November 28, 2006 (Ried im Innkreis, Austria) – Fischer will be concentrating on a new focus in the future in its range of winter sport products. This focus will be on race-standard winter poles. The number one company in cross country ski engineering is now using its undisputed Nordic expertise in the manufacturing of high-end ski poles.

First Athletes Already Equipped for the World Cup

The first athletes are already using the prototypes of the new wonder weapon in competition this winter in the World Cup. Besides double Olymipic winner Kristina Smigun (EST), who has already made the podium twice this season, other well-known top athletes including Tora Berger (NOR), Serguei Rozhkov and Serguei Tchepikov (both RUS) have decided in favour of the new high-class product. Relay World Champion Serguei Rozhkov is also the first athlete to compete using the complete Fischer system of skis, boots and poles.

“It’s always great feedback when you hand out prototypes that are in fact designed for test purposes and the athletes are so enthusiastic, you never get them back. Some of the racers even had to get past their own ski association because they were so insistent about using our poles,” says a clearly happy Franz Föttinger, Nordic General Manager at Fischer.

Premiere at ISPO

The new pole is made of ultra-high molecular carbon fibre, a material used previously only in the manufacturing of aircraft components. It offers excellent stiffness to weight ratios which are ideal for top athletes. The new lightweight Fischer highlight will be presented to retailers for the first time at the ISPO fair in Munich from 3 to 6 February, 2007.

With its decision to concentrate on the production of winter poles, Fischer has at the same time decided to discontinue its activities in the production of Nordic Walking poles. The Upper Austrian company will withdraw from the summer pole sector as of the financial year 2007/08.

About Fischer

Since it was founded in 1924 the Austrian company Fischer has been known for innovation and the latest technologies. The headquarters of one of the world’s largest ski manufacturers and global market leader in Nordic skiing are located in Ried im Innkreis, Austria. Fischer is a single-source supplier in the fields of Alpine and Nordic and also specializes in Tennis, Hockey, Nordic Walking and Composite Technology. Production facilities are in Ried im Innkreis (AUT) and Mukachevo (UKR). The successful subsidiaries Löffler and FACC (both head-quartered in Ried im Innkreis) also belong to the Group.

www.fischer-ski.com