2018 Colorado Classic Stages 1 & 2, yesterday & today in Vail… It’s always a relief and a thrill to see the awards make it safely from Kiitella HQ to the podium. Here are both medals and trophies decorating the winners of yesterday’s Stage 1 race. 1st place Gage Hecht, 2nd place Travis McCabe, 3rd place Joe Lewis.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 17th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

The Conservation Alliance 2018 Outstanding Partnership Awards ~ presented at Outdoor Retailer in Denver, Colorado: Laminated thick bamboo and polished steel, with The Conservation Alliances’s logo lasercut in the center. “The award recognizes member companies that go above and beyond in building relationships with Conservation Alliance grantees.” – TCA. Congratulations and appreciation for the 2018 honorees: REI, Nau, and Justin Bailie Photography.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

Lisa Issenberg, the artist behind Kiitella, is delighted to be the award maker for the 2018 Dillon Open Regatta, which took place this past weekend in the Dillon Reservoir, aka Lake Dillon, Colorado. The custom designed and fabricated metal boat trophies consist of satin-polished, laser-cut steel… Two J/22s in motion, welded to a solid steel base, featuring the Dillon Yacht Club (the nation’s highest) burgee and the DOR logo, both printed on metal, riveted and framed by the laser-cut windows. Two hand-stamped pewter discs, a “place” tag and a DYC 50th anniversary tag, are riveted to the heads of the sails, and hand-engraving fills the backs… an elegant and substantial award for the DOR winners. And we’re having some fun with the Tenmile Range photo backdrop… the impressive veritable backdrop for the race.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 7th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

Phase one of a two-phase recognition award… At the recent Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, Colorado, 15 individuals from outdoor industry organizations received the Outdoor Industry Associations‘s inaugural “Together We Are A Force” award: a Kiitella steel frame with metal printed logos, solid rivets, a hand-stamped-on-pewter award name with mountaineering cord to hang. Part two: Photos of the winners, taken during the OR Show, will be incorporated into the frame. From the OIA website: “The awards recognize individuals who have partnered cross-organizationally to spark innovation and progress through new processes, products, methods, systems, services, tools or other initiatives.” Check out the winners! 

This entry was posted on Monday, August 6th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

Congratulations Keaton McCargo! So proud of, and happy for, my sweet amazing friend. And thrilled to have made her gold medal! Today — at the 2018 US Freestyle Championships-Moguls, hosted by Waterville Valley.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 24th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

24 Miles. 10K Vertical Rise. Pure FUN for the hard-core. The annual Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering race, at Aspen Snowmass, is this Saturday… and shiny Kiitella medals await the podium finishers. Note 1st place medals pay tribute to vintage ski pole baskets.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

On February 23-24 Boston will host the 2018 Annual Benefit Dinner for the American Alpine Club (AAC). The AAC’s most prestigious yearly event honors those making outstanding achievements in conservation, climbing and mountaineering. This year’s honorees: John Roskelley, Alex Honnold, Ellen Lapham and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and accomplished climber Sally Jewell. (Can we have her back please?)

More info

This entry was posted on Monday, February 19th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

Congratulations to Margo Hayes—the 2018 Bates award recipient. For the award, Kiitella created a hefty and bold 5″ diameter jet-cut steel medallion, hand-polished with high-shined highlights, a riveted AAC logo, and finished with bright accessory cord. “The Robert Hicks Bates Award’s purpose is to recognize a young climber who—in the judgment of the selection committee—has demonstrated exceptional skill and character in the climbing or mountaineering arts and has outstanding promise for future accomplishment.” – AAC

This entry was posted on Monday, February 19th, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects

At the 2018 Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver, CO, Camber Outdoors celebrated the cherished outdoor industry icon Ann Krcik with a Lifetime Achievement award. Kiitella hand-crafted the honorary plaque with a lamination of satin-polished bronze plate and thick bamboo. Krcik delivered a beautiful acceptance speech via video and received a standing ovation of a few hundred. Conrad Anker accepted Krcik’s award for her. See the award…

This entry was posted on Friday, February 2nd, 2018 and is filed under Blog, Events, Latest Projects