Arc’teryx Expands Global Climb Athlete Team With Nine New Additions

Kai Lightner (North Carolina, USA)

One of the most accomplished climbers of his generation, Kai Lightner brings nearly two decades of experience to the Arc’teryx team. A Youth World Champion, national titleholder, and 5.15 climber, Kai is also the founder of Climbing for Change, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access and representation in climbing. Known for his powerful style, leadership, and advocacy, Kai continues to push the sport forward, on and off the wall.

Matilda Söderlund (Sweden)

From Stockholm – Sweden, Matilda has been a changemaker both on and off the rock within the climb community. She remains the only Swedish woman, so far, to climb a 9a and in 2022, she climbed Rayu, in Spain, the hardest big wall ever climbed by an all-female team. From her first climb, to the establishment of her own climbing gym, Moumo and most recently the founding of Bergskultur, a completely free all girls climb camp, Matilda has already made a legacy to carve the path for more women to climb and remove accessibility barriers.

Lara Neumeier (Germany)

Raised in the German Alps and climbing before she could walk, Lara Neumeier is one of Europe’s strongest female big wall and trad climbers. After stepping away from the competition scene as a teenager, she focused on bold outdoor ascents—most notably becoming the first woman to free climb the legendary Psychogramm (8b+ trad). With a Master’s in Marketing and a full-time focus on climbing, Lara continues to chase global test-pieces with calm determination and a deep love for the mountains.

Jim Pope (United Kingdom)

Jim Pope is a versatile UK climber known for excelling across disciplines—bouldering, sport, trad, alpinism, and big walls. Growing up in London, he found his start in gym competitions but later moved to Sheffield to pursue outdoor climbing and broaden his experience. Outside of climbing, Jim expresses his creativity through foraging, cooking, photography, and even making his own clothes.

Maya Madere (Texas, USA)

Maya Madere found climbing at age ten and quickly became a standout comp boulderer, later transitioning to send hard sport routes outside. Known for her stubborn grit and sharp humor, she balances intensity with fun, pursuing “maximum fun” as both a climbing goal and life philosophy. A Stanford grad with a background in computer science, Maya has claimed first female ascents of 5.14s in Lake Tahoe and the New River Gorge.

Sachi Amma (Japan)

Sachi began climbing in 2002 at the age of 13, initially focused on competitions he achieved overall victory in the IFSC Lead World Cup for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013. In 2015 Sachi shifted focus to outdoor rock climbing, travelling the world to where his next project took him. In 2015, became the first Japanese climber to ascend a 5.15b route. Following this he made the first ascent of a new 5.15b route at Gozeniwa, Japan. In 2022, Sachi completed the first ascent of Saigo no Mono (5.14b R) at Mt. Mizugaki, using only all-natural protection with no bolts. This year, Sachi’s ambitions are to work on 4 different projects across Spain, France, China, and in Japan.

Amelie Kühne (Germany)

An accomplished alpinist and former competition climber, Amelie Kühne brings a creative, movement-focused mindset to her climbing. From summiting Mont Blanc on skis at 15 to free climbing El Capitan’s Freerider in 2024, her resume already spans Europe, Greenland, and Patagonia. Now based in Innsbruck, she’s part of a new generation blending serious mountain objectives with a passion for fun, storytelling, and community.

Hector Ravanel (Chamonix, France)

Raised in the heart of Chamonix’s storied climbing culture, Hector Ravanel blends deep local knowledge with bold alpine ambition. A student of sports science and seasoned ski instructor, Hector thrives in both competition and remote alpine environments. From Digital Crack on the Aiguille du Midi to long mixed routes like the Dru North Face, he’s building a career rooted in performance, place, and preservation.

Tyler Thompson (North Carolina, USA)

Beginning his rock climbing journey on the granite slabs of North Carolina at just 7 years of age Tyler’s earlier years were focused on youth competitions, with national recognition. Throughout highschool Tyler spent time at New River George, leading his first 5.13 (7c+ to 8b) at iconic spots like the Coliseum and the Cirque. From granite slabs, to the limestone terrain of Ten Sleep in Wyoming, Tyler’s draw to the outdoors has broadened his climbing experience, always wanting to find the best and hardest lines to push himself on. New River George remains a place of making milestones, including climbing “Still Life” (5.14b/8c) and “Southern Smoke” (5.15a/9a+).