LOWA, a global footwear brand renowned for over 100 years of premium craftsmanship, celebrates the successful completion of the LOWA Matterhorn Adventure in partnership with the Summit Scholarship Foundation, a non-profit that provides women access to mountaineering through training, mentorship, and financial assistance.
On September 2, scholarship recipients Tiffany Diep of New Hampshire and Noemi Kreuz of Germany set out to climb the iconic Matterhorn under the guidance of world-class alpinist Ines Papert. Despite months of rigorous preparation, getting to the summit was not straightforward. Conditions on the 14,692 ft mountain proved to be challenging for weeks leading up to the attempt, and the team continuously reassessed the situation with the counsel of local mountain guides.
“In mountaineering, success is not measured solely by reaching a summit,” said Sunny Stroeer, Founder of the Summit Scholarship Foundation and LOWA Athlete. “Equally important is the ability to assess risks carefully and make the right decision for one’s own situation.”
Following a training day on the Riffelhorn and improved conditions on the Matterhorn, the team decided to make a summit attempt via Hörnli Ridge. Ultimately, Noemi Kreuz reached the summit along with mountain guide and LOWA ambassador Ramona Volken, while other members of the team decided to turn back at Solvay Hut after carefully evaluating their individual circumstances.
“This project was more than climbing a mountain,” said Summit Scholarship recipient Tiffany Diep. “Despite feeling drawn to the outdoors as a kid, it never crossed my mind that it was a place for me. Our journey is now documented, telling the story of the importance of gender equity in the outdoors. I hope that we can be those female role models I so desperately needed when I was a kid.”
Amidst a successful summit as well as individual turnaround decisions, the outcome of the 2026 LOWA Matterhorn Adventure reflects the program’s broader goal: creating opportunities for women to gain experience, confidence, and access to mountaineering through structured training, coaching, and support. The expedition was accompanied by an all-female film crew, with a documentary scheduled to premiere at the Tegernsee International Mountain Film Festival, October 14–18, 2026.
For more information about the Summit Scholarship Foundation and how to apply for future scholarships, visit summitscholarship.org. To learn more about LOWA USA and the latest brand news, visit us.lowa.com
About LOWA
With over 100 years of hand-crafted European heritage, LOWA is a globally respected footwear brand located in Jetzendorf, in Upper Bavaria. Since 1923, LOWA has created premium outdoor boots and shoes featuring beautiful silhouettes, best-in-class quality, and proprietary technology. Its designers adeptly navigate the outdoor performance, trail running, lifestyle, and tactical categories, always nurturing brand integrity. LOWA is one of the only footwear brands to receive ISO 9001 status for the highest quality construction and process standards. LOWA certified tactical boots are also made to comply with the European Union’s PPE standards. For more information, visit www.us.lowa.com.
About Tecnica Group
A global leader in outdoor footwear and ski equipment, Tecnica Group boasts a portfolio of some of the industry’s most historic brands: Tecnica (ski boots and footwear), Nordica (skis and boots), Moon Boot® (footwear), LOWA (trekking and outdoor shoes), Blizzard (skis), and Rollerblade® (inline skates). Founded in 1963 by the Zanatta brothers, the company has been highly innovative from the very beginning, pioneering the first double-injection plastic ski boot that revolutionized the industry and creating iconic design products such as the legendary Moon Boot.
Today, Tecnica Group is an international company with 10 subsidiaries, along with more than 40 distribution partners, exporting to over 80 countries worldwide. The company employs 3,722 people, around 400 of whom are based in Italy, primarily at its headquarters in Giavera del Montello (Treviso). In 2017, the Zanatta family, still at the helm of the Group, opened the company to external capital with the entry of Italmobiliare as a minority shareholder. For more information, visit www.tecnicagroup.com.
