Eco-Champion Round 2 voting is underway

The 25 finalists for The North Face/Polartec® Eco Champion contest have been chosen and voting is underway online. A $15,000 donation is on the line for the winning green charity and $1,000 shopping spree at http://www.thenorthface.com for the winning entry.

Check out the contest here. So far it’s a tight race between a couple of Riverkeeper organizations, the Audobon Society of Portland and ConservationNEXT. All of the finalists are incredibly worthy causes and people making a difference in our world. Thanks for your inspiration and good luck!

RedFox Adventure Race 2009 powered by Polartec®

Check out this update from Polartec Russia…

Polartec® is proud to become the official partner and supporter of the RedFox Adventure Race 2009 – the biggest Russian adventure race of the year. Among the participants from Russia there will be a team from Ukraine, Latvia, Sweden, Belorussia and Turkey.

Adventure racing  is a new to Russia and outdoor gear manufacturer Red Fox is organizing races with the aim to popularize and develop the extreme team sport.

In the RedFox Adventure Race 2009 powered by Polartec®, athletes will compete in mountain running, navigation, river rafting, sea rowing, rock climbing, mountain biking and even rollerblading, non-stop for 48 hours.

Polartec® fabrics are used for the production of garments by many popular Russian brands. RedFox is one of the first Russian brands to utilize Polartec® fabrics to produce a wide range of garments, starting from thermo-underwear. Our successful and growing 15-year long partnership with one of the leading outdoor brands in Russia now enters in-to the new phase: cooperation to support sports.

Polartec Challenge winner lands in Namibia

Majka Burhardt, one of the 2009 Polartec Challenge Grant winners, has arrived in Namibia with her team of climbers, photographers and filmmakers. Majka is planning to scale some previously unclimbed,  1,000 ft.+ granite walls in Namibia as well as document one of the last great Southern African ancestral tribes, the Himba.

Did you know that Namibia has the most isolated desert roads on the African Continent? Or that it’s the second least populated country in the world? (Mongolia is the first) And that it has the most stable government in Africa? Neither did we.

Majka (pronounced Micah) will be blogging about her month-long adventure on her site. This is from one of her posts last week:

“I’ve been in Windhoek, Namibia’s capitol for 48-hours—just now longer than it took to get here. Departing Johannesburg, I had the choice to go to Gaborone, Antananarivo, Noola, Luanda, Bulawayo, Lusaka or Doha… I came here—at least here I know there’s granite. I arrived and got my rental car, and immediately got inside, on the wrong side (my right side) and sat down. I looked at the attendant. I had not been horizontal in 46 hours. I gave him a wave, got out of the car, and went to the other side.”

This week, Majka has been climbing and exploring Spitzkoppe, a a great granite mountain that rises out of the southern Africa desert.  In the next couple of days the team heads north to (hopefully) put in some first ascents.

We’re looking forward to following Majka’s adventures!

Polartec Challenge Winners Converge Upon Everest

Unbeknownst to them, it appears as if two of this year’s Polartec Challenge Grant winners have converged upon Mt. Everest at the same time.  Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren, parents of young Jordan Romero, are currently making their way up Nuptse, a 25,000 ft. peak just 2 km west of Everest. Paul and Karen are in the Everest region as part of a scouting/reconnaissance mission. Their hope is to return with Jordan in the next year or two and help him complete his quest to become the youngest person to climb the 7 Summits.

Paul and Karen are using a Spot Satellite to update their progress on Nupste. Check it here.  Later this summer, Paul, Karen and Jordan are planning to summit the Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia, leaving only the Vinson Massif and Mount Everest on 12-year-old Jordan’s list.

In the same zip code, but on a totally different mission is Bernice Notenboon. Bernice is in the Himalaya to research the effects of climate change in the Everest ecosystem. Check out the below video where she and her team are finding climbing artifacts unearthed by the rapidly melting glaciers.

Bernice is posting daily updates to her Himalaya-Alert blog, so check back for more news and interesting vids.

Polartec® Scufoneda

This terrific report just in from Alessandro in Italy about a cool Polartec®-sponsored telemark ski event.

Polartec® Scufoneda

The 12th Annual Telemark & Freeride week in Moena, March 1- 8, 2009

This huge International event was the result of the partnership between the Scufons Club and the legendary Polartec® brand: its focus being the Freeride Cup and the Italian FISI Telemark Championship.

The Polartec®-Scufoneda is a Telemark and Freeride event that takes place during the first week of March.  It attracts hundreds of Telemark and Freeride skiers to Moena in Val di Fassa, Dolomites as well as drawing those keen to enjoy the unique nature of the Val di Fassa, from Alpine and Randonees skiers to Snowboarders.  Skills levels aren’t a barrier either with both experts and amateurs invited to enjoy a wonderful week traversing the breath-taking Dolomites.  A full schedule of events offers backcountry trips, product demos, big sporting events as well as hosted entertainment and debate revolving around the topics of mountain and the outdoors.  Particular attention was dedicated to mountain safety courtesy of the Mountain Guides of the State Police who took onlookers through their paces on the proper use of safety equipment.

The Polartec®-Scufoneda event is held on-piste and in the backcountry area around Trevalli (Lusia – San Pellegrino) with daily trips to valleys near Val di Fassa. Apres ski at the Polartec®-Scufoneda is vibrant with crazy nights out, delicious dinners and hosted entertainment all at high altitude.

Daily guided backcountry trips take place throughout the event as well as on-piste trips following the First World War trails.  In true Italian fashion, romance isn’t far away with the ‘the Ski tour of Love’ taking place in the heart of the beautiful Dolomites.

SCUFONS del COGO: who they are?
The SCUFONS del COGO is a non-profit, non-professional association based in Moena, Trentino that, for 11 years, has promoted the international annual event today known as “Polartec®-Scufoneda – Telemark & Freeride week”.

The Club was founded in Moena, Val di Fassa, in the 90s by a group of Telemark enthusiasts and, thanks to passion and motivation; it introduced the “free heel’ ski technique to locals and tourists. Telemark ski started in Norway in 1800 and has recently been re-discovered.  Since its first event, the Scufoneda established itself as a point of reference for Telemark fans all over the world.  Today Freeriders hold it in high esteem too. Initially events were dedicated to “Vintage Telemark”, today annual events focus on guided backcountry trips that take in extreme, difficult and steep terrain all under the watchful eye of the local Mountain Guides who ensure participants are safe.  The certified guides are also responsible for sharing and teaching avalanche prevention and safety basics. The ‘Safety in the Backcountry/Mountains’ theme is constantly on the agenda with debates, group discussions and real life exercises for all ages.  Overviews on Polartec® high-performance fabrics and other advanced materials engineered for the outdoors are also an agenda staple.

The Freeride Cup
It has taken place on March 7th on the North side of the Col Margherita- Passo S. Pellegrino, with the participation of 52 skiers coming from all over the world and in front of a crowd of telemark, snowboard and freeride’s enthusiasts.  A spectacular event that has offered incredible emotions and performances.

Absolute winner for the 3 disciplines (telemark, snowboard, freeride): Matteo Delfrancesco – ITALY (1’ 36”)

The Italian FISI Championship of Telemark
The 8 of March has been the turn of the second edition of this big event recognized by the Italian Ski Federation,  which has taken place in Moena – Lusia. The public was numerous, including the most passionate “free heel” skiers as well as all types of outdoor enthusiasts. The competition – which is valid for the Italian Championship and as final manche of the Italian Cup circuit – has seen the participation of 50 skiers. The route was extremely difficult and articulated, with a number of spectacular challenges.

Absolute winners:        Men category – Nicola Cusini (Italy) – 1,23”92, Women category – Linda Vidori (Italy) – 1,30”73

Today’s Fabrics – Tomorrow’s Environment

March 19, 2009 – Polartec hosted a media event at The Loft and Garden in Rockefeller Center, New York City to celebrate their new collection of environmentally friendly fabrics. Fall 2009 garments from the best performance clothing brands in the world were on display to highlight the range of recycled content Polartec fabrics now available including super lightweight 100% recycled content Polartec Power Dry to super warm Polartec Classic 300 with 87% recycled content.

Andy Vecchione, President of Polartec, LLC, kicked off the evening by discussing Polartec’s long-term commitment to sustainability. Polartec first offered recycled fleece over 15 years ago and in 2009 almost 30 percent of Polartec’s total production will be recycled fabric – saving at least 38 million pounds of CO2 annually.

Andy then passed the mic to newly minted author, Aspen local and old friend, Auden Schendler. Auden, who works as the environmental director for the Aspen Ski Co, just published his first book Getting Green Done, a fascinating look from the front lines of the sustainability movement. Auden began his talk by comparing his Harris Tweed jacket to Polartec and had the crowd engaged and laughing from start to finish.

Andy Vecchione

Auden Schendler

2009 Polartec Challenge Grant Recipients Announced

The annual Polartec® Challenge Grant award recipients have been announced. A total of $14,000 will be granted to three separate expeditions in 2009: a climbing and cultural expedition to Namibia, a trip to Everest to focus attention on the impact of climate change on Sherpa culture, and a climb up the Carstensz Pyramid as part of 12-year-old Jordan Romero’s quest for the Seven Summits.

The first grant recipient is climber and writer Majka Burhardt. This spring, Burhardt will lead a small team of climbers into Namibia in the heart of Africa where they will attempt a first ascent on Van Zyl, a sheer, 2,000-foot granite face. Along the way, Burhardt’s team will document and interact with the Himba, an indigenous pastoral tribe whose way of life if threatened by western influence.

Majka Burhardt

The second grant is awarded to Himalya Alert, an expedition to Everest led by renowned Dutch adventurer and freelance writer, Bernice Notenboom. The objective of the expedition will be to report on climate change in the Himalaya and its profound impact on the Sherpa culture.

Bernice Notenboom

The final grant recipient is Jordan Romero from Big Bear, California who, at the age of 12, has already climbed the highest peak on five different continents. This summer, Romero intends to climb the Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, leaving only Mt. Vinson in Antarctica and Mt. Everest on his list. In his attempt to become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits, Romero has become a role model for and mentor for other children, speaking at schools about climbing, exercise and the outdoors.

Jordan Romero

“The Polartec Challenge celebrates the cultural and environmental aspects of adventure,” states Director of Marketing, Nate Simmons. “We believe Majka will draw mainstream attention to climbing in Africa; Bernice will use her trip as a powerful vignette on the impacts of climate change; and Jordan Romero will inspire a whole new generation of mountaineers.”

In addition to the grant money, all of this year’s Polartec® Challenge winners will be fully outfitted with Polartec® garments, designed to keep them warm, comfortable and dry in the harshest of climates.

About the Polartec® Challenge Grant
The annual Polartec® Challenge Grant seeks to assist frugal, low impact teams who respect the local culture and environment and serve as role models to outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Applications are evaluated on the basis of their vision, commitment and credibility. Past recipients of the Polartec® Challenge Grant include outdoor pioneers and adventurers such as Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, Steve House, Marko Prezelj, Andrew McLean and John Shipton.