Seattle, WA – Complementing its roster of 14 outdoor recreational equipment brands, K2 Sports this month closed the acquisition of Backcountry Access (BCA), a pioneering designer, manufacturer, and champion of backcountry snow-safety equipment and education.

“BCA fits perfectly within the K2 Sports family of brands and rounds out our portfolio as we continue to grow our leadership in winter sports,” said Anthony De Rocco, President and CEO of K2 Sports. “BCA is a leader in research, engineering and snow-safety education and has pioneered landmark backcountry safety equipment such as the Tracker avalanche transceiver and Float airbags, among other important innovations.”

De Rocco said synergies of the acquisition include global distribution, research and development, supply chain, sourcing efficiencies and manufacturing strengths.

“Like K2 Sports, BCA carries a pure commitment to upholding and furthering the skiing and riding culture and ultimately, serving the specialty retailer. It’s not just about selling products, it’s about furthering the passion and core philosophy we all share to enjoy snowsports whether you’re in bounds or out of bounds,” De Rocco said.

BCA was founded by Bruce “Bruno” McGowan and Bruce “Edge” Edgerly in 1994, with a mission to help safeguard the lives of people enjoying the backcountry through product innovation, scientific research and educational efforts. Along with the Tracker beacon and Float airbags, its products include avalanche shovels, probes, snow study tools, backcountry packs and climbing skins, among other gear. BCA’s headquarters is located in Boulder, Colo. The company employs about 45 people.

McGowan said K2 Sports is committed to keeping BCA operationally intact and that the acquisition will not change BCA’s core market focus.

“There’s not much of a boundary now between lift access and backcountry. There are so many people chasing powder now who don’t understand the risks of skiing or riding in the backcountry,” McGowan said. “K2 Sports gives us a platform to innovate further on a product level while concurrently casting a wider net with our scientific research and snow-safety education efforts.

“We’ll be able to reach and engage more people with a hybrid effort of product innovation and snow-safety education,” he said.