For Lionel Daudet (known as “Dod”) adventure can be right there on his doorstep. Due to the fact that the border is a link between different countries, the mountaineer adds a human, or historical and scientific dimension to this route. “Right on the edge of France” is a rediscovery of our country; of encounters with nature and of mountains and men. The GORE-TEX® brand and Eider sponsor this adventure.

After having passed over the multiple stages of Mont Blanc up as far as Brittany, Lionel Daudet is now preparing himself to travel along the Atlantic coasts to get to the Pyrenees. He will move along the Mediterranean coast and from there go to Corsica and then undertake a monumental crossing of the Alps, finishing his journey in September 2012 at Chamonix.

Lionel Daudet will have to travel along approximately 1850 miles of land frontiers and some 2140 miles of coastline without using any motorised transport. A real geographic challenge! Travelling around this hexagon, following as closely as possible the exact line of the frontier, is something that is far from easy because it passes over high mountains, the crests of which are seldom visited even by mountaineers.

One year, over 4000 miles travelled and more than 100 peaks to conquer. His first six months have been full of physical and moral challenges. Lionel Daudet has in fact already climbed in the Alps, travelled by dugout canoe on the rivers of the Jura as far as Lake Geneva and practised the art of double canoeing on the River Rhine.

And we mustn’t forget the miles that have been covered on foot and by bicycle on green lanes and on parts of Normandy and Brittany where there are no pathways. “Dod” is now looking forward to travelling round Corsica in a sailing boat – just one of many different activities prior to paragliding, climbing, hiking on foot, etc.

Find out where “Dod” is currently on his tour.

The GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run is arguably one of the toughest challenges in the world for trail and mountain runners. Every year at the beginning of September, 300 teams of two from all over the world cross the main ridge of the Alps in 8 days. Each day they cover distances of over 30 kilometres and tackle uphill climbs of some 2,000 metres. Filmmakers Miriam Jakobs and Gerhard Schick accompanied two of these teams for the duration of the run to make a 60 minute documentary film about the event.

“HEAVEN & HELL” captures the fascination of the GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run in all its facets from the point of view of the two teams. It features stunning visuals while telling a powerful emotional story: the exertion of the long up and downhill climbs, the battle against rain, heat and cold, the mesmerising mountain scenery, the joy of running along magnificent mountain trails and the flair of being part of an international event with runners from more than 25 different countries.

In addition to the superb photography, it is above all those personal moments that make “HEAVEN & HELL” so special: the runners’ constant battle against themselves, against their team partners, the way they push themselves to their absolute limits, the mixed emotions of elation and despair, of euphoria and exhaustion, even of pain, sometimes not knowing whether to laugh or cry – the intensity of emotions that only a multi-day team stage race can bring out and that make the GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run an experience like no other.

The premiere of “HEAVEN & HELL” had been shown on 4 February 2012 as part of the “ECCO Indoor Trail” in the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. After the premiere the film is going on the road. The details of the dates and locations of the roadshow will be available from mid February.

The GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run 2012 will be taking place from 1 to 8 September. This year the course runs from Ruhpolding to Sexten.

Ines Papert ice climbing in Harbin

It’s eight in the morning. Minus 30 degrees Celsius, and not a soul to be seen in the Ice World. The snow crunches under her feet as they try to keep themselves warm. Finally she begins to climb. There is a hiss when the crampons hit the ice. Little fragile fractures appear. The ice axes give a solid sound, regular sound as she reaches higher in constant, smooth rhythm. The Manchurian Beat…

Ines Papert, GORE-TEX® athlete, is a professional mountain climber from Germany. In early January 2012, she took a trip to Harbin, China to climb the Ice World. Harbin is situated in the far north of China. The city‘s latitude is further north than Wladiwostok.

In winter it drops consistently below minus 25 degrees Celsius. But instead of being paralyzed by the temperatures, the people in the capital of the Heilongjiang Province celebrate the bitter cold. Every year since 1985 Harbin has been host to the International Ice and Snow Festival.

In a little under 3 weeks, over 12,000 workers create an icy wonderland the size of 16 soccer fields. The giant towers, picturesque palaces, bridges, slides and cathedrals were all built of single blocks of ice; similar to the pyramids in Egypt.

The blocks of ice are cut and pulled out of the frozen Songhua river which separates northern and southern parts of the city. Also Sun Island, Harbin’s summer rest and recovery center, is transformed during the winter months into what is known as the Snow World. This is where snow-artists from all over the world come and create magnificent sculptures out of snow.

“A journalist friend of mine kept calling for a about a year, asking if I could imagine climbing the beautiful buildings made out of ice. At first the idea of traveling to China seemed like a bold one.” said Papert.

Nevertheless the pictures of the astounding scenery of Harbin sparked her curiosity. At the end of her trip to Harbin, there wasn’t the slightest question that trip she and her team had just made was difficult but a delightful experience.

The Organizing Committee of the festival thought the idea of Papert coming to climb their ice city was a good one, but at the same time they raised a couple of concerns. Will the ice climbing equipment damage the beautiful facades of the ice sculptures? Can the safety of the climber be assured? After a year of stringent planning and hours of convincing and negotiations, all worries were put to rest, and Papert received her official acceptance stating she would be the first women to climb there ice city.

“After a year of strenuous debating back and forth with the organizers and city officials, I was anxious and excited as we finally flew east towards Harbin. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. It turned out that the hosts and the visitors of the festival were very delighted that I became part of the Ice World Festival. Especially the night climbing sessions were filled with curious spectators who had never seen anyone climbing in their life.”

For the four time Ice climbing world champion, the climbing was not a challenge in difficulty. For Papert the trip was about experiencing another culture through sport and an inspiring cultural project bound by the common joy for the ice: “Ice climbing in the middle of city of nearly 10 million in the Far north of China? It was an incredible experience, and an opportunity to meet so many interesting people. The Chinese hospitality really impressed me. I didn’t expect it to be as great as it was. Everyone was so willing to help us and take care of us. We were welcomed with open arms and friendly curiosity.”

And what came out of the trip were magnificent photos, an exciting cultural experience and friendships for the future to come. “Andes” Kang Hua, a mountain guide from Beijing, was not only the translator and guide, during the course of the trip but he became an important part of the team. Ines: “Andes and I had a great common understanding of the project from the beginning and we plan to take on a climbing project in China together in the near future. China has a vast – still untouched – potential of rocks and peaks to be climbed.”

Ines Papert: www.ines-papert.de

Article by Johanna Stöckl: www.johannastoeckl.de

Photography by Franz Walter: www.franzwalter.com

The ISPO AWARD is known as ‘THE’ seal of quality in the sports industry. This year, two jackets with GORE-TEX® laminates will receive the essential distinction for their innovation, design and performance criteria: Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket has succeeded in the category “Outdoor Apparel”; Haglöfs Vassi Jacket has been favoured by the judges in the category “Action Apparel”.

“Outdoor Appeal”: Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket
Since 1998, Arc’teryx Alpha SV Jacket has addressed the needs of climbers for outstanding weather protection without excess weight or compromising agility. Manufactured with the new N80p-X GORE-TEX® Face fabric that was developed over a five year period, the Alpha SV Jacket is exceptionally durable and supple meeting Arc’teryx high standards for abrasion resistance. Woven from an 80 denier false twist texture, high tenacity nylon yarn, the fabric is durably waterproof and breathable, while at the same time being supple, quiet and 10 percent lighter than the former version of the fabric.
A juror’s statement: “This is a very well done, light weight jacket with a new Gore-Tex® fabric that is even more abrasion resistant. The breathability in wet conditions is better using the DWR (durable water repellent) materials.”
Boris Gnielka, Motorpresse Stuttgart/outdoor-Magazin, Germany


“Action Apparel”: Haglöfs Vassi Jacket
Haglöfs durable lightweight Vassi Jacket was designed to meet the requirements of even the most passionate freeriders. The Vassi Jacket with GORE-TEX® Pro 3L laminate is durably waterproof, windproof and highly breathable to keep the insulation dry and to prevent heat loss – ideal for the flexibility needed in freeriding. In combination with its loose fit and the flexible snow skirt the Vassi Jacket guarantees ventilation and freedom of movement.

A juror’s statement: “The Vassi Jacket is a combination of many good details that a jacket must have in order to be especially user friendly.”
Kuno Prey, Professor of Product Design, Italy

The ISPO AWARD 2012 ceremony is taking place at the ISPO fair in Munich at the ISPO Snow Ice and Rock Summit (Hall A6) on January 30th at 5 p.m.

Gore welcomes you to this year’s ISPO in Munich: Hall B6 – Booth 300

Left: Key account manager Gaute Fonkalsrud in W.L. Gore & Associates, center chief marketing officer in Røldal Ski Resort Pelle Gangeskar, right director of marketing and communication in Norrøna Lars Bjelvin.

Norrøna and W.L. Gore & Associates are proud to announce its strategic partnership with Røldal Ski Resort, Freeride World Tour Røldal and Røldal Freeride Challenge. The agreement cements an overlaying partnership beyond supplying products.

- Røldal, with approximately 12 meters of snowfall per season, is the ideal place to test and develop technical clothing for snow sports. Teaming up with Gore and Norrøna ensures that Freedride World Tour Røldal and the resort have the best products available for lift based freeriding, says chief marketing officer in Røldal Ski Resort Pelle Gangeskar.

Norrøna and Gore is the official supplier of technical ski- and snowboard wear for Røldal ski resort as well as the competitions set in the snow laden mountain village of Røldal in south-west Norway.

- Norrøna and Gore has been close partners since Norrøna developed the first GORE-TEX ® jacket in Europe in the late seventies. Norrøna as a reference brand and Røldal as a destination represent two separate strongholds from a product and rider perspective. The combination of these two strengths made this partnership natural to enter, says key account manager Gaute Fonkalsrud in Gore.

The cooperation between Røldal and Norrøna has been strong since the launch of Norrøna´s first røldal collection, almost 10 years ago.

- We are proud to partner up with Røldal, as this is one of our main inspirations in developing technical ski- and snowboard products. The cooperation also fits nicely into Norrøna´s launch of our new røldal GORE-TEX ® collection in stores fall 2012, says director of marketing and communication in Norrøna Lars Bjelvin.

Facts:
Norrøna Sport AS makes great products in our own way, for people with an active lifestyle. The Norwegian family-owned company develops and manufactures clothing and backpacks for outdoor activities such as mountaineering, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trekking, hiking, hunting, trail running and single-track biking. Norrøna´s core values, roots, innovation and passion, have formed the foundation of the design and business philosophy: Loaded minimalism™.

W.L. Gore & Associates provides diverse, high-performance solutions in consumer, industrial, electronic, medical, and surgical markets. Gore’s 50-year success story rests equally on product and organizational innovation. Perhaps best known as the inventors of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) and the makers of GORE-TEX fabric, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products that comprise a breadth of capabilities.

Røldal Ski Resort is home to the deepest snow in Europe ™. The resort has six lifts, 15 kilometers prepared slopes and unlimited off-pist skiing areas. Røldal is two- to three hours from the Norwegian cities of Bergen, Haugsund and Stavanger, and four and a half hours from Oslo.

A more sustainable lifestyle is an important topic for many consumers and thus the demand for reliable and environmental friendly clothing has been growing. In 1996, W. L. Gore & Associates implemented the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 for its GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® products. In 2010 the bluesign® standard implementation in Gore’s manufacturing processes led to the next level. The bluesign® standard is a widely-accepted, reliable and proactive tool certifying the eco-friendliness of the entire textile production chain. Now, for the first time Gore offers a range of 2-layer
GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® laminates that are bluesign® certified to its customers, among them the bluesign® members Burton, Haglöfs, Mammut, Mountain Equipment, Patagonia, Salewa, and The North Face, for their collections of AW’12. This bluesign® certification means that the textiles that Gore purchases from its suppliers to make its laminates need also to fully comply with both the strict criteria of the bluesign® standard as well as Gore’s rigorous quality parameters.

Today, the initial offer of bluesign® approved laminates available in AW’12 represents about 20 percent of the GORE-TEX® laminate volume supplied for making consumer garments. For AW’13, this offer could increase to 50% percent – depending on the success of Gore’s textile suppliers to achieve bluesign® certification for their products. Achieving agreement with a supplier to sign up with bluesign technologies and fully implementing the standard in its manufacturing can easily take two years. “The environmental performance of our products is not only driven by their outstanding durability of waterproofness and breathability allowing garments to last longer – but also by responsible manufacturing practices”, states Bernhard Kiehl, Fabrics Division Sustainability Leader at W.L. Gore & Associates.

bluesign® approved fabrics – the future of responsible textile manufacturing
The bluesign® certification indicates that Gore fabrics made with ePTFE membranes are made responsibly in respect to the environment and the safety of workers, while providing an even higher level of consumer safety.

Offering bluesign® approved fabrics not only means that Gore has implemented the bluesign® standard in its own production process but also the suppliers of textiles to Gore have to deliver bluesign® certified products. “We are actively promoting this approach to our supply partners all over the world. I am very confident that more and more garment manufacturers will implement the bluesign® standard in their product portfolio as soon as our range of laminates with bluesign® certification increases”, states Bernhard Kiehl. “Our goal is to have the vast majority of the volume of our GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® laminates for consumer garments bluesign® approved within the next 3 years.”

bluesign® standard- a reliable standard in the market
The bluesign® standard unites three types of system partners: brands and retailers who deliver ready made goods, textile manufacturers who deliver fabrics and chemical suppliers who deliver chemical compounds. Gore as a supplier of functional textile laminates is a bluesign® manufacturing system partner. All of Gore’s global manufacturing sites for functional fabrics have passed the bluesign® screening and have implemented the bluesign® standard successfully. “Gore fabrics are safe and environmentally sound. Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 has been a sign for clean clothes, now the bluesign® approved Gore fabrics offer the next level of environmentally sound products”, says Kiehl.

Gore welcomes you at this year’s ISPO in Munich: Hall B6 – Booth 300

To ensure that every outdoor enthusiast is well prepared and gets the most out of each activity, a different functionality of a garment is needed. For outdoor enthusiasts the simple question is: for what type of activity do I need a jacket? Fitness for use – that’s what excellent outdoor products are designed for. For instance, a trail runner has different needs than an ice-climber – regarding outside temperature and the garment’s ruggedness and functionality. Only by choosing the right equipment outdoor enthusiasts can make the most out of every kind of sport. “Each GORE-TEX® product class consists of a distinct laminate package including specific core technologies such as membrane, production processes and textile choices. In addition within each product class we will see a stream of innovation within the next years”, states Thomas Kiebler, European Marketing Leader at Gore.

GORE-TEX® products OPTIMIZED PROTECTION AND COMFORT
Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® product technology are durably waterproof and windproof combined with optimized breathability. Gore invests heavily in field testing to understand end user needs which allows Gore to provide the GORE-TEX® GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ promise to consumers. A huge variety of product forms in the GORE-TEX® product class – ranging from 2L laminates to lightweight and soft 3L laminates- is offered to provide the right product with an optimum level of comfort and protection for Hiking, Trekking or Skiing.

GORE-TEX® Active products – EXTREME BREATHABILITY FOR HIGH AEROBIC CONDITIONS: Light and Fast – done in a day activities
Your heart is racing, sweat is dripping, your blood is rushing through your head like an alpine waterfall – you are craving for action. Mountain biking, trail-running, ski-touring, speed mountaineering and other high aerobic sports are those activities where GORE-TEX® Active products come into play. Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® Active product technology are built for extreme breathability and are ideal for highly aerobic, done in a day activities. All components are built for optimized sweat management to ensure extreme breathability and optimum comfort in high aerobic conditions. The performance is also supported by a tight fitting and minimalistic garment design.

GORE-TEX® Pro products – MAXIMISED RUGGEDNESS FOR EXTREME CONDITIONS
Want more? If the highest peak is not enough, the steepest rock does not scare you off and adrenaline is a regular visitor – you’re a professional. Neither rain nor snow can keep you from reaching your goals and no expedition is too challenging: You leave no room for failure. GORE-TEX® Pro products are designed for extreme and extended exposure. Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® Pro product technology are built for maximised ruggedness and are ideal for extreme and extended use. All components are built for maximised ruggedness while strict textile performance specifications ensure optimum strength. All GORE-TEX® Pro garments must pass Gore’s toughest test conditions and most aggressive rainstorm test.

Gore welcomes you at this year’s ISPO in Munich:
Hall B6 – Booth 300

A brilliant winter’s day, a magnificent mountain panorama and fresh snow – all of these cause heart-throbs for thrill-seekers. The major desire is to feel free while conquering the untouched white. Freedom of movement is a crucial factor for feeling comfortable, especially in winter sports. The same applies to softness and quietness. As a specialist in the outdoor segment, Gore has launched six new all way elastics GORE-TEX® products. For AW’12, several clients of W.L. Gore & Associates, among them Peak Performance, DKB and Powderhorn, present the first styles made of all way elastics GORE-TEX® laminates. These innovative garments guarantee superior mobility in all those sports where flexibility is indispensable.

More comfort = more fun!

In addition to the improved flexibility and the soft and quiet features of the new all way elastics GORE-TEX® products, they inherit the GORE-TEX® brand value proposition: garments engineered with GORE-TEX® products are durable water and windproof combined with optimized breathability, to keep the insulation dry and prevent heat loss – which is crucial in winter – for warmer, drier and more flexible freedom outdoors!

Gore welcomes you at this year’s ISPO in Munich: Hall B6 – Booth 300

NEWARK, DEL., JANUARY 19, 2012 — W. L. Gore & Associates is among just five workplaces to appear on every list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” since the rankings debuted three decades ago.  The global technology company, which continues to expand its workforce, earned the No. 38 spot on the 2012 list, now available on fortune.com.

Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs more than 9,500 associates in 30 countries worldwide. The organization is known for its non-hierarchical, team-based culture as well as a diverse array of product innovations, including life-saving cardiovascular devices, GORE-TEX® fabric, guitar strings and electronic cables used in space missions, among hundreds of other products.

“Not only does our company culture contribute to associate satisfaction, it also drives innovation,” says CEO Terri Kelly, who joined Gore as an engineer more than 25 years ago. “We resist narrowly-defined titles, bureaucracy and formal chains of command. Instead, our culture is built on teamwork and direct communication, creating an environment ideal for creative collaboration.”

In addition to appearing on all 15 FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists, Gore earned recognition in three books by the same name published in the 1980s and 1990s. The company is also consistently named a top workplace in a number of other countries.

Visit our homepage to learn more. To find career opportunities and search “Gore” under the companies section of LinkedIn.

About the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” List
To pick the “100 Best Companies to Work For”, FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work® Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America; 280 firms participated in this year’s survey. More than 246,000 employees at those companies responded to a survey created by the institute, a global research and consulting firm operating in 45 countries around the world. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on the results of the institute’s Trust Index survey, which is sent to a random sample of employees from each company. The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about management’s credibility, job satisfaction and camaraderie. The other third is based on responses to the institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs and diversity efforts. Any company that is at least five years old and has more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible.

Scottish climbing phenomenon Dave MacLeod and climbing partner Andy Turner to present their first free ascent of the Long Hope route.

At London’s Royal Geographical Society on February 8th, Gore sponsored athlete Dave MacLeod and his climbing partner, Andy Turner, will give a lecture about their first free ascent of the Long Hope route, St John’s Head, Hoy last year. This was the first time the route had been freed in 40 years, indicating just how difficult and remote the route is.

At 1150 foot St Johns Head is the tallest sea cliff in the UK. It was first climbed in 1970 by climber and poet Ed Drummond together with Oliver Hill. They took 7 days to climb the cliff, sleeping on ledges and in hammocks along the way. 40 years later, Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner set out to climb the cliff in a single day.

The climbers will give an insight into the physical, psychological and logistic preparation required to capture this route as well as explaining a few of the challenges en route. Look forward to tales of dubious rock, furious fulmars and a mind-blowing finale!

The lecture, which is also being supported by GORE-TEX® brand partner Mountain Equipment and specialist retailer Cotswold Outdoor, will be followed by a special screening of the Long Hope film presented by Filmmaker Paul Diffley/Hot Aches Productions. The film contrasts the challenges of Drummond’s first ascent and also follows him as he makes a pilgrimage back to St John’s Head to look upon the route one last time.

The film has already won the People’s Choice Award at Kendal Mountain Film Festival last year and the RGS will be a special place to see this for the first time.

Tickets cost £12 and are currently available from Dave MacLeod’s blog. Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm start.