Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. will develop a new line of alpine touring and telemark ski boots. This is a logical step for Black Diamond, which has been both SCARPA's North American distributor as well as its primary driver in terms of telemark ski boot designs and concepts for eighteen years. SCARPA and Black Diamond terminated their partnership as of January 1, 2006, with Black Diamond
assuming responsibility of the SCARPA boot line until the end of the current ski season.

Peter Metcalf, CEO/co-founder of Black Diamond explains, “BD designs and
builds products that make a difference in the day to day existence of skiers
and climbers.” Metcalf continues, “In the case of ski boots, we will draw on
our vast experience as intimate users, innovative designers, and as a
reliable, ethical and committed partner to our dealers in order to design a
new standard of AT and Telemark boots to meet the needs of the modern day
telemark & off-piste skier.”

Black Diamond has already assembled a specialized design team that has been
actively working on the boot project for over six months. BD plans to show
boots at Winter Market 2007, for release the following Fall season (Winter
2007 ­ 2008). Led by Thomas Laakso, Ski Group Category Manager and Dave
Narajowski, lead designer of many of BD's successful products, the BD Boot
Team is comprised of Andi Lachinger, Jake Hall, Jeremy Saxton, Paul Terry
and Alex Holzberger. This group brings a “Chop Shop” tenacity,
resourcefulness and diverse work experience ranging from the biomechanics of
skis and ski boots, to alias surface modeling, high performance footwear and
auto design. Specifically, Lachinger worked with Atomic as their ski boot
product manager, and BootDoc ­ which develops high-end custom ski boot
footbeds and liner solutions in Europe. Hall brings previous experience from
Rome Snowboards, Saxton worked at Nike, Terry hails from Porsche Designs and
Holzberger developed Roces speed skates.

Metcalf explains, “This is a huge investment for BD, but one that we are
excited to make because we see opportunity to raise the bar in terms of
product and the performance it delivers. BD is the only player in the
tele/AT boot market with designers who are an integral and organic part of
the backcountry ski community, dawn patrolling each day before work. Such
levels of intimacy and passion are terrific sources of creativity and
inspiration. You can feel the energy level of this project radiating through
all parts of BD”