Climber Jesse Grupper Joins La Sportiva
La Sportiva announced today that it has signed elite climber Jesse Grupper. Effective immediately, Grupper will be using La Sportiva’s climbing shoes and mountain footwear for competition and training. The Salt Lake City-based athlete is one of the best climbers on the World Cup circuit and finds time to balance his training with his work as an altruistic engineer. Grupper is excited to partner with the global mountain brand, noting that his goals and values align perfectly with the Italian company’s interests.
“Jesse is one of the brightest stars in the sport,” said Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “We are always looking to partner with athletes who reflect our brand’s culture, and Jesse embodies the ethos that defines this company. While his climbing achievements are very impressive, it is his passion for helping others that makes him such an inspiring athlete. We look forward to watching Jesse continue to chase his dreams and are stoked to have him join the La Sportiva family.”
Last year, Grupper cemented his name at the top of the sport by winning the Pan American Games and placing second at the World Cup event in Koper, Slovenia. The mechanical engineer has been balancing climbing with his work at the Harvard Biodesign Lab, where he works on rehabilitation robotics. He recently transitioned to working part-time at the lab to pursue his goals in the sport. The move paid off, and the 27-year-old has reached new heights in the sport, becoming one of the best climbers in the world.
“I’m ecstatic to be joining this iconic brand,” said Grupper. “La Sportiva makes the best climbing shoes out there, but more importantly, the family owned brand treats its athletes like family. While climbing is incredibly important to me, it is only one of the facets of my life, and I know that this company is here to support me in all of my endeavors.”
Grupper started climbing at the age of six. He discovered the sport through his sister, who was taking classes at a local gym at the time. The elite climber began competing when he was 11 and continued to progress throughout his teen years. In 2015 he enrolled in the engineering program at Tufts University, where he balanced his aspirations in the sport with his academic pursuits. Grupper is looking to continue his ascendancy in the sport and has his eyes on key international competitions in 2024.
Another top La Sportiva athlete, Brooke Raboutou, has landed a number of impressive results on the international circuit over the past year. The Boulder, Colorado-based climber won the Budapest Lead and Boulder events in June after securing first place at the Shanghai event in May. While Raboutou is only 23, she has been climbing at an elite level for over a decade. At the age of 9, she became the youngest person to climb a 5.13b sport route, and at 11 she became the youngest person to send a 5.14b. Raboutou has lofty goals for the rest of the season and hopes to secure top placings at several notable events.
