Black Diamond Names Ski Category Business Unit Director

Black Diamond Equipment, a global innovator in climbing, skiing and mountain sports equipment, has appointed industry veteran Mike Hattrup its business unit director for its ski category.

In addition to his legendary status in backcountry skiing, Hattrup brings Black Diamond a wealth of experience in the ski and outdoor industries including sales, marketing, product development and brand director roles.

Hattrup joins Black Diamond having spent his entire skiing career in hardgoods and softgoods categories. Most recently, he was the US Alpine Product Marketing Manager for Fischer Sports, where he led the development of its freeride collection.

Previously, he was international sales director and the global backside director for K2 Skis.

In softgoods, he spent 10 years on Marmot’s Design Board Team and another four years spearheading the development of Outdoor Research’s freeride collection.

Prior to his business career, Hattrup was a mogul competitor and earned a spot on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. He starred in more than a dozen ski films including the influential, “Blizzard of Aahhh’s.” While filming in Chamonix, France, he became captivated by the terrain beyond the resort boundaries, which led to him becoming one of the first certified AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guides. He’s guided clients in the Canada, European Alps, Norway, South America and the United States.

Philanthropy has always been important to Hattrup as well. After his team won the Ford Sport Trac Challenge adventure race, he donated his $25,000 winnings to the American Mountain Guiding Association to create an endowment that provides ongoing tuition for guide education. He’s also donated his time to help raise money for the Special Olympics, Outdoors for All and Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

In his position at Black Diamond, Hattrup will be responsible for creating the strategic direction of its ski category including business and product launch planning, global product line management, product development and the delivery of activity and consumer driven product initiatives.

For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit BlackDiamondEquipment.com