PRESS RELEASE APRIL 2008

Lorenzo Delladio (General Director of La Sportiva) and Dino Merelli, (General Director of Merelli Sky Carbon System), first met some years ago when Dino was an athlete in the Italian National Ski team and member of the Fiamme Gialle sports team in Predazzo (Val di Fiemme).  The two friends enjoyed skiing together and exchanging opinions on the various technical equipment used but that was as far as discussions went; until a couple of months ago, when the two men met again at a dinner party organized by a mutual friend, Diego Amplatz, (a fellow member of the National ski team and a well known, professional figure in today’s sports industry). 
During the dinner the men inevitably found themselves talking about business and Dino’s knowledge of carbon and compound materials met with Lorenzo’s expertise in the production of mountaineering boots. 
A series of discussions led to an extremely interesting idea: why not join forces to create a mountaineering boot in carbon.  The challenge had been set: La Sportiva was keen to enter the ski mountaineering market and this would provide an extremely interesting opportunity.  80 years experience in the creation of mountaineering boots teamed up with 20 years of constant research in the field of innovative materials and 30 years spent dealing daily with end consumers would provide a unique commercial opportunity.  Aware of their strength Lorenzo, Dino and Diego, decided to unite their ideas, enthusiasm and investments and develop a project hitherto unforeseen in the sports market sector.
After months of laboratory and field testing, today we are happy to announce the official agreement signed between:  Dino Merelli, Lorenzo Delladio and Diego Amplatz. This new partnership will give birth to a new, highly technical, ski mountaineering boot in carbon.  It will be branded La Sportiva “with Merelli technology” and will be produced as a limited edition.

Further information concerning development and distribution will be published shortly on the La Sportiva website:  www.lasportiva.com. For updates on all our events please sign up to receive our regular newsletter.