Fischer (company)

Fischer Sports is an Austrian company that produces Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing and hockey equipment. Fischer is also one of the biggest manufacturers of ice hockey sticks.

Fischer Sports GmbH
IndustrySporting goods
Founded1924
HeadquartersRied im Innkreis, Austria
Key people
Mag. Franz Föttinger, CEO
Mag. Christian Egger, CFO
ProductsAlpine skis, Alpine bindings, Alpine boots, Alpine poles, Nordic skis, Nordic bindings, Nordic boots, Nordic poles, jumping skis, accessories and hockey
Revenue(2014l15) 159.8 million EUR
(2015l16) 145.0 million EUR
(2016l17) 138.8 million EUR
(2017l18) 164.4 million EUR
(2018l19) 182.5 million EUR
Number of employees
Approx. 480 in Ried, Austria
Approx. 1.320 at other locations
Websitewww.fischersports.com

Affiliated companies

Fischer Sports has several affiliates:[1]

  • Fischer Deutschland GmbH (Germany)
  • OOO Fischer (Russia)
  • Fischer Mukachevo (Ukraine)
  • Fischer Skis US, LLC (United States)
  • Fischer Footwear SRL, Montebelluna (Italy)
  • Fischer France SARL (France)

History

Early years

The company was founded in 1924 by Josef Fischer, Sr., a cartwright, in Ried im Innkreis, northeast of Salzburg, Austria. In addition to making wagons, he made an occasional pair of skis. By 1938,[2] the company had significantly expanded its ski manufacturing, with 30 employees, and was selling 2,000 pairs of handmade skis in the United States alone. Following the conclusion of World War II, Josef Fischer, Jr. became involved in the reconstruction of the company.

Emergence into a new era

In 1949, Fischer developed the first ski press to speed up production, which was still by hand. By 1958,[2] the company employed 137 craftsmen, and was manufacturing 53,000 pairs of skis annually. In that year, Fischer adopted its three-triangle logo. In 1964, the company completed a new factory on the outskirts of town, featuring a state-of-the-art computerized sawmill. Fischer also introduces metal skis for the first time, on which Egon Zimmerman won the downhill at the 1964 Winter Olympics. By 1967, the company had 775 employees, and produced 330,000 pairs of skis. The company has devoted considerable research efforts over the years to develop skis for racing, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and skis for attempting the world speed record.[3]

Fischer Sports Factory – Ried im Innkreis (Austria) – 2017

On the fast track

In the early 70s, Fischer became the biggest ski manufacturer in the world.[2] The Europa 77, with its fibre-glass technology, was revolutionary. This was the foundation to capture the Scandinavian market. Franz Klammer won the Olympics in 1976 on Fischer C4 skis. In 1988, Fischer opened the factory in Mukachevo, Ukraine.

Family ties

2002 was the year of the buy-back. Since then, Fischer has been 100% family-owned.[2]

Success in professional sports

At the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 39 gold, 36 silver and 35 bronze medals were awarded to Fischer athletes: A total of 108 medals, which were won mainly in the Nordic disciplines.[2] This surpassed the result at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010 (74 medals). The Norwegian athlete Marit Bjørgen, who is equipped by Fischer, has become the best Olympic cross country skier of all time. In Sochi she won three gold medals.[4] US-American Joss Christensen is the first Olympic champion in the Alpine discipline of Freeski Slopestyle.[5] At the Alpine, Nordic and Biathlon World Championships 2017 in St. Moritz (SUI), Lahti (FIN) and Hochfilzen (AUT) the Fischer Race Family took 45 gold-, 43 silver- and 38 bronze medals – a total of 126 medals. At the 2019 World Championships in Seefeld (AUT), Östersund (SWE)and Åre (SWE) there were 129 medals - 45 gold, 40 silver and 43 bronze.

In Alpine skiing

Active
Athlete Sport
Eva-Maria Brem alpine skiing
Adrien Coirier freeskiing
Lynsey Dyer freeskiing
Thomas Fanara alpine skiing
Vincent Kriechmayr alpine skiing
Max Kroneck freeskiing
Sandra Lahnsteiner freeskiing
Roland Leitinger alpine skiing
Manfred Mölgg alpine skiing
Steven Nyman alpine skiing
Nicole Schmidhofer alpine skiing
Max Franz alpine skiing
Kyle Smaine freeskiing

Retired
Athlete Sport
Kristian Ghedina alpine skiing
Nicole Hosp alpine skiing
Denise Karbon alpine skiing
Franz Klammer alpine skiing
Hans Knauß alpine skiing
Tanja Poutiainen alpine skiing
Michael von Grünigen alpine skiing
Harti Weirather alpine skiing
Egon Zimmermann alpine skiing

In Nordic skiing

Active
Athlete Sport
Kamil Stoch ski jumping
Maiken Caspersen Falla cross country
Dario Cologna cross country
Charlotte Kalla cross country
Eric Frenzel nordic combined
Jarl Magnus Riiber nordic combined
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo cross country
Martin Johnsrud Sundby cross country
Therese Johaug cross country
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg cross country
Denise Herrmann biathlon
Johannes Thingnes Bø biathlon
Kaisa Mäkäräinen biathlon
Stefan Kraft ski jumping
Sergey Ustiugov cross country

Retired:

Athlete Sport
Tora Berger biathlon
Laura Dahlmeier biathlon
Sven Fischer biathlon
Magdalena Forsberg cross country / biathlon
Andreas Goldberger ski jumping
Adam Małysz ski jumping
Magdalena Neuner biathlon
Anastasiya Kuzmina biathlon
Petter Northug cross country
Marit Bjørgen cross country
Bente Skari cross country
Yelena Välbe cross country
Thomas Wassberg cross country

References
  1. "Home - Fischer Sports". FischerSports.com. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  2. 90 Years Fischer History
  3. "The Fischer Story", Skiing (November 1985) p. 142
  4. "Athletes - Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes". Olympic.org. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. "Sochi 2014 Ski Slopestyle men - Olympic Freestyle Skiing". Olympic.org. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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