In the first two weekends of Advent, Intersport Austria registered a boom in all winter sports equipment: According to the buying group, there was request for skis, touring skis, snowshoes, as well as sleds. The booking situation on the company’s rental platform is also developing well.
As last year, the trend towards touring ski equipment is also becoming apparent this season. The Alpine Club and the Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Sports Equipment Suppliers estimate that there are around 700,000 active ski tourers throughout Austria. According to projections, due to price increases and the pandemic, another 120,000 ski tourers will be added to the current number of active skiers this winter. As an expansion of its offerings to support the segment, Intersport will host the Tour & Safety Days in Maria Alm from Jan. 13 to 15, 2023, with equipment tests, guided ski tours and lectures on avalanche safety. As a marketing initiative around the Intersport Skitag on Jan. 15, 5,000 free day ski passes will be raffled. In addition to classic winter sports, high-quality outdoor jackets and shoes for winter hiking and snowshoeing were in good demand, according to the Intersport Austria press release.
Regarding investments in the new fiscal year, eight new locations will be opened in the Czech Republic (taken over from Hervis). In addition, there is a new store in Jihlava (Czech Republic), which opened recently, and one new location that opened in Nitra (Slovakia) in late November.
