52 interviews · 43 companies · 6 issues
In every BACKLINE test magazine we talk to the people behind the gear: product managers, engineers and CEOs explain technologies, materials and the future of ski touring. All interviews are searchable by company, year and name.
Tech talk on
Ski touring backpacks
DEUTER
Product Manager Outdoor Backpacks and Sleeping Bags
Johannes Braun is Product Manager Outdoor Backpacks and Sleeping Bags at deuter and an enthusiastic freerider and ski tourer himself. Johannes creates innovative, sustainable, and durable products with the goal of extending their lifespan as long as possible.
Test magazine 2023 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring bindings
FRITSCHI
Sales and Marketing
Skiing has been my great passion since childhood. Later, especially off-piste and subsequently on ski tours. I have been in Sales and Marketing at Fritschi for over 20 years, giving me the privilege of combining snow sports with my profession.
Test magazine 2023 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring helmets & goggles
GROFA
Head of Sales Austria
Roland Zechner is the Head of Sales Austria at GROFA and hails from Kitzbühel. As a former Nordic combined athlete, he is accustomed to wearing a helmet since childhood. For more than 20 years now, Roland has been working in sales for Giro helmets and uses the equipment at every opportunity when skiing, off-piste, or ski touring.
Test magazine 2023 ·
Tech talk on
Avalanche transceivers
PIEPS
Software Developer
Bostjan has been working at PIEPS as a software developer for 10 years. A focus of his work is the development of the PIEPS App, which was the world's first app for avalanche transceivers. He is a passionate skier and freerider.
Test magazine 2023 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring crampons & headlamps
SILVA
Head of Research & Development
For 28 years in the product team of the Swedish outdoor brand Silva. He lives and works in Stockholm. When he's not busy developing new innovations, he enjoys running and cycling. In the winter months, you'll often find him on cross-country trails, where developments like the modular Free headlamp series, which Mattias and his team are particularly proud of, can be thoroughly tested.
Test magazine 2023 ·
Tech talk on
Avalanche transceivers
BCA EUROPE
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Simon has been a snowboarder for almost 30 years and a splitboarder for 10 years. He lived in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, for eight years, gaining extensive backcountry experience and deeply engaging with the topic of avalanche safety.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring boots
DYNAFIT
Product Director Hard Goods
Schorsch Nickaes grew up in the Berchtesgaden Alps and went on his first ski tour at the age of 10. After training as a mountain guide and ski instructor with the Bundeswehr, he participated in the PDG for the first time in 1996 – Nickaes ran it a total of eight times until 2014. From 2002 to 2008, he was a member of the German Ski Mountaineering National Team, then national coach for the youth squad. As Product Director Hard Goods at Dynafit, Nickaes is also responsible for the development of ski touring boots.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring skins
DYNAFIT / POMOCA
Marketing Manager Germany/Austria
Michael Hankl is Marketing Manager for the Dynafit and Pomoca brands. The 30-year-old has been part of the ski touring expert team since 2017. In winter, he usually spends his free time ski touring somewhere in the mountains.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring skis
EOC Europe
Commercial Director Ski
Born and raised in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the path to ski sports was almost logical. After a 10-year career as a World Cup racer, Stefan was drawn off-piste. First with Telemark skis, then with touring equipment, to experience the backcountry.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring helmets & goggles
JULBO
Sports Marketing Manager D/A/CH
After studying and gaining practical experience as a sports & marketing expert, Florian has been responsible for all aspects related to professional athletes at Julbo since 2016: athlete management, support at competitions, event assistance, and marketing communication. The enthusiastic ski mountaineer and outdoor athlete first put on skis at the age of three and completed his first ski tour at twelve.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring poles
KOMPERDELL
CEO
Thomas Roiser has always been out in the mountains with his family from a young age, whether skiing or ski touring. He now shares this passion as the company's CEO and constantly incorporates these personal experiences into the development of new products.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring backpacks
ORTOVOX
Product Manager Backpacks
Tobias started skiing at the age of 3 and competed in ski racing until he was 16. After a foray into ski cross, he discovered freeriding and then ski touring. In recent years, Tobias has almost exclusively been on skins, searching for untracked descents.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring crampons & headlamps
PETZL
Sports Marketing Manager Germany State-certified Mountain and Ski Guide
Nils truly got into ski touring during his semesters abroad in Lausanne. Since 2009, he has lived in the Alpine foothills and, in winter, prefers exploring secluded spots in the Karwendel mountains. For this, he is willing to take on a counter-climb or two.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring bindings
PLUM
Marketing Manager
After studying business administration in Strasbourg and spending about a year and a half in Germany, Thomas moved to Haute-Savoie 7 years ago to be able to ski in winter. Today, Thomas is a 100% ski tourer, even though he wasn't even an alpine skier until five years ago. As a trail runner in summer, he identifies more with ski mountaineers, using ultralight equipment and eyeing the Pierra Menta as a race dream.
Test magazine 2022 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring bindings
ATK BINDINGS
C.E.O. and Head of R&D
Davide''s first approach to the sport was competitive – straight into ski touring races. In recent years he has focused on the relaxed experience in the mountains.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring backpacks
BCA
K2 Ski / BCA Sales Manager
Born and raised in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, skiing was almost inevitable. After a ten-year career as a World Cup racer, Stefan was drawn away from the pistes – first on telemark skis, then with touring equipment, to experience the backcountry.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring skis
KÄSTLE
Head of Product Management (Alpine & Nordic)
Born and raised in the heart of the Alps, Florian spends every free minute outside the office in nature. Skiing fascinated him as a child; as a state-certified ski instructor and ski guide he passes his enthusiasm on to others.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring boots
LA SPORTIVA
Product Specialist, Mountain Guide & Ski Instructor
Sandro De Zolt was born and raised in the Dolomites. He started skiing at the age of two and is still enthusiastic 40 years later. The mountain guide and ski instructor works as a product specialist for La Sportiva in Ziano di Fiemme.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring poles
LEKI
Product Manager
Björn grew up in the middle of the Black Forest and was on skis as a child. Later he spent years in competitive sport as a Nordic combined athlete and cross-country skier. Today he spends every free winter minute on touring skis in the mountains – preferably far away from the crowds.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Avalanche transceivers
MAMMUT
Head of Avalanche Safety
Every time it starts snowing again, Alexander''s heart beats faster. He has been a passionate freerider and ski tourer for more than 20 years. As a product manager and engineer his passion also belongs to the products, which are intensively tested, analysed and optimised in the snow.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring helmets & goggles
SWEET PROTECTION
Director Sales & Marketing
Atle Enberget is Director of Sales and Marketing at Sweet Protection. The 45-year-old grew up in Trysil, Norway, so his playground was always right behind the house. He learned to ski at the age of two but now spends more time on a snowboard.
Test magazine 2021 ·
Tech talk on
Avalanche transceivers
ARVA
Export Manager Germany & Austria
Lien was born in Belgium and has lived in France since 2010. She learned to ski at the age of three and can no longer imagine a life without skiing, and especially without the backcountry.
Test magazine 2020 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring boots
BLIZZARD TECNICA
Promotion / Events / Training / Tech Rep
As a long-standing member of the telemark national team, Freeheel World Master and ski instructor, Marc is closely connected to winter sports and especially to backcountry skiing.
Test magazine 2020 ·
Tech talk on
Ski touring bindings
DYNAFIT
Product Manager Bindings
Learned to ski at the age of five on a small hill at the Samerberg, spent her youth on a snowboard and today is an all-rounder who is out regularly both on the piste and in the backcountry.
Test magazine 2020 ·
