsive EVA + 10% PEBA
• Outsole: 3.5 mm injected rubber, super-light floating design
• Insole: Minimal Cork Insole
• Available in Blackburn, Chalk, and Citrus

Pre-sale orders for both models open August 24 and will be available for one month, with shipments starting in early October ahead of the launch. Both styles will be available at www.lemsshoes.com and select independent retailers.

For more information on Lems Shoes and the latest brand news, visit www.lemsshoes.com or contact Stacy Kline at stacy@darbycommunications.com. For sale inquiries, please contact caileigh@lemsshoes.com.

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ABOUT LEMS SHOES

Founded in 2011 by Andrew Rademacher, Lems Shoes was born from a simple idea: shoes should be built around the natural shape and movement of the human foot. Frustrated by the lack of anatomically correct footwear on the market, Rademacher took matters into his own hands, literally, by dissecting traditional shoes, studying last construction and pattern making, and designing his own. The result? Minimalist footwear that strips away the unnecessary, delivering full flexibility, comfort, and foot-shaped design. From its first release, the Primal, to its ever-evolving lineup today, Lems remains committed to creating lightweight, versatile shoes that let your feet move the way nature intended. Learn more about the brand at lemsshoes.com.

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.