KLAUS OBERMEYER
THE HISTORY OF A SKI ENTHUSIASTKlaus Obermeyer's enthusiasm is contagious, his energy seemingly endless, his optimism without bounds. To hear him yodel is to experience the depth of his spirit. To watch him ski is to witness his true love of the sport. It all began in 1919, in Oberstaufen, Germany, the small Bavarian alpine village in which Klaus was born. He was an avid rock climber, as well as a ski mountaineer, racer and jumper. In 1947, Klaus arrived in Aspen, Colorado, where Friedl Pfeiffer had opened the Aspen Ski School. At night, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit. Sensing that people would spend more time on the slopes if they were warm and comfortable he founded Sport Obermeyer - in the attic of his home. There, one of the first of many innovations was born in the form of a down ski parka stitched together from his goose down comforter. Soon after came high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon windshirts, mirrored sunglasses and more. In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen, and the innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double lens goggles, the first waterproof-breathable fabrics. Klaus Obermeyer is our inspiration to innovate and live a well-balanced life. When he founded our company over 60 years ago, it was his entrepreneurial spirit that drove him to combine his engineering background with his love of snowsports to create technically responsible winter clothing that would enhance the experiences of his customers. It's that same spirit that inspires us today. As a family-run, privately held company based in Aspen, Colorado, we are actively pursuing our goal of designing and producing more sustainable, earth-friendly products. By bringing together forward-thinking people, we are embracing new technologies and innovative ideas. With eyes on the future, we can afford the patience to make smart choices that will affect our planet in a positive way. | | A LEGACY OF INNOVATION1947 Dual construction ski boot (soft and warm on the inside, strong, durable and rigid on the outside 1948 Down parkas (Using his own goose down comforter) High-Altitude sun tan lotion 1949 Ski sweaters (imported from Germany) 1951 Pre-shaped ergonomic gloves 1952 Turtleneck & zip turtlenecks 1954 First “Flow” boot (from a viscous liquid “car grease”) 1958 Quilted Parkas (fabric shavings gathered from a textile factory) 1960 Mirrored sunglasses (French precision ground lenses) 1961 Nylon windshirts/Boot fit press 1962 Side-zip warm-up pants 1963 First ski fashion advertisement in SKI magazine 1965 “Soft Shell” jackets utilizing Schoeller fabrics 1966 Double lens goggles 1974 Two-pronged ski brakes 1975 Implementation of waterproof/breathable fabrics 1978 Seam sealing fabrication technology 1982 Obermeyer “I-Grow” Extended Wear Systems 1988 First Goretex® Waterproof/Breathable shell lining 1993 Double seat and knees in pants 2002 Anti-microbial fabrics with wicking properties 2007 Sustainable fabrics made from 48% recycled polyester textiles |
