The new Ski World Cup season starts in late October. But already heated discussions continue. Specifically, it’s about helmet design and Red Bull. The energy drink maker is a thorn in the side of FIS president Johan Elias. According to the British-Swedish entrepreneur, the helmets of those athletes sponsored by Red Bull violate the rules because the entire helmet is painted in Red Bull colors.
In the future, ski aces like Marco Odermatt, Alexis Pinturault and Sofia Goggia will have to wear a new design on their helmets. Otherwise, athletes may risk fines or even disqualification.
Swiss Ski Association director Degouger expressed his dissatisfaction with the new rules for the Swiss “blick”. According to Zugar, there is no explicit prohibition in the rules stating that “helmets may not be decorated with the sponsor’s colors.” For ex-OSV president Peter Schroxnadel one thing is certain: Eliash’s decision threatens to cause skiing failure.
“If he refuses to let Red Bull paint helmets in the brand colors throughout the format, he will have to do exactly the same with other sponsors. And as a result these sponsors may withdraw altogether. “Skiing is therefore at risk of complete catastrophe,” the former strongman of the Austrian Ski Association told “Blick”. Many athletes wear helmets designed in the sponsor’s colors. Mikaela Shiffrin, for example, runs down the ski slopes wearing a Barilla helmet (pasta maker, take note).
Schroxnadel warned that other sponsors would also be excluded by Helmet and would later withdraw. This could result in athletes losing an important source of income.
But another topic is currently occupying the ski circus. Before the start of the new season it was announced that the FIS and the biathlon union IBU would ban fluorine wax on boards from this season. Here too, violations will be penalized – for example by disqualification from the race.
