Black Diamond (climbing gear)
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Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. is a company that produces climbing and outdoor gear. It's eventual founder, Yvon Chouinard, was born in 1939 and got his start in California making and selling piton climbing gear out of the back of his car. Soon, the demand exceeded his ability to meet it and he teamed up with Tom Frost, a climber and aeronautical engineer. The team of Chouinard and Frost, which would be come to be known as Chouinard Equipment Co., made numerous changes to existing climbing gear: improving it esthetically as well as functionally; all the while testing their creations in real world conditions.
Yvon Chouinard became more interested in the clothing aspect of climbing, and so started the Patagonia / Lost Arrow company.
Chouinard became uninterested in the Chouinard Equipment Co., and filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1989 in order to facilitate an easier sale. Peter Metcalf purchased the company, moving it from California to Salt Lake City, Utah, and began operations on December 1, 1989.
Black Diamond established itself as a maker of high quality climbing gear, focusing on remaining a company run by climbers, for climbers.
Today, the company continues to make and design climbing equipment, as well as mountaineering and backcountry-skiing gear.
References
- http://www.patagonia.com/culture/patagonia_history.shtml Accessed 10 May, 2005
- http://www.inc.com/magazine/19950401/2219.html Accessed 10 May, 2005
External links
- Black Diamond Official Website (http://www.bdel.com/)