SALEWA alpineXtrem Team

In 2005, SALEWA founded the international SALEWA alpineXtrem team. The idea is to promote young athletes under the leadership of the two experienced and successful mountaineers, Christoph Hainz and Matthias Robl. And they’re already pushing mightily ahead! For example, Roger Schäli, the young Swiss mountain guide and extreme mountaineer, has already been nominated for the “Piolet d’Or” – the mountaineering Oscar – for his two first ascents of the Arwa Spires in northern India. Roger Schäli has had several, highly applauded successes since at Torre Egger and Cerro Torre. Frenchwoman Chloe Minoret has a European championship title and a country championship title to show for herself, whilst Timo Preussler and Daniel Steurer are each scooping up the medals at the climbing competitions in Germany and Austria. Martin Moser, on the other hand, has already made many first ascents of routes in sport climbing and is happiest when solving difficult boulder problems. The German all-round mountaineer Andi Fichtner is new on the team. She is equally at ease on the rockface or scaling a frozen peak. It is particularly interesting that the team members originate from five different countries - thus enabling an exchange to take place between the different scenes.

The team members are not only the most important SALEWA ambassadors in the climbing halls, rock faces and mountains of this world – they also play an important role in the product development. New products are tested extensively and under the toughest conditions. The feedback helps those responsible to continually improve the products and to bring fully developed materials onto the market. SALEWA customers can be certain of purchasing a safe and functional product.

Christoph Hainz is one of the absolute greats in alpinism. However, what particularly sets the South Tyrolean apart is that he is capable of giving a top performance in all alpine disciplines. The long list of his first ascents and repeat climbs can be found under: www.christoph-hainz.com

High altitude climbing is Mathias Robl’s great passion. He knows from experience how thin the air becomes from 7000 metres upwards (Mount Everest, Cho Oyo, Aconcagua, etc.). However, as an all-rounder, he also brings high performances to the other alpine disciplines. You can learn more about the likeable German under: www.matthiasrobl.de

Chloé Minoret, 1977, France, sport climber

Chloé has already achieved a lot – whereby winning the European championship has been the highlight of her career so far. However, she has even greater goals: She wants to collect the world championship title. In any case, this natural talent is capable of anything.

Andi Fichtner, Germany, 1976, alpinism

Andi ist not just an all round talent as a graphics designer but also as a mountaineer. On the north face of the Droites, Eiger and Walkerpfeiler she is just at home as when climbing steep waterfalls and mixed routes. She is also an enthusiastic sports climber - nowadays you might find her doing some relaxed climbing in the Frankenjura! Her next goals are to climb the French 8th grade as well as some beautiful and challenging routes on other continents.

Elena Ghiso, 1983, Italy, sport climber

She is one of the strongest Italy’s new generation climbers and is on the verge of cracking the magical eighth degree of difficulty. She has both the physique and the psyche to do so – all that remains is the necessary training, which she has to schedule in with her studies of biotechnology. At any rate, she is receiving the necessary support for this within the team.

Daniel Steurer, 1989, Austria, sport climber

The team junior has reached numerous top positions in competition climbing in Austria. The future is his - if he develops himself further within the team and continues to exploit his natural talent.

The several-times German champion boulder has been active in the highest eight grade for the past few years. One of her favourite tours is the Southern French classic Chouca in Buoux/France, and her favourite tour in the Alpine region is Eiskalt in Untersberg/Bavaria. This route features 7 rope lengths and is perfectly straight across an overhanging rock face. “Everything that’s possible”, is her sporting motto.

Timo Preussler, Germany, 1983, sport climber

The German golden boy has collected just about every existing youth title in competition climbing. In the meantime, he has also established himself in the world cup of the “greats”, the invitation to the legendary Rock Masters in Arco is proof enough. For him, it’s also important that the climbing is fun. To climb against brutal seriousness, as he also says in his several page portrait in the “Klettern” (Rock Climbing) newspaper in 2004. For, a relaxed approach also brings success. www.timopreussler.de

Roger Schäli, Switzerland, 1978, alpinism

Roger belongs to the younger generation, who have also made a name for themselves internationally. He has already been nominated for the “Piolet d’Or” for his two first ascents of the Arwa Spires in northern India. As the latest peak of his accomplishment, the young mountain climber has made a successful climb of the Torre Egger/Patagonia. Roger climbs on both rock and ice with the highest degree of difficulty. Only high altitude climbing still awaits: “This still has time”. www.klettertraum.ch

Martin Moser, Italy, 1978, sport climber/bouldering

Bacon makes you strong! Especially when the mountain farmer, Martin Moser, makes it himself. The only place that Martin excels himself more than in farming is on the rocks. In bouldering, the South Tyrolean has made first climbs on various routes with an 8b degree of difficulty and has made numerous repeat climbs. A man of experience with an unbelievable mental strength. www.mahrabauer.com