Blizzard Sport

Blizzard is a division of Tecnica Group Spa and is specialized in the manufacturing of Austrian alpine ski, based in Mittersill, Salzburg, Austria.

History

Blizzard was established in 1945 by Anton Arnsteiner ("der Toni"), as he returned home from the second world war, in the family joinery workshop,^[1] and started producing skis besides wooden furniture.

The Blizzard brand was registered in 1953. In 1954, Blizzard became the first manufacturer to mass-produce polyethylene ski bases. Blizzard's first expansion occurred in 1957 as well as the introduction of metal and fiberglass as new materials. 1963 saw a great part of the factory burned down. In 1970, as production reached 500,000 skis per year, company name was changed from "Blizzard Skifabrik Anton Arnsteiner" to "Blizzard GmbH". In 1976 a second production site was opened near Munich.

In 1980 Blizzard introduced the "Thermoski", after 6 years of development. In 1996 Blizzard introduced its first Carving ski, but it also applied for insolvency and was bought-up by US company SCOTT Sports.

It was sold to Karl Hofstätter (33.3%) and Anton Stöckl (66.6%) in 2005, who sold it to the Tecnica Group in 2006^[2][3][4][5] and 2007, respectively. Sales of Blizzard skis are now completely integrated in the sale organization of Tecnica Group.

In 2006, Blizzard has re-invented the ski: with the unique IQ-System Blizzard introduced the first system where ski and binding are real integrated and work together for the best performance.

In 2010 for the first time in its history, Blizzard get awarded for the R-POWER FS IQ with the European Ski Award (ISPO Award). An year after, Blizzard was recognized as the first ski brand which get awarded the second year in a row with the Ispo Award.

Alpine racing

Blizzard's presence on the FIS Alpine World Cup circuit is represented by several racers, including Austrian Reinfried Herbst and Japanese racer Akira Sasaki.

Throughout the years, Blizzard can be proud of great results awarded by its skiers team:

• 1958 Fried Danzer (CH) wins the first champion title on Blizzard skis in the triple combination. Roger Staub wins silver in the giant slalom, Jean Vuarnet (FR) fetches bronze in downhill.
• 1962 Christl Haas, Erika Netzer and Marianne Jahn: a sensational success on Blizzard skis: 3-times victory and World Championship Gol. Silver at the giant slalom on the new EPOXI-Ski.
• 1983 Franz Klammer wins the overall Worldcup and Blizzard is the most successful brand at the men's downhill 1982/83
• 1964 Gold at the Olympic Games in Innsbruck for Christl Haasat in downhill.
• 1990 Petra Kronberger won 3 seasons in a row, the Ladies World Cup. The austrial exceptional athlete wins as the first woman all 5 disciplines in the World Cup.
• 1992 Olympic GOLD in the combination and olympic GOLD in the downhill in Albertville. Petra is one of the most successful skiers in history.
• 1998 Michaela Dorfmeister finished the Olympic Games in Nagano with silver in the Super-G
• 2000 Renate Gotschl wins the overall World Cup and the small crystal globe in Super-G. The overall standings at the giant slalom goes to Michaela Dorfmeister
• 2002 the overall World Cup victory goes to Michaela Dorfmeister

As of February 25, 2007, Blizzard placed 10th in the overall World Cup points standings.^[6]

In March 2007, Blizzard announced that former World Cup racer and US Pro Tour champion Bernhard Knauss would be taking over as Blizzard's race manager.^[7]

In 2010, Reinfried Herbst wins on the new Blizzard Ski the Slalom Wold Cup and gets the small crystal globe.

The 2014 represents very exciting year, with the first Olympic gold metal for Blizzard in the men team won by Mario Matt in the Olympic Slalom at Sochi and a great victory in the Freeride World Tour by Loic Collomb-Patton

References

External links

• Blizzard Sport USA's Website
• Blizzard Sport GmbH's Website
• Tecnica Group Website