Carsten von Birckhahn, brand manager and a member of the executive board at Edelrid, died on July 15 in a paragliding accident in Val di Mello in the Italian Alps. Aged 49, Von Birckhahn was a driving force behind numerous innovations over his ten-year tenure at the climbing specialist company. He developed new braiding techniques and optimized them. He also emphasized sustainability and pushed the company to manufacture ropes, slings and harnesses that were Bluesign- certified products. He also established several partnerships across the outdoor industry. The accident occurred during a landing approach.

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