12 Photos and 12 Words for 2026 | Matteo Arnodo – Ludovico Peroni

We have just celebrated Brazz’s fifth New Year.
Every moment spent within this project makes us more aware of what it truly means to be in contact with a diverse community, shaped by many facets of sporting, professional, and human collaborations.

Brazz, over the past year as well, has been many things; and by retracing a few milestones, we’d like to share what we think and feel about the values that are expressed through the different characters of our community.

This “sheep-shaped” reality, in the heart of the Marche region, is not simply a commercial activity for us, but rather a nucleus of love for the territory, a pursuit of quality, human relationships that go beyond the workplace, and above all, a gaze toward new challenges; a place within each of us where we have identified ourselves while thinking about our individual growth paths, where we have found support in others, renewing our commitment to reaching ambitious goals (knowing that if we fall, someone will be there to “spot” us).

So, we gladly accept this game that was proposed to us: we choose 12 photos to reflect on some concepts that inspired us throughout 2025, and that we can carry with us into 2026.

Sharing

Starting the year by gathering in Meschia has something poetic about it. That land, which for a long time remained somewhat hidden, turned out to be the perfect place to experience moments of joy and sharing. The beginning of the year brings with it new projects, good intentions, and fresh ambitions. Living together through each other’s motivations and fears allows us to empathize, to connect on a deeper level, and to lay the foundations for sharing a path that can become a means of expression for every individual within the “flock.” A symbolic place, where in the photo we can almost hear a single cry made up of many voices:
“Alè Matti! We’re here.”

Perseverance

All the projects we intend to undertake require a few key ingredients—one of these is perseverance. Anyone bound by a deep love for their land seeks a way to leave a mark by giving something back to the community of the places we call “home.” This year, Elias gave us a powerful example of how ambition, method, tenacity, and refusing to give up—continuing to believe in one’s abilities—can provide the means to truly leave a mark. His perseverance symbolizes a long-term project, one that requires us to keep “bashing our heads against the edge until it becomes rounded.” And doing it at home adds an immeasurable value.

Energy

This year Yannis dedicated time to many different areas around the world, achieving interesting results in terms of ascents. Traveling extensively, climbing at high difficulty, and adapting to many different contexts truly requires great energy. Our project, in all its evolving forms of expression, constantly demands the same adaptability and the same kind of positive energy. Yannis embodies this concept flawlessly, and we hope he can be an inspiration not only for us, but for everyone.

Growth

This has certainly been a year of growth for us, in many different ways, and speaking about it moves us as we think of Gianluca and Caterina. The passion that drove them to invest in climbing, in their territory, and in their future—together—makes them a strong source of inspiration. At least for us. The genuineness and simplicity with which they approach life and climbing is one of the purest attitudes one can recognize. Climbers with a strong local impact, raised in an area with limited but high-quality climbing opportunities, humble dreamers who dedicated themselves to competitions and therefore have a sporting background that never diminished their love for outdoor climbing. A love that is born in the woods, blossoms among the trees of Pietra del Toro, and grows by giving light to a place. A gym. May it become a meeting point for many, a place where people can challenge themselves. Where they can grow. Together.

Trust

Some projects bring us into deeper contact with human fragility and, at the same time, allow us to witness the strength of the human spirit. We find Alessandro’s ability to inspire trust fascinating—especially in contexts without visual references, where a delicate balance exists between trust and one’s relationship with fear. “Blinded by the climb” represents a moment in which the relationship between human beings unfolds through different—perhaps deeper—channels of communication. Bringing moments like this to light is a way to speak about realities where love is the main driver of intrinsic motivation. We believe it is important to extend a grateful embrace to all those who choose, every day, to love by giving themselves to human relationships of this kind. In this photo, above all, we see a place where, even before teaching sport climbing, something that goes beyond is being learned.

Presence

One of the aspects that allowed us to connect directly with many new climbers was our constant presence at street boulder events. Although for an outdoor climber “street” bouldering may not represent the highest form of climbing expression, we admit that being present at events is an essential moment for exchange and for potentially passing on a culture that should not be lost. A culture that can perhaps serve as a “bridge” between indoor and outdoor climbing—something worth reflecting on seriously, without trivializing its pros and cons. This year as well, we attended 43 events where we brought the Brazz stand… and our giant sheep!

Path

"That's what I’m looking for, and what keeps me training every day — to become a more complete climber and to get closer to lines like this, lines that once felt completely out of reach. I feel that I unlocked a new level of awareness about my physical and mental abilities".

These words from Simo, related to his journey as a boulderer, are something we consider a kind of mantra. Working every day to become better, to acquire new skills and greater physical and mental control. A sort of monk-like discipline, determined to achieve balance, serenity, and control—qualities that allow us to unlock the true potential hidden within. The path never ends, and the greatest skill to acquire is the ability to smile in the face of difficulties, accept failure, and keep believing in the process.

Vision

We really love this photo, because it takes us back to the very beginning—specifically to Mangustaio (a nearly mythical climbing area in Brazz’s history). We had just met Raffo, visualizing moves and taking falls. “We should make crash pads ourselves.”
In the photo, a few years later—different place, same enthusiasm—we visualize foam and take hits from the heat. We are very proud to be part of this group of people who, thanks to a particular work ethic, manage to turn what is truly a vision into reality; a vision that, piece by piece, is shaping an immense puzzle. Being seven partners is not always easy, but we believe it is also our strength. Being many and different has taught us from the start to put everyone’s ideas on the table, respect each other’s visions, and—in an unwritten program—carry them all forward. We believe this is what allows us to authentically enter the daily lives of those who, for example, buy even just a hat. A vision of proposing an image people can identify with, precisely because we ourselves are heterogeneous and inclusive. And doing so naturally, without forcing it.

Commitment

We are fascinated by work and its dynamics, by the skills of those who practice their profession with years of experience and still enjoy it. This is what happens when I step onto a construction site and see my colleagues so attentive to detail. Brazz puts a great deal of commitment into what it offers and is not afraid to defend the value of work “made at home.” Today we are often flooded with slogans like “zero kilometer,” “made in Italy,” “handcrafted,” behind which it is difficult to see what truly lies beneath. But when these are not just marketing claims—when we find concrete choices that respect the value of things and of people—it becomes clear how important it is not to lose these values. Especially in times of AI.

Timing

The photo of Siara on The Hatchling makes us reflect on impermanence, precariousness, and the timing with which we make our choices. In frenetic years like these, identifying one’s own balance is not easy, just as it is often difficult to seize the most opportune moments, feeling like the right person in the right place.

I remember the session at Kleinfontein. We tried a boulder we had known for years, one we had seen in photos and videos; we worked it for a while until we realized it would require an additional session—a session that, to this day, still awaits us. There are times when approaches like letting go, accepting, thinking we have time, or forgiving ourselves for certain weaknesses cause us to miss opportunities and situations we should have lived with greater determination. That time on The Hatchling we thought, “I’d love to send it, but there are so many boulders to try. When I come back to Rocklands, I’ll definitely give it a go.” The rock has since flipped, and there will be no second chance. (Matteo)

Things change before our eyes, and the choices we make shape our path—what we gain and what slips through our fingers. Perhaps too often, through comfort or lightness, we fail to defend what is right or to fight all the way for what we truly desire. This year, Siara made an important and difficult choice—a real leap. She had the right timing.

Care

As mentioned, this is Brazz’s fifth year—five years that have flown by and been filled with countless adventures. While the words used so far have been essential ingredients in the “Brazz cake,” we believe one key element is still missing. Edoardo (“Tama”), in this photo, conveys a strong sense of care for detail. Looking at the image, I think of someone who grew up in close contact with the company’s journey (even before the Brazz project), taking on roles that have made him a point of reference within the team. Tama is a punctual, precise, and orderly worker—and person—who calmly and patiently carries forward, every day, a project that is as much his as it is ours. Care, perhaps, is the very first step toward sharing.

Exploration

The photo of Max represents one of the most rewarding moments in climbing.

I know well the feeling of sharing first ascents in new sectors. Hours of hiking, often alone, immersed in thoughts or completely carefree, are fulfilled when the imagined line on the face of a boulder takes shape and offers a vision of possibility. In that moment, you feel like an explorer, a creator, an artist. You draw and erase, trying one sequence and then another, fixing your gaze on the rock and examining every feature in search of the detail that changes a grip or reveals a new micro foothold. You study the morphology of the problem and try to understand how to best adapt, gaining yet another piece of information. (Matteo)

But Max’s photo has something more: it shows what it means to share this entire process with someone who can truly be a worthy partner to what is growing inside you as you try to bring something new to light. Abstracting the concept from its climbing context, we see in Brazz’s journey the same exploratory attitude toward new areas and new adventures. We can’t always share sessions on every project, and sometimes we walk alone, exploring new paths, gathering information, or examining details. Each of us works hard on our own explorations—often very different from one another—yet the moment we share a session, we become exactly the partner you would want by your side.

So, what now?

It has been a rich year, and we hope that everything written so far can help us reflect on who we are and how each of us contributes in an essential way to conveying values that are far from trivial and that define us as individuals. We are always faced with choices, and what we do does not determine our essence—but it certainly defines us in terms of social impact.

And, in any case, 2026 will be another year.
We can’t wait to discover what “problems” it will bring us, who we will share them with, and where they will lead us in this new, ongoing, continuous process.