RECCO Named Official Safety Partner of the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series

January 29, 2026

Partnership strengthens safety standards during the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series races.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (January 29, 2026) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ — RECCO, the search-and-rescue technology, this week unveiled a new partnership with the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, becoming the Official Safety Partner for the 2026 season. The Skyrunner^® World Series was launched in 2004 and has grown to represent one of the most extreme forms of running. The Series and the races within it are defined by altitude and technicality, including 19 races in 12 countries and 4 continents.

The partnership aims to enhance safety and create a safety conscious mindset among the trail running community. For the 2026 season, RECCO reflectors will be part of the mandatory gear list for six races:

● May 3: Skyrace des Matheysins, Saint-Honoré, France

● May 23: Skyraces des Gorges du Tarn, Lozère, France

● August 1–2: Beast of Big Creek, Hoodsport, WA, USA

● August 21: ZERMATT ULTRAKS, Zermatt, Switzerland

● August 22–23: KIMA, Val Masino, Sondrio, Italy

● September 4: MAGA SkyMarathon, Serina, Italy

“These races push athletes into extraordinary and remote terrain, and this partnership reinforces the importance of searchability and preparedness,” says Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at RECCO. “By combining mandatory RECCO reflectors with safety education, we aim to support organizers, rescue teams, and runners in better managing risk in demanding mountain environments.”

Beyond mandatory equipment requirements, the partnership includes online and on-site safety education initiatives, aimed at increasing awareness among athletes, event organizers, media, and the wider trail running community. Through these activations, RECCO and Skyrunner^® World Series seek to promote preparedness, responsibility, and informed decision-making in mountain environments.

“We’re proud to partner with RECCO, a brand that shares our commitment to athlete safety and innovation in the mountains. Their proven rescue technology are a valuable addition to skyrunning, supporting both elite athletes and race organizers in demanding alpine environments, says Etienne Rodriguez, Managing Director. “As we look ahead to the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner^® World Series circuit, this collaboration strengthens our ongoing efforts to support skyrunning at the highest level while promoting greater awareness of safety in alpine environments.”

The RECCO system is a two part system consisting of a search detector and a reflector. The detector is used by professional rescue teams globally, while the reflector is integrated into apparel, shoes, backpacks, helmets and other equipment, which makes the wearer searchable in case of an emergency. The reflector can also be bought and applied as a stand-alone product to attach to a backpack, helmet or be worn as a belt.

Today, handheld detectors are a standard tool for avalanche rescue globally. The past decade, the system has evolved from a winter system to a year round search system with the addition of a helicopter mounted detector, based on the same technology. This makes it possible to locate missing trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers and mountaineers across all seasons. The RECCO SAR helicopter detector is developed to search large areas, covering a square kilometer in six minutes. Along with helping reduce search times for missing people, the helicopter-based detector can reduce the time and risk exposure for rescue workers during missions.

The RECCO SAR helicopter detector network continues to grow with more and more placements being added. Currently, there are 45 RECCO SAR Helicopter Detectors globally, with 14 located in North America, 28 units deployed across Europe, one in Nepal and two in New Zealand.

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About RECCO
RECCO® advanced rescue technology makes outdoor enthusiasts searchable to rescuers in case of an avalanche accident or when lost in the outdoors. The technology builds on a two-part radar system. Rescuers carry RECCO® detectors that send out search signals which are echoed by RECCO® reflectors, carried by the user. RECCO® detectors are used worldwide at more than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 32 countries. RECCO® reflectors are integrated into select apparel, helmets, protection gear and boots manufactured by more than 150 leading outdoor brands. RECCO AB was founded in 1983 in Sweden and is owned by its founder Magnus Granhed and the publicly traded investment company Traction AB (listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm). More info at recco.com.

About the Merrell Skyrunner World Series

The Merrell Skyrunner® World Series is the official racing circuit of skyrunning worldwide since 2004 and represents the highest level of the sport. The Series encompasses 19 iconic races across the globe, where elite athletes will compete to be the best Skyrunner® of 2026. Competing for points throughout the year, athletes aim to qualify for the exclusive final race of the season, the SkyMasters. SkyMan – in combination with the races – will distribute its largest prize money pool yet, over €250,000. To learn more about the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, visit https://www.skyrunnerworldseries.com or on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Media Contact

Verde Brand Communications
(970) 235-0268
recco@verdepr.com