Mild temperatures, hardly any precipitation recently and melting remains of snow – but the lifts are still running in a number of ski areas in Germany. And at Germany’s only major ski manufacturer – the Völkl brand from Straubing in Lower Bavaria – production is running at full speed despite the mixed winter. Climate change is certainly the biggest challenge that his industry, but also society, has to master, says Jonathan Wiant, President of Völkl Marker Dalbello since 2021.
However, he does not feel afraid for the future of skiing. “It is clear that this development with high plus degrees in January is not good,” says Wiant. However, fear would be the wrong approach, as would too much composure.
Plant manager Franz Ederer reports on record sales last year. The company does not give specific figures. In 2022, Völkl built a good 60 percent more skis than in the previous year. For 2023 he expects a further increase in sales. According to Ederer, several hundred thousand pairs of skis roll off the assembly line of the company, which was founded 100 years ago. 430 employees work at the production site in Straubing.
Up and down when asked
The snowfall at the beginning of December encouraged customers in Germany and Central Europe to buy ski equipment, says Wiant. The warmer period over Christmas and into January put the brakes on this trend, but the renewed snowfall made trade optimistic again. Wiant does not only have the European market in mind: while less and less snow falls here in November and December, heavy snowfall and low record temperatures are being recorded in the USA, among other places.
The consequences of the corona pandemic are still having an impact on production. The delivery times for metal, wood or glass are significantly longer than before. In addition, there are higher electricity costs. There is another Corona episode: the trend towards ski touring. It’s still going strong, says company boss Wiant. The company had already invested in development in this segment beforehand and was thus able to cushion the increased demand.
