Outdoor Research Adds Rock Athletes Beth Rodden, Nik Berry, Madaleine Sorkin

Along with bringing three new high-profile climbing athletes on board to represent Outdoor Research at the brand level, the team additions will help provide the product development team with ongoing feedback from the field as the company continues to grow its rock-climbing and women’s-specific product collections.

“For us, working with Beth, Nik and Madaleine is a great match not just because of what they’ve accomplished on the rock, but because they’re all positive, approachable, outgoing ambassadors for the sport, and because they can provide us extremely user-focused feedback on our gear,” said Christian Folk, Grassroots Marketing Supervisor for Outdoor Research. “Beyond that, they’ll also help us by representing Outdoor Research in three important, distinct climbing hot spots in North America.”

Rodden is based in the Yosemite National Park area in California. Berry is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. And Sorkin calls Boulder, Colo., home.

Rodden is recognized for establishing the first ascent of the hardest sport climb in the country by a woman (The Optimist, 5.14b, Smith Rock, Ore.), as well as the first ascent of the hardest traditional climb in the world by a woman (Meltdown, 5.14c, Yosemite, Calif.). She has free climbed three routes on El Capitan, more than any other woman, including the first free ascent of Lurking Fear, a free ascent of the Nose and a free ascent of El Corazon.

Berry most recently turned heads with his first free ascent of Lunar X (5.13, Zion National Park, Utah). He’s also completed the first free ascent of Wonderboy (5.13c, Lone Peak Cirque, Utah) and free climbed extensively in Yosemite, where he tackled the Salathe (5.13d), Freerider (5.12d) and Golden Gate (5.13b) on El Capitan.

Sorkin’s recent climbs include the first ascent of I Think Therefore I Ambush (5.12-, Wind River Range, Wyo.), the first free ascent of Women-At-Work (5.12R, The Cirque of the Unclimbables, Canada) and Freerider (5.12d, El Capitan). She’s also tackled hard climbs in Colorado’s Black Canyon and in her back yard – on the Diamond on Long’s Peak.