Awards : Backpacker, Backcountry, Skiing, Powder bestow 7 awards on SCARPA Fall 12 ski boots !

Boulder, Colo. – This week, Backpacker Magazine named SCARPA’s Alien AT boot winner of its Editor’s Choice Snow Award, which grows to seven the number of media awards for SCARPA ski boots this fall, including accolades from Skiing, Backcountry and Powder Magazines.

Backpacker editors took the Alien, designed first and foremost for randonee racing, on a five-day backcountry tour. They were impressed with the Alien’s versatility as an extremely light touring boot, and with its unique shell design and materials, including integration of the Boa closure system.

“One of our main ski-boot testers didn’t believe the single-buckle Alien could cut it on a five-day, yurt-based backcountry tour. Understandable, seeing as they’re more like high-top trail shoes (with tech-binding compatibility) than any AT boot we’ve ever tested. But her fears were unfounded. The innovative design weighs in at just 3 pounds, 2 ounces per pair—half of what standard AT models weigh—without gutting critical support and control.”

SCARPA also won four awards for a new boot that offers freeride performance in light, touring-oriented design, the new Maestrale RS and its women’s counterpart, the Gea RS. Magazine editor’s called out these boots’ ability to balance light weight (3 pounds, 7 ounces per boot), ankle flexibility for touring (39 degrees, the most in class outside of randonee racing-style boots like the Alien) with downhill performance once locked into ski mode (a true 120 alpine flex index).

“The Maestrale RS straddles the inbounds/out-of-bounds fence as well if not better than any boot on the market,” Skiing Magazine wrote in giving the boot its new Verified stamp of approval. “It isn’t the lightest, stiffest, or most walkable, but it gets high marks in every category. For those who spend more time outside of the gates than in—but who still want alpine performance—this boot is a no-brainer.”

In addition, the Maestrale RS and/or Gea RS earned an Editor’s Choice Award from Backcountry Magazine, anOfficial Ski Test Selection Award from Skiing Magazine, and a Skier’s Choice Award from Powder Magazine.

“An alpha male boot with a weight-to-power ratio that will keep you at the front of the pack heading up or down,” said Backcountry Magazine’s editors. “If you split your time 50/50 between resort and bc tours, the Maestrale RS is the ideal one-and-done boot.”

In addition, Powder gave its Skier’s Choice Award to the Mobe, SCARPA’s tech binding-compatible sidecountry boot.

And, in the telemark department, Backcountry Magazine also bestowed Editor’s Choice on the newTerminator X, SCARPA’s most tour-friendly NTN binding-compatible boot, as well as the new Rottefella NTN Freedom binding,the lighter, more ski-touring focused version of the NTN binding.

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, Colorado., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

Dave Simpson - Senior Account Executive
Verde PR / dave@verdepr.com / 970.259.3555 x2