VersaClimber’s Expedition Everest challenge drew 3,000+ participants and doubled studio attendance, highlighting new opportunities in connected and hybrid fitness
VersaClimber, the California-based maker of vertical climbing machines and a favorite of pop star Lady Gaga, is leaning into a deeper fitness trend: movement with meaning.
The made-in-the-USA company recently wrapped its first global connected fitness challenge, “Expedition Everest,” drawing more than 3,000 participants across studios and homes to virtually ascend 29,032 feet (the height of Mount Everest) on its signature TS machine.
At-home and studio participants climbed between 3,000 and over 5,000 feet in a single session, fueling a surge in overall activity that more than doubled the total vertical feet climbed compared to the previous 30-day period, according to VersaClimber. Studio attendance also doubled during the challenge.
The winner of the 27-day event can now trade studio climbs for real peaks, having earned a 15-day guided trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
“She represents exactly what Expedition Everest was designed to spark,” VersaClimber chief operating officer Shane Schieffer said. “This wasn’t about racing to the top. It was about rising together.”
Looking ahead, VersaClimber plans to build on the challenge’s momentum with a series of new globally connected fitness events.
“This is more than a successful campaign. It’s a signal,” Schieffer said. “People want connection, purpose and a reason to move. That’s the future of fitness, and that’s where VersaClimber is headed.”
