SAMAYA x PIOLETS D'OR
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS
Samaya was present at the latest edition of the Piolets d'Or, held from November 14 to 16, 2023 in Briançon. It was an opportunity for the company to talk to some members of the Samaya Family and other like-minded athletes and organizers.
The Piolets d'Or are "the Oscars of mountaineering worldwide", in the words of Christian Tromsdorff, President of the Groupe de Haute Montagne. The annual ceremony promotes the organization's charter, rewarding the finest ascents, highlighting exceptional feats in an approach that privileges audacity, technical excellence and ethics, as well as a profound respect for the mountain.
The winners of this ceremony embody the elite of mountaineers, pushing the limits of what is possible in an autonomous and light-hearted way. This distinction underlines the importance of shared values within the alpine community, transcending boundaries to celebrate the spirit of adventure and self-improvement, with a rigorous commitment to the principles inherent in alpine style.
Alpine style, recognized as a UNESCO intangible heritage, prefers simple climbing, without heavy equipment, elegance of gesture, contemplation and the notion of responsibility for the land left to future generations. Christian explains that, although the Piolets d'Or reward alpine-style expeditions of the highest levels of climbing and commitment, alpine style is above all the consecration of the purest form of high-mountain climbing. This style requires less equipment and relies above all on the technique and strength of the human body. In this sense, alpine style offers a form of accessibility in the surpassing of self, which adds to its purity.
This vision of mountaineering is the one we hold dear at Samaya. The Piolets d'Or, as defenders of alpine style in mountaineering, are echoed in Samaya 's commitment to innovation, respect for the mountains and the constant pursuit of excellence. Every year, climbs by Samaya Family athletes are honored with a Piolet d'Or, or in the category of outstanding climbs. Above all, Samaya Family climbers are passionate representatives of these values, embodying the spirit of responsible mountaineering.
