Arc'teryx, Petzl, and La Sportiva Award Marc-Andre Leclerc with 2015 Guy Lacelle Pure Spirit Award

North Vancouver, BC (March 2015) – Ever since athlete and friend Guy Lacelle was tragically killed in an avalanche in Montana in 2009 – Arc’teryx, La Sportiva, and Petzl have continually come together to honor a climber who embodies the spirit of integrity, humility and joy that Guy brought to his climbs by establishing the Guy Lacelle Pure Spirit Award. This year’s recipient of the Guy Lacelle Pure Spirit Award shines in all those areas, Marc-Andre Leclerc of Squamish, British Columbia.

Leclerc, 22, has been climbing hard but quietly and clean for over a decade and has grown into a well-deserved role as a mentor for countless aspiring climbers – just like Lacelle. Leclerc’s solo records in Squamish, his ice climbing achievements in the Canadian Rockies, and his recent accomplishments in Patagonia made him the obvious choice for the 2015 recipient of the Guy Lacelle Pure Spirit Award.

“Marc-Andre fits the criteria for this award perfectly,” said Laura Fergusson, North American athlete and event manager for Arc’teryx. “He is to big wall climbing what Guy was to ice: a master of the medium, completely committed to the climbing life, with ascents of the world’s hardest lines, each completed in immaculate style.”

Most recently, Leclerc raised the bar yet again by making the first solo (sometimes using a self belay) ascent of Cerro Torre’s Corkscrew route (5.10d A1 90 degrees, 4,000′). The Corkscrew is a linkup that contains 200 meters of independent climbing out of 1200 meters total to reach Cerro Torre’s summit.

“Marc-Andre defines the spirit of commitment and his boundless energy, fabulous talent, and vision brings a new level to our sport,” Fergusson said.

To learn more about Leclerc’s recent solos of the Cerro Torre Corkscrew, click here: http://blog.arcteryx.com/marc-andre-leclerc-checks-after-soloing-corkscrew- cerro-torre

About Guy Lacelle

Guy Lacelle was a world-renowned ice climber having received the prestigious Summit of Excellence Award from the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture. He also won the Festiglace Competition in Quebec in 2004, as well as the Pure Ice Competition in Ouray in 2000 and 2001.

During his career, Guy achieved numerous historical ascents including: the first solo link of the Terminator/Sea of Vapors and the Replicant in 5 hours, Weeping Pillar and Polar Circus in a day, French Maid, Curtain Call, La Pomme D’or in Quebec, and Hydnefossen in Norway.
Guy Lacelle died on December 10, 2009 while competing at the Bozeman Ice Festival.


By Chris Denny through press release ©