Here’s a summary of the big news stories in the Outdoor Industry so far this Summer:
The North Face
The North Face sponsored ultra-marathon. Jez Bragg broke another record by winning The Devil o’ the Highlands on the 9th August by knocking an astonishing 46 minutes off the existing record, finishing in 5 hours 22 minutes.
The Devil o’ the Highlands features some of the best competitors in the challenging sport of ultra-running, where each runner is given 12 hours to complete the course, over mountain and vale running from Tyndrum to Fort William.
Jez Bragg comments:
“I had a great race, especially with the exceedingly high quality of competitors… 2008 has been a personal triumph so far, but there is no time to rest on my laurels, I want to be at my best for The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc at the end of August”
Holding records for all three of the West Highland Way ultra-running races: The West Highland Way, The highland Fling and The Devil O’ The Highlands, Jez Bragg is really making a name for himself in this long-distance endurance form of ultra-running.
First on the Beka Brakai Chhok Summit in Pakistan
The North Face sponsored athletes, Simone Moro and Hervé Barmasse, were the first to summit the Beka Brakai Chhok in Pakistan, part of the karkorum chain of mountain and stands just shy of 7000m at 694om.
Challenges to these alpinist climbers included no support from an advanced camp – commencing from 4750m, overcoming jutting out ice streches, numerous sheers parts, some mixed parts and several crevasses, sleeping without a tent or sleeping bag or camp stove, and all carried out in under 48 hours.
“It’s a climb that gives us great satisfaction and awareness of our skills and that puts an end to the several previous attempts…We are glad we are providing some good news from the world of Alpinism, after the tragedies we have witnessed in the last days. We hope that our expedition will help remind people and climbers that alpinism is not only about death, tragedies, survival and heroism. We, as many others, go to the mountains sensibly, to live, enjoy, grow, accept life, sport and sometimes also destiny, never questioning or lacking respect for what allows us to carry on all this, the value of life.”
Simone Moro and Hervè Barmasse
Berghaus Sponsors Charity Endurance Race at Catterick Garrison
Berghaus has pledged to sponsor the Paras 10 endurance race on 14th September at the Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire. This grueling multi-terrain race hopes to raise money for The Airborne Forces Charity and Help for Heroes Campaign.
Participants will be competing with some of the fittest and most elite soliers in the British Army in this grueling ten mile race, following the Parachte Regiment’s ‘P’ Company selection march, marked as one of the world’s toughest challenges. Competing in this race requires a great deal of endurance, especially as competitors will be wearing army-style booots and 35lb rucksacks.
Berghaus will supply each marshall with a branded performance t-shirt and prizes including rucsacks and footwear to the winning competitors.
Camelbak and Platypus Bladders are BPA-Free
All of Camelbak and Platypus hydration bottles and bladders are now BPA-free, having made this announcement back in August, they are now designed with a new material that avoids this
What exactly is Bisphenol-A (BPA)?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an chemical used to make polycarbonate plastic resins, epoxy resins, and other products sometimes used in the manufacture of water bottles, bladders and hydrations packs.
Mixed Reports on the Safety of BPA
There has been some negative press on BPA but some researchers state that it is not damaging to health. Manufacturers such as Platypus and Camelbak have moved away from BPA in response to consumer research, and so are both BPA-free.
CheapTents Outdoor Gear Blog 