La Sportiva announced the hiring of Ascension Sales to represent the brand in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. They are an established agency with five passionate outdoor industry professionals combining for over 50 years of collective experience in the outdoor industry. They currently also represent Petzl, Native Eyewear, Jetboil, and Eureka have a permanent showroom at Denver Mart.

“We’ve known EJ and his team for many years and have always admired their work for core brands in the climbing and outdoor industry,” says Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “This group of very capable sales reps are based in two critical areas, the front range of Colorado and the Wasatch Front of Utah, and we will be counting on them to continue growing our brand presence in those areas. We are confident that this is the beginning of a successful partnership in a key geographic region for our brand.”

Ascension sales is made up of Brad Barlage, Eric Johnson, Brian Stevenson, Holly Yeary, and Ronnie Jenkins. Johnson, Stevenson and Yeary reside and work along the front range of Colorado while Brad Barlage and Ronnie Jenkins handle the Wasatch front of Utah. They are committed to brand management, retailer relationship management, infrastructure investment, sales analysis, business planning, and efficient service.

According to Johnson, “La Sportiva is a pinnacle brand in climbing and we have an incredible opportunity to help continue the growth in the Rockies. All of us at Ascension will draw on our collective experience and existing relationships to push the brand into the spotlight even further in a region that is critical for success. We can’t wait to get started!”