Awards : SCARPA’s new Freedom series freeride boots earn 8 media awards

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 1, 2013) – For skiers seeking the coveted one-boot quiver, the choice for Fall 2013 is clear. SCARPA’s new Freedom SL and Freedom series freeride boots, developed with input from big mountain skier Chris Davenport, earned eight awards this season from the likes of Powder, Ski, Skiing, Freeskier and Backcountry Magazines.

“Boots are catching up to the rapid evolution of skis … The incarnation that may best embody the progress is SCARPA’s Freedom SL,” wrote the editors at Powder Magazine, which bestowed its Skier’s Choice Award on both the men’s and women’s Freedom SL. “There are lighter boots and stiffer ones … But of all the new backcountry/resort hybrid boots, the new four-buckle Freedom SL might be the closest thing to a one-boot quiver.”

The unique feature of the Freedom series boots is how well they balance downhill performance with the ability to walk and tour like a backcountry boot. That’s thanks to a powerful overlap construction, and an integrated carbon-fiber frame underfoot – SCARPA’s Carbon Core Construction – that provides maximum power transfer to the ski. When it’s time to walk or tour, however, the Ride Power Block mechanism completely disengages into two separate pieces for 27 degrees of friction-free ankle mobility. Combine that with a weight under four pounds per boot and a substantially more robust way to connect interchangeable sole blocks to the lower boot, and the result is nothing short of game-changing.

The Freedoms aren’t the first to go after the one-boot-quiver category. But, several editors said, they’re the best yet in that category of boots.

Along with that award, the Freedom SLs earned an Editor’s Pick from Freeskier, a Gold Medal Award from Ski Magazine, a Tester’s Choice Award from Skiing Magazine and an editor’s Choice from Backcountry Magazine.

Powder, Ski and Skiing also specifically gave awards to the women’s Freedom SL and the women’s Freedom, which – notably – are built in shell sizes down to size 21.5, or about women’s U.S. 5.
The Freedom SL boots are made with lighter Pebax material and come with a lugged sole compatible with tech bindings. The Freedom boots are made with Primary HP, and proprietary SCARPA-sourced polyurethane, and come with soles compatible with alpine bindings. Both soles will work in a range of alpine-touring bindings, and the soles can be easily swapped on either boot.

“The best boot that bridges the gap between downhill performance and true touring capabilities … the Freedom is the ranking contender for a one-boot quiver, “ wrote Backcountry Magazine’s editors.

Freeskier Magazine called out the cuff range and friction-free touring mode, notable for such a performance-driven boot.

The Freedom series boots are available this fall on retail shelves, and currently shipping to retailers. Along with those boots, SCARPA also added a larger men’s shell size – size 33, men’s size 15 – in its popular Maestrale series of boots.

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.A, Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dave Simpson, Verde PR / e: dave@verdepr.com / p: (970) 259-3555 x122

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