Heinz Mariacher

Biography

Heinz Mariacher is an Austrian climber and designer born in 1955 in Wörgl, Austria. He was a central figure in free climbing in the 70s and 80s, particularly in the Dolomites. Mariacher began designing climbing shoes for La Sportiva in 1982, creating iconic models such as the Mariacher and the Mythos. Mariacher began climbing as a child in Austria, exploring the surrounding nature. At the age of 15, he began climbing more regularly. From the 70s, he completed many big walls in the Alps, in the Hoggar massif in Algeria in sport climbing with his partner, the Italian climber Luisa Iovane. In 1986, he completed technical routes rated 8b+, the high level at the time. In 1982, Mariacher began working in parallel with the equipment manufacturer La Sportiva to create climbing shoes that combined performance and comfort. His designs would revolutionize the world of climbing by pushing the boundaries of design and shoe precision with legendary models such as the Mariacher, the Mythos, the Miura or the Testarossa. After leaving La Sportiva in 2005, he joined the firm Scarpa where he continued to innovate, with a particular focus on shoes adapted to the female morphology. He is known for his minimalist approach and his disdain for hype, always emphasizing pleasure and personal challenges.