Montane, the British outdoor clothing specialist, has secured a headline sponsorship deal with The Grand Traverse, one of the toughest and most renowned backcountry Ski races in North America, in a move that sees the brand bring their mountain ethos and support to US events.
The agreement will see Montane become the headline sponsor of The Grand Traverse for 2022, in addition to two more Grand Traverse race experiences in the shape of The Grand Traverse Mountain Run and The Grand Traverse Mountain Bike.
Based in Aspen in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, The Grand Traverse was established in 1998 by Jan Runge, and sees participants tackle a gruelling, 40-mile course that runs from Crested Butte to Aspen, crossing the Elk Mountain range and climbing over 6,800 feet. Scheduled to take place on April 2nd and 3rd 2022, it is regarding among skiers across the world as a rite of passage quest, an imperative objective to be attempted in every skier’s lifetime.
In addition to the heritage ski race, The Grand Traverse expanded its offerings in 2015 to include a mountain running race and a mountain biking race, both of which are held in September, positioned later in the year to offer summer options. The three events now form a tri-race series, creating the coveted ‘Grand Traverse Triple Crown’, Colorado’s preeminent multi-sport, multi-season endurance challenge.
Speaking on the news, Grand Traverse Race Director, Andrew Arell, said: “Montane is the quintessential partner to align with our Grand Traverse race series. We’re elated to partner with a legacy expedition brand, one which embodies the same ethos of our event’s intrepid backcountry challenge. Having the backing of an established manufacturer innovating within mountain apparel couldn’t be more ideal. This partnership ensures the gritty legacy of Grand Traverse events will continue to thrive, providing endurance athletes with transcendent backcountry race experience.”
Matthew Hickman, Global Marketing Manager at Montane, said: “For over 25 years Montane has worked closely with serious mountain professionals working in hostile conditions across the globe as a proving ground for our garment design. We’ve been proudly sponsoring events like the Dragon’s Back Race, Spine Race, and Yukon Arctic Ultra, and The Grand Traverse is the perfect fit for us. Montane is right at home when it comes to supporting core endurance athletes in some of the harshest environments.”
The deal comes as interest in the events continues to rise, with The Grand Traverse filling its allocation of participants within 12 hours this year, before The Grand Traverse Mountain Run and The Grand Traverse Mountain Bike events followed in a similar vein as they near capacity.
Montane has been providing innovative, lightweight, and breathable clothing and equipment for over 25 years, specifically designed for endurance sports and activities in some of the world’s harshest and most extreme environments. Alongside The Grand Traverse, Montane also sponsors races such as the Montane Spine Race, Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra (MLAU) and Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra (MYAU), and the Montane Dragon’s Back Race, amongst others.
