Elite Ultrarunner Kelly Wolf Joins La Sportiva

La Sportiva has announced that elite ultrarunner and mountain athlete Kelly Wolf joins the La Sportiva ambassador team. Effective immediately, Wolf will be outfitted head-to-toe in La Sportiva footwear and apparel. The Crested Butte athlete is excited to be partnering with the global mountain brand, noting that her athletic pursuits align perfectly with the Italian company’s interests.

“Kelly is one of the brightest stars in the sport, and her passion for running on technical trails makes her a perfect addition to our team,” says Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “While her achievements are impressive, it is her passion for wild places that we find most inspiring. We are always looking to partner with athletes that reflect the culture of our brand, and Kelly embodies the values that define the company. We look forward to watching Kelly tackle her upcoming projects while wearing our products.”

Kelly has had success across a wide variety of terrain and distances throughout her career, having won highly competitive mountain races such as the Laverado Ultra Trail and flatter international events like the Tarawera 100k. Her versatility makes her one of the most consistent athletes in the sport, and she is never far from the top step of the podium, regardless of the event’s profile or distance.

“I am feeling fully embraced as a mountain athlete, being supported in my mountain running, climbing, skiing, and my general exploratory alpine rambles,” says Wolf. “I am so grateful to join this global team of excellent athletes and use La Sportiva products to propel myself even further.”

For 2022, Wolf plans to step away from longer ultra events and will instead focus on personal projects and steeper mountain races that are close to her heart. “I am really excited to move back to slightly shorter distances that incorporate the technical style of mountain running that truly inspires me,” she says. “I am also planning some up-down FKT attempts on technical mountains this year that I have always wanted to experience!” Long term, she plans to make it back to the starting line of the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc, a race in Chamonix that serves as the de facto 100 mile world championship every year.

When she isn’t tearing it up on the trails, Kelly can be found in the kitchen, perfecting a new plant-based dish. “The kitchen is my creative outlet,” she beams. Wolf’s passion for food is infectious, and she lights up when describing her favorite recipes. “Roasted veggies are like candy to me. A loaded burrito bowl with brown rice, beans, roasted veggies, fresh greens, avocado, and a homemade dressing like pesto or tahini sauce is my favorite dinner.”

Kelly recently relocated to Crested Butte after having spent the previous six years in Telluride and can’t wait to explore her new backyard. “I love highlighting everything I’ve done in an area. Then it becomes my challenge, to explore everything- trails and peaks- trying to color in as much as possible. My walls are filled with colored maps.”