Blizzard
Tecnica Group · Austria
Blizzard is an Austrian alpine ski maker founded in 1945 by Anton Arnsteiner and based in Mittersill. It is a subsidiary of the Italian Tecnica Group, which acquired it in 2006 to 2007. It matters as an Austrian ski brand with a record of product innovation.
| Founded | 1945 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Anton Arnsteiner |
| Headquarters | Mittersill, Austria |
| Owner | Tecnica Group S.p.A. |
| Segment | Alpine skis and accessories |
| Website | blizzard-sport.com |
What is Blizzard?
Blizzard is an Austrian manufacturer of alpine skis, backpacks and ski bags, headquartered in Mittersill, Salzburg. It is a subsidiary and division of Tecnica Group S.p.A., an Italian company.
History
According to Wikipedia, Anton Arnsteiner began making skis alongside wooden furniture in his family's joinery workshop in 1945. The Blizzard brand was registered in 1953, and in 1954 it became the first manufacturer to mass produce polyethylene ski bases. A fire destroyed much of the factory in 1963, the company was renamed Blizzard GmbH in 1970, and a second production site opened near Munich in 1976. It introduced its first carving ski in 1996, then filed for insolvency and was bought by Scott Sports. In 2005 it was sold to Karl Hofstätter and Anton Stöckl, and Tecnica Group acquired it in 2006 to 2007. In 2014 Mario Matt won the first Olympic men's slalom gold on Blizzard skis.
Business model and distribution
Blizzard's ski sales are fully integrated into Tecnica Group's sales organisation, so it reaches retailers through the group's wholesale structure rather than through a separate network. The source does not provide retail store counts, revenue or e-commerce details.
Why it matters
Blizzard shows the pattern of Austrian ski brands being absorbed into larger multi brand groups after financial difficulty. It competes with Atomic, Rossignol, Fischer and Head. The sources consulted do not document any digital, data or technology programme beyond product engineering, so none is described.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Blizzard?
Blizzard is a subsidiary and division of Tecnica Group, an Italian company that acquired it in 2006 to 2007, according to Wikipedia.
Where is Blizzard from?
Blizzard is from Austria. It was founded in 1945 by Anton Arnsteiner and is based in Mittersill.