Westcomb, manufacturer of Canada-built outdoor apparel, will engage Canadian alpinist Don Bowie as a sponsored athlete, employing him as a brand ambassador through public appearances.
Moving forward, Westcomb will help sponsor Bowie's expeditions to the high peaks of the world and employ his feedback in product design and function. Bowie will also represent Westcomb at speaking engagements in retail stores and elsewhere, and contribute content to Westcomb's marketing and social media programs.
“I've put Westcomb gear to the test in the most extreme environments in the world, and it's refreshing to be sponsored by a brand that not only makes apparel for those kinds of wild places, but a company that's so focused on quality that they're committed to building everything in a factory steps away from their offices in Vancouver,” Bowie said.
Bowie has used Westcomb apparel on his expeditions to the Himalaya and elsewhere for a number of years, including on his successful 2007 Expedition to K2. That expedition was featured on an hour-long program on NBC's Jeep Wide Word of Adventure Sports the following year.
But for Bowie, and for Westcomb, this sponsorship arrangement reflects a deepening commitment between the two.
“From day one, there has always been a mutual respect between what we're doing and what Don's doing, and we're excited to be at a place where it makes sense to deepen the relationship,” said Westcomb founder Alan Yiu. “As an athlete Don is extremely disciplined, and he exemplifies the passion and perseverance needed to succeed. As well, his purist style of climbing light, fast and unsupported resonates with our values. We look forward to incorporating his skills, both in terms of getting more extensive design input on our gear and also having him help us tell our story.”
Bowie, who is now based in Bishop, Calif, this past summer embarked on his eighth Himalayan/Karakoram expedition, a new route attempt on the north face of Gasherbrum III. In 2007, he, Bruce Normand, and Chris Warner summited K2 without supplementary oxygen, making Bowie the 4th Canadian to ascend the notorious peak. In 2009, he endured 75 grueling days on a Broad Peak winter expedition before resigning to high winds and extreme cold. For his part in the rescue attempt of Inaki Ochoa on Annapurna, Bowie received the Spirit of Mountaineering Commendation at the 2009 Piolets d'Or Awards, and the Gold Medal of Merit in Sport from the Government of Navarre, Spain.
