Wild Country USA
Wild Country has always had the strongest connections with the USA for twin reasons. Firstly, that the designer of the Friend, the product on which Wild Country made its name, was an American. And secondly that it was in America, 
especially in 'the Valley' and Utah, both big places with never ending parallel cracks, where Friends really opened up the free climbing.
Therefore, Wild country has always maintained a strong presence in the USA and continues to regard it as the 'proving ground' for many of its products. Big walls and trad routes in the US and worldwide, stress, strain and challenge all gear. Wild Country has a long history of seizing the challenge and supplying climbers with the right tools for the job. Wild Country's innovative products like Friends and recently, Zero's have proven their commitment to quality and evolution in gear making. Their take up and sales in this market makes Wild Country a happy company.
Wild Country's original American, Ray Jardine, inventor of the Friend
Up until the end of the 1990's Wild Country USA was an independent distribution subsiduary of the UK company and had a large distrbution centre in North Conway, New Hampshire, close to the classic cliffs of Rumney. Since then however, Wild Country have re-organised to take advantage of the more lithe and slimmed down organisation provided by Excalibur Distribution. Based in SLC, the husband and wife team of Steve Petro and Lisa Gnade - two of the most well renowned climbers in the USA in their time - now provide a solid base for Wild Country to move forward in the USA.
Once again, Wild Country is very keen to be associated with climbers like Lisa and Steve and the strong climbers that make up Excalibur's sales team and as with their British counterparts, they are able to provide feedback for current products and inspiration for new ones.
So here's some info and brief bios of the Excalibur team, a dedicated bunch with a heck of a lot of climbing under their belts and a lot of energy and knowledge to share. A great team and a fantastic group of people to represent Wild Country (and Red Chili ) in the USA...
Steve Petro - CEO Excalibur Distribution
Rock climbing has been Steve's main athletic interest for the last 35 years. He is renown for his many first ascents in Utah's Canyonlands and various locations in Wyoming. Steve has climbed extensively, throughout the United States and Europe. His favorite climbing areas include Indian Creek, Frankenjura, Kalymnos, Arkansas Sandstone, and of course his old stomping ground, Fremont Canyon.His linebacker’s physique and powerful climbing style continue to draw stares from onlookers, even at age 53! Steve supports his climbing lifestyle by working as CEO for Excalibur, importer of DMM and Wild Country, climbing hardware and Red Chili shoes.
Steve shown here recently sampling the delights of Kalymnos on a European jaunt...
Climbing Background - First Free Ascent of the 1800' route, Wind and Sand and Stars 5.12c in Zion National Park with Lisa Gnade and Jeff Lowe. First Free Ascent of the 1000' route, Shimmering Abstraction 5.11 in the Bighorn Mtns. First person to free climb the most difficult route, 5.12, in the Tetons, on Mt Moran. First Free Ascent of Fiddler on the Roof, Wyoming’s premier roof crack. More than 100 FFA’s. Climbs equally difficult (up to 5.13d) routes on both Sport and Traditional routes. Nearly one hundred 5.13’s on his tick list, trad and sport.
Some Favorite Routes: Fiddler on the Roof 5.13d, Sphinx Crack 5.13c, Grand Illusion 5.13b, Fallen Arches 5.13aPink Flamingo 5.13b, Belly Full of Bad Berries 5.13b, Blue Mask 5.13d, Atmosphere 5.13b, New Mutant 5.12c, Cosmic Debris 5.13a, The Phoenix 5.13a.
Lisa Gnade - US Sales Manager
Rock Climbing has been Lisa's primary focus for more than 25 years and she has redpointed dozens of 5.13's to date. Climbing is more than an activity or a sport, it's her way of life. She began climbing during her years as a student at Flagstaff's Northern Arizona University, in order to fulfill a required credit in physical education. That was an unplanned, but gratifying turning point in life; the pursuit of 9 - 5 having gone astray. Years of climbing and living the dream have been their own reward. Extensive climbing related trips throughout Europe and the western US, and time spent in the effort to complete many climbing goals, have helped bring to life Lisa's "seize the day" approach to existence.
Now, seizing the opportunity to work as importer and distributor, doing sales management duties, and covering territory as a sales representative for Wild Country and DMM climbing equipment and Red Chili climbing shoes, she finds herself with even greater appreciation for time on the rock. Her companion in both work and leisure is husband and fellow climbing enthusiast, Steve Petro. When not climbing or working, Lisa can be found skiing at Snowbird, reading textbooks for entertainment, or spending time with her five furry children, the cats.
Fave Routes: Sphinx Crack, South Platte, Wind and Sand and Stars, Zion, Darkness at Noon, Smith Rocks, Equinox, Joshua Tree, Strawberries (as a TR), Tremadog, Fairview Dome, Tuolumne, Borderline, Mt Charleston, Pink Flamingo, Indian Creek, Jackie Brown, Frankenjura, Trella, Kalymnos, Jug Abuse, American Fork, Fallen Arches, Little Cottonwood, The Collector, Fremont Canyon.
