Voice of the Mountains Magazine (EN)

WOOL TRADITION SINCE 1988 PERFECTED TODAY

PROTECTION ON THE MOUNTAIN. This is what ORTOVOX has stood for since 1980. The name has always represented dedicated mountaineers for whom a shared, safe experience on the mountain is paramount. This is also reflected in our products.

Thanks to the unique people behind the brand, ORTOVOX has managed to surprise its customers time and again. Whether at the very beginning, with the first avalanche transceiver that transmitted on two frequencies, or with our continual passion for wool as a first choice in mountain clothing since 1988, or with the extraordinary ways that, in recent years, we have found success when it comes to material combinations, function and design. Looking back to the beginnings, a great deal has happened at ORTOVOX. And yet we have never lost sight of our Alpine roots, and there is one thing in particular that we have never forgotten: Friendship and mountains are what matter to us. As safety pioneers and wool experts, we offer high-quality, functional equipment for mountaineers, both in the sectors of hard goods and clothing. Both our emergency equipment and our mountainwear are characterized by their systemic nature and their high functionality. All elements can be combined with each other and provide the

PROTECTION ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH PASSION AND TRADITION

necessary protection and the desired comfort, either on their own or in combination. In winter 2014/15, our emphasis is on equipment for traditional ski tourers, but, just like in recent years, we’ve also got the ideal clothing and equipment for freeriders. On the following pages, we’ll give you a small insight into our range of products. If you turn the booklet and read on from the other side, we‘ll take you on a nostalgic ski trip to mark the occasion of our 25th wool anniversary.

HAVE FUN EXPLORING!

Christian Schneidermeier Managing director ORTOVOX ortovox.com

THE WOOL LAYERING SYSTEM WOOL IN EVERY LAYER OF CLOTHING INVENTED LONG AGO PERFECTED TODAY

Even our grandparents’ generation made use of the functionality of wool. Back then it was the onion principle; today it is the layer system that gives wool its incomparable comfort in all weathers. Our philosophy: Comfort and protection with wool in every layer of clothing! By intelligently combining it with modern materials, we are bringing the functionality of wool to a maximum performance level.

3RD LAYER

2ND LAYER

1ST LAYER

The outer layer of clothing PROTECTS

A merino midlayer ADDS A GREAT

It keeps you warm and dry in the most

YOU FROM THE ELEMENTS. Rain,

DEAL OF FUNCTIONALITY and freedom

natural way. The fine merino fibers

snow, and stormy weather stay outside

of movement. The second layer offers

TRANSPORT MOISTURE into the fiber

while you enjoy the optimal personal

maximum breathability and high

core and slowly release it. This keeps

climate inside.

insulation.

the skin dry and perfectly regulates BODY TEMPERATURE.

1 ST LAYER 6

ROCK‘N‘WOOL OVERALL LTD. Color Wool! Funky colors and modern designs bring our merino sheep to life! ROCK’N’WOOL was developed for people who live for the powder and still want a comfortable microclimate.

100 % PURE MERINO WOOL at a weight of 185 g/m2 covers a wide temperature range, regulates moisture and keeps odors under control, making it the ideal FIRST LAYER FOR ALL FREERIDERS. • • • •

FINE 18-MICRON FIBER DIAMETER 100 % PURE MERINO WOOL, 185 G/M2 ITCH-FREE AND COMFORTABLE TO WEAR LIMITED EDITION: 1988 PIECES

HAPPY WOOLDAY! The history of our wool began in 1988!

What started with felted gray wool has turned into a collection of bright Tasmanian merino colors. With ROCK’N’WOLL OVERALL LTD. Now you can be part of our history, too – because it is limited according to the wool’s birth year. This means 1988 numbered, individual, unique pieces.

ROCK‘N‘WOOL FOREVER!

TASMANIAN ORIGINS We will explain to you just why Tasmanian wool is so special on p. 54.

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/rock-n-wool

1 ST LAYER 7

DESIGNED FOR PEAK ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES!

MERINO COMPETITION To provide the best possible support for the body, there are different material thicknesses for individual body zones. The uniqueness of the product was confirmed by receiving the Ski-Award at the ISPO and the counterpart, the Outdoor Industry Award at the Outdoor Retailer show, as well as by countless other top test ratings.

• • • • •

HIGHLY BREATHABLE DRIES QUICKLY VERY ELASTIC DURABLE FOR YEARS OF USE NUMEROUS AWARDS

190 g/m2 MERINO Perfect fit

240 g/m2 MERINO Insulation zones MESH STRUCTURE Ideal air circulation

LONG SLEEVE BOXER RIBBED Maximum Stretch ERGONOMIC CUT

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/competition

PHOTO Mathias Robl

2 ND LAYER 9

PURE FUNCTIONALITY MEETS COMFORTABLE, NATURAL MICROCLIMATE

FLEECE ZIP NECK HOODY The blend of merino wool on the inside and polyester on the outside provides an UNBELIEVABLY STRETCHY, DURABLE and BREATHABLE PRODUCT. Merino Fleece is equally suited to extreme sports as well as casual activities.

• 100 % MERINO ON SKIN • HIGH BREATHABILITY • HIGH DURABILITY AND ROBUSTNESS

• QUICK-DRYING • COMFORTABLE TO WEAR

HIGH DURABILITY AND ROBUSTNESS The material combination makes for long-lasting, durable products.

HIGH BREATHABILITY The no-membrane design offers optimal moisture management and rapid drying.

HIGHLY STRETCHABLE

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/merino-fleece

3 RD LAYER 10

OUR MOST ATHLETIC MATERIAL!

NATURETEC LIGHT JACKET The fine merino fiber fabric interior and the robust polyamide exterior weigh in at a mere 175 g/m².

Special zones made of new innovative materials such as the windproof MERINO PUNCHHOLE or the superelastic MERINO ATHLETIC make for extremely high-tech products. NATURETEC LIGHT is suitable for all ambitious ski tourers who still expect a high degree of protection and comfort.

• EXTREMELY BREATHABLE • ELASTIC • FEATURING WINDPROOF ZONES (otherwise wind-resistant)

• WATER-RESISTANT • LIGHT

STORM HOOD Fits under any helmet.

2 MERINO POWERMESH POCKETS backpack compatible

UNDERARM ZIP VENTS Provide cooling during strenuous activity.

100 % MERINO ON SKIN

PROTECTIVE POLYAMIDE SHELLwind- and waterresistant and extremely abrasion resistant.

WINDPROOF FRONT MERINO PUNCHHOLE keeps the wind out.

ELASTIC CUFFS

3 RD LAYER 11

COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY!

NATURETEC LIGHT PANTS • EXTREMELY BREATHABLE • ELASTIC • FEATURING WINDPROOF ZONES (otherwise wind-resistant)

• WATER-RESISTANT • LIGHT

ELASTIC ADJUSTABLE WAIST

2 HIP POCKETS ELASTIC INSERTS MERINO ATHLETIC

100 % MERINO ON SKIN WIND PROTECTION Merino Punchhole

ELASTIC ADJUSTABLE ANKLE: ZIPPER + SNAPS

ELASTIC SHARP-EDGE PROTECTION with aramid (circular)

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/naturetec-light

PHOTO  Dominik Haas, Hansi Heckmaier

A raw material from the mountains is made into innovative insulated clothing for lasting mountain experiences.

The functionality of Swisswool is simply unbeatable. But: You really do have to learn about the story behind it! Why? FIND OUT MORE ON P. 52

2 ND LAYER 13

THE CONTINUING STORY OF SWISSWOOL!

SWISSWOOL LIGHT TEC Our new Swiss virgin wool is at last even thinner, lighter, and more compact than ever. The new wool fibers weigh just 60 g/m2, making them ideal for ski touring where less is more: less weight, less volume, but more performance.

• P RODUCED AND PROCESSED in environmentally friendly ways • MADE WITH RENEWABLE RAW MATERIALS • WARM EVEN WHEN WET

• MOISTURE-REGULATING: Highest-quality comfortable insulation fibers that can absorb up to 35% of their own weight in moisture

ELASTIC HOOD

2 FRONT POCKETS Optimized for a backpack and usable as vents.

STRETCH UNDERARM INSERTS High breathability through MERINO NATURETEC LIGHT.

WINDPROOF AND WATER RESISTANT

ROBUST PERTEX EXTERIOR ELASTIC CUFFS

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/all-swisswool

PHOTO  Hansi Heckmaier

3RD LAYER 15

MAXIMUM PROTECTION MEETS MAXIMUM COMFORT!

MERINO HARDSHELL The DERMIZAX NX membrane from Toray provides excellent 4-WAY STRETCH QUALITIES and HIGH BREATHABILITY for our hardshell. Merino mesh is used as a pocket lining – it buffers moisture and guarantees a NATURAL MERINO MICROCLIMATE. The jacket can be combined with the GUARDIAN SHELL pants thanks to the DOUBLE PROTECTION SNOW GUARD and offers full compatibility with our clothing system.

• WIND- AND WATERPROOF: min 20.000 mm water column / 100% windproof • BREATHABILITY: 55.000 g/m2/24h • 4-WAY MEMBRANE STRETCH • NONPOROUS MEMBRANE Long-lasting and easy to care for

HELMET COMPATIBLE HOOD ADJUSTABLE WITH ONE HAND for protection from the storm BONDED SEAMS

TWO-WAY ZIPPER For a comfortable fit – even with a climbing harness.

BACK VIEW

2-WAY ZIPPERED UNDERARM VENTILATION Helps you cool down during strenuous exertion.

SNOW-RESISTANT HOOK AND LOOP FASTENER CUFFS REMOVABLE DOUBLE PROTECTION SNOW GUARD

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.de/hardshell

PHOTO  Hansi Heckmaier

3 RD LAYER 17

THE FIRST FULL-COVERAGE MERINO THREE-LAYER SET IN THE WORLD

MERINO GUARDIAN SHELL The layer against the body is made of pure Merino wool that has been laminated to the TORAY® DERMIZAX EV membrane as well as to the outer fabric. Wool not only increases wearing comfort, but also improves FUNCTIONALITY. It has the ability to store large volumes of moisture without causing the wearer to feel wet. Conventional three-layer materials quickly reach their limits during periods of heavy perspiration, causing discomfort. But wool buffers moisture and passes it uniformly through the membrane to the outside environment.

• WIND AND WATERPROOF: min 20,000 mm water column/– 100 % windproof • BREATHABILITY: 45,000 g/m2 / 24h • 200 % MEMBRANE STRETCH (Elasticity)

• EASY TO CARE FOR • THE OUTER FABRIC REMAINS CUDDLY SOFT even when very cold

HELMET COMPATIBLE HOOD ADJUSTABLE WITH ONE HAND for protection from the storm

SKI PASS POCKET

100 % MERINO ON SKIN

2-WAY ZIPPERED UNDERARM VENTILATION Helps you cool down during strenuous exertion.

TWO-WAY ZIPPER For a comfortable fit – even with a climbing harness.

ADJUSTABLE WAISTBAND (Elastic band)

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/merino-guardian-shell

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Rotwandweg 5 D - 82024 Taufkirchen Tel: +49-(0) 89-666 74 0 Fax: +49-(0) 89-666 74 20 info@ortovox.com www.ortovox.com www.facebook.com/ortovox

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

ORTOVOX SPORTARTIKEL GMBH

19

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

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BEING PREPARED EDUCATION AND PRODUCTS FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION

1-2 h

25 min

11 min

Our company’s ROOTS are in emergency products.

We stand for maximum protection, simplicity, reliability and indefatigable pioneering spirit.

Over the past 34 years, ORTOVOX has revolutionized the avalanche transceiver market and enriched it with continual new technologies.

Only a complete set of emergency avalanche equipment enables you to locate and save your friends in case of emergency.

We include the SMART ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY we have developed and patented as standard in all of our current avalanche transceivers, thus significantly improving your chances of being found under an avalanche.

Thanks to their material properties and their rapid PFA assembly system, our probes make it possible to work quickly and precisely. All shovels from ORTOVOX are optimized so that the shoveling time can be used as effectively as possible. However, even though complete emergency equipment is essential on every ski tour, ideally it should not need to be used at all.

With our training in the SAFETY ACADEMY, our SAFETY ACADEMY GUIDE BOOK and our SAFETY ACADEMY LAB, we will teach you from the ground up how to avoid avalanche accidents and how to behave in an emergency. And if an emergency does happen, we can offer you the perfect equipment to facilitate a speedy rescue.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

21

PROBE A stable quick assembly system is essential.

SHOVEL A clearing function saves you invaluable time..

TRANSCEIVER 3 antennas and a flagging function are standard.

AVALANCHE AIRBAG An airbag system can reduce the burial depth.

TRAINING SAFETY ACADEMY

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PREPARATION IS THE KEY SAFETY FACTOR IN THE MOUNTAINS! We have been promoting safety in the mountains for over 30 years. But, no matter how innovative our products are – only you can reduce your risk through your behavior!

With selected partner mountaineering schools, we have developed a training concept in which expert alpinists pass on their knowledge to you.

The goal of our SAFETY ACADEMY is to teach the rather dry subject of avalanche theory in a practical, attractive and comprehensible way. Over three levels of courses, we will teach you the vital information about how avalanches occur and provide tips on optimal tour planning and correct behavior in the mountains, and we will show you the perfect rescue method.

TY SAFEEMY D ACAREE F TS EVEN

THIS YEAR, ORTOVOX IS ONCE AGAIN OFFERING 150 PLACES ON THE BASIC COURSE FOR FREE. Register now and take part at: ortovox.com/free-events

TRAINING SAFETY ACADEMY

TRAINING BASIC – ONE DAY OF SAFETY TRAINING THEORY: • Introduction to the safety equipment • Knowledge of snow and avalanches • Basics of searching for victims PRACTICE: • Practical training and correct behavior in the mountains • Correct behavior when an avalanche occurs • Basics of searching for victims and rescuing companions COURSES FROM €59 You can find more information on the different levels of courses, as well as our partners, event venues, and dates on our website at ortovox.com/safetyacademy

Online safety training.

Go to the Safety Academy Lab ortovox.com/safety-academy-lab

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PRODUCTS AVALANCHE AIRBAG

24

THE WORLD’S FIRST EVER REMOVABLE AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY

WE MAKE PROVEN DESIGNS EVEN BETTER! Our new ORTOVOX Avalanche-backpacks utilize the ABS standards, which have been continuously developed since 1985.

The TWINBAGS (two balloons with a total volume of 170l) provide additional volume and buoyancy and greatly reduce the probability of being buried in an avalanche. We combined the ABS-standards with what is probably the WORLD‘S BEST FREERIDE AND TOURING BACKPACKS to create the MOST VERSATILE ABS BACKPACKS of all time. The individual elements can all be removed and then used in the various ORTOVOX ABS backpacks.

AIRBAG INSIDE

TWO AIRBAGS with separate air chambers provide double the safety

PRODUCTS AVALANCHE AIRBAG

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REMOVABLE PROTECTOR

REMOVABLE AIRBAG SYSTEM

The SPS PRO2 PROTECTOR provides TÜV-certified protection for the spinal column and can also be used separately from the backpack.

The M.A.S.S.-UNIT (Modular Airbag Safety System) weighs only 1300 g and can be inserted into any ORTOVOX airbag backpack in less than three minutes.

A BACKPACK FOR EVERY SITUATION The M.A.S.S. unit is COMPATIBLE WITH ALL ORTOVOX AVALANCHE BACKPACKS. No matter whether you’re looking for the best powder lines when you’re freeriding or on a long tour, with our modular system you always have the perfect backpack and maximum safety.

BASE

FREE RIDER

TOUR

PHOTO Leonhard Habersetzer

You can find the ROUTE DESCRIPTION for this tour using our tour planner or by going directly to our app!

PRODUCTS AVALANCHE BACKPACK

27

THE MOST VERSATILE AVALANCHE BACKPACK OF ALL TIMES

BASE 20 ABS Compact, light, and with a wide range of possible applications, the BASE provides an entry point into the world of ORTOVOX avalanche airbags. The removable ABS airbag system M.A.S.S. (MODULAR AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM) is a standard feature that enables the system to be adapted to prevailing conditions.

With its anatomical shape and lean silhouette, the BASE was designed especially for FREERIDE TOURS AND DAY SKI TOURS. A TÜV-CERTIFIED BACK PROTECTOR can also be integrated for OPTIMUM PROTECTION.

ORTOVOX BACKPACK STANDARDS Separate Safety compartment Chest strap with signal whistle Ice axe and hiking pole loops Water-resistant zipper Polygiene treated Camera/phone pocket

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/avalanche-backpacks

HYDRATION SYSTEM COMPATIBLE (insulated)

AIRBAG INSIDE Removable for maximum flexibility.

LOCKING ALUMINUM CLASPS Virtually indestructible and easy to use for fastening of skis.

X-SKIFIX Multi-functional ski fastener with robust and easy-to-use aluminum clasps: Carry skis diagonally or crossed.

SNOWBOARD and SNOWSHOE ATTACHMENT

BRIGHT INSIDE Light colors inside make it easier to find your equipment.

RIGHT AND LEFT-HANDED OPTIONS The release grip can be fastened to either side on the backstraps.

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

PRODUCTS TOUR BACKPACK

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EVERYTHING OPTIMALLY STORED AWAY ON LONG TOURS!

HAUTE ROUTE 35 The HAUTE ROUTE is just as UNCOMPROMISING as its namesake, the ultimate ski route across the Western Alps.

Every equipment detail is designed for the highest COMFORT. The O-Flex Frame back system relieves the shoulders and protects the back. At the same time, the system enables access to the main compartment via an all-round zip. Safety compartment, 2 ski fastening systems, snowboard fastener and pick fasteners are included as standard.

ORTOVOX BACKPACK STANDARDS Separate Safety compartment Chest strap with signal whistle Ice axe and hiking pole loops Water-resistant zipper Polygiene treated Camera/phone pocket

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/tour

HYDRATION SYSTEM COMPATIBLE (insulated)

ACCESS TO MAIN COMPARTMENT: back O-FLEX-FRAME back system Ideal weight distribution between hips, shoulders, and back

SNOWBOARD and SNOWSHOE ATTACHMENT

BRIGHT INSIDE Light colors inside make it easier to find your equipment.

D-SKIFIX Diagonal ski fastener, versatile in use.

HELMET NET (Included inside) A-SKIFIX Classical ski fastening

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SAVE CRUCIAL TIME – TRANSCEIVER SAFETY SEARCHING EASIER Your friends are buried! You panic. The things you have to do now should be SIMPLE. At a time like this you can’t enter a complicated key combination to get into search mode. And that’s what’s key about our equipment: it couldn’t be simpler. Regardless of how stressed you are – ORTOVOX TRANSCEIVERS are INTUITIVE!

SMART-ANTENNA-TECHNOLOGY

RECCO REFLECTOR INSIDE

SECONDARY AVALANCHE SWITCHOVER

High VISIBILITY

ADDITIONAL chance of RESCUE

BACKUP in case of secondary avalanches

PRODUCTS AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER

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ORTOVOX AVALANCHE STANDARDS INTUITIVE DESIGN

VISUAL + ACOUSTIC SEARCH

Intuitive handling and the LATEST technology

Making victims easier to locate.

BEING FOUND EASIER You’re trapped under masses of snow. You can’t even move your little finger.

Now you have to rely on your friends, your equipment – and theirs. ORTOVOX TRANSCEIVERS help you even when you’re under an avalanche – thanks to their INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY, which makes it EASIER for others to FIND you regardless of what transceivers they are using to find you!

32

INTUITIVE HANDLING & LATEST TECHNOLOGY

SIMPLE OPERATION ZOOM+

Reduced to two functional buttons, the ZOOM+ concentrates on intuitive usability. The focus on the clearly designed LED display is on the on / off switches and the switch between transmitting and searching. Distances, directional arrows and information about multiple avalanche victims guide you in the FASTEST way to the refined search area, with the INTUITIVE search acoustics making victims easier to locate. Equipped with the patented SMART-ANTENNA-TECHNOLOGY™, avalanche victims are found much better with the ZOOM+. The device analyzes its position in the avalanche and automatically switches to the BEST TRANSMISSION ANTENNA.

BEING FOUND EASIER Smart-Antenna-Technology™ Secondary Avalanche Switchover Recco Reflector Inside Self-test Permanent monitoring of the transmitter

SEARCHING EASIER Large display Clear controls Intuitive search acoustics Precise fine search Focusing on the closest victim

PRODUCTS AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER

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MEANS SAVING TIME 3+

With the 3+ you are in charge ! The PATENTED SMART-ANTENNA-TECHNOLOGY™ with intelligent position recognition automatically switches to the best transmission antenna.

YOU WILL BE FOUND easier. We make no compromises in terms of searching either.

The 3+ is equipped with all the features of a modern, digital 3-antenna device.

The ILLUMINATED REAL-TIME DISPLAY tells you the direction, distance and number of victims.

The TENDENCY DISPLAY, combined with the INTUITIVE SEARCH ACOUSTICS, leaves no doubt when operating in fine search mode. Once located, victims can be removed from the display using the flagging function.

BEING FOUND EASIER Smart-Antenna-Technology™ Secondary Avalanche Switchover Recco Reflector Inside Self-test Permanent monitoring of the transmitter

FLAGGING FUNCTION Fast and reliable flagging

SEARCHING EASIER Large display Clear controls Intuitive search acoustics Precise fine search Focusing on the closest victim

WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL!

TRAINING PROBE

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THE PROBE IS USED AFTER THE TRANSCEIVER SEARCH 25cm cm

25cm

 Mark the point with the smallest distance measurement (with crossed ski poles, shovel etc.). Starting from this point, probe the area systematically from the INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE in the 25 cm grid spacing shown.  The probe remains in place and is used for ORIENTATION purposes.

TIP Always probe at a 90° ANGLE to the surface of the snow.

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

HOW TO PROBE CORRECTLY:

PRODUCTS PROBE

35

THE SALES RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!

240 HD PFA

The bestseller at ORTOVOX. The 240 HD PFA is an excellent compromise between weight and stiffness. The pfa quick-release tensioning system allows a stretching in seconds and an equally swift collapsing and folding. The grip sleeve made of EVA foam is comfortable to hold and protects the palms from cold! The steel cable pull line is indestructible, which pays off in the frequent practice sessions. With 330 g it is the absolute all-rounder for all tour-goers.

The 240 HD PFA is delivered with a practical quick-release cover.

DEPTH LABELS Indicate the burial depth.

GRIP SLEEVE MADE OF EVA FOAM ensures comfortable handling.

ROBUST, DURABLE STEEL-CABLE tensioning system.

You can find ADDITIONAL MODELS at ortovox.com/probes

PRODUCTS SHOVEL TECHNOLOGY

36

SAVING CRUCIAL TIME! WITH LARGE BLADE VOLUME AND 90° CLEARING FUNCTION

Average burial depth measures 50 cm = ca. 1,5 m³ excavation.

Statistics show that the chance of survival drastically decreases AFTER 15 MINUTES (compared with 90% between 0 and 15 minutes). Saving time digging means INCREASING THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

2m

0,5 m 2m

2m 0,5 m

HOW WE CALCULATE THE SHOVEL VOLUME: PURE BLADE VOLUME + 2 CM = SHOVEL VOLUME

ORTOVOX SAFETY STANDARDS Clearing function Lifting/volume Adequate shovel handle length Ergonomic grip Robust materials

You don‘t want to lose any more seconds while shoveling?

In the SAFETY ACADEMY LAB we show you how to gain time by using the clearing function!

PRODUCTS SHOVEL

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THE HIGHTECH SUCCESSOR TO THE BEST SELLING AVALANCHE SHOVEL IN THE WORLD.

PRO ALU III The best PRO ALU of all time. In this latest iteration of an ORTOVOX classic we’ve used the most innovative materials available and cutting edge production methods to achieve the best weightto-rigidity ratio possible. Stabilization ribs and high sidewalls give the anodized blade rigidity, while the integrated shaft socket makes it easy to pack. With the new quick-lock, the blade and the fluted telescoping shaft can be put together in one motion. The new T-Grip Pro is revolutionary.

It can be inserted for both right and left-handers – and also facilitates economical clearing.

One hand grasps the long grip side, which serves as an ergonomic lever, while the other hand has maximum hold on the shaft’s rubber-coated grip zone.

T-GRIP PRO Metal-reinforced and unbreakable.

POCKET SPIKE Compatible with PRO ALU III handle

RUBBERIZED GRIP ZONE non-slip and 100% ice-free.

TELESCOPING HANDLE For universal use in diverse terrain.

NON-SLIP STEP GROOVES

SHARP, PROTECTED CUTTING EDGE

90° CLEARING FUNCTION The perfect combination of T-grip pro and blade for excellent strength and stability. Good leverage and rubber-coated grip zone for the best possible ergonomics.

TRAINING ONLINE

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SAFETY ACADEMY LAB ONLINE SAFETY TRAINING

ORTOVOX’s roots are in avalanche safety dating back to our foundation in 1980. With that in mind, we now present the SAFETY ACADEMY LAB. The page is divided into different thematic areas and filled with many educational video tutorials and interactive learning content on the subject of avalanches.

THEMATIC AREAS In the SAFETY ACADEMY LAB you will learn everything about the causes of avalanches, correct preparation for tours, correct behavior in the mountains, and the steps to take in case of emergency.

EXPERTS ON CAMERA We wish to thank the following partners: The centerpiece of the SAFETY ACADEMY LAB is its series of VIDEO TUTORIALS. Produced with europe’s best-known avalanche experts, mountain rescue specialists, and freeriders, and avalanche survivors, these tutorials provide specialist knowledge in a clear and understandable format. Ideal for your PERSONAL PREPARATION.

TRAIN YOUR KNOWLEDGE! True learning success is only achieved through intensive analysis of demanding content.

That’s why we have incorporated interactive progress checks to focus on the key content of the films. In addition, tools such as the risk-checker or our tour planner will help you to prepare for the mountains.

GO TO THE LAB ortovox.com/safety-academy-lab

Turn the booklet and step into our online world of wool and then embark on a journey with us right back to the early beginnings of skiing.

THE ONLINE FIBER WORLD BECOME A WOOL EXPERT AND LEARN ALL ABOUT THE MOST NATURAL FUNCTIONAL FIBER ON THE PLANET. In our online Fiber World, you will find out all about Swisswool, about our Tasmanian merino wool, and about Merino Cool! ortovox.com/fibre-world

Our Swiss mountain sheep live just a few hours’ drive from our home in Bavaria. High up in the VALAIS MOUNTAINS, they roam their unspoiled habitat surrounded by RICH SOURCES OF FOOD. Their wool is collected regionally, fairly traded and then TRANSPORTED SHORT DISTANCES for finishing within Europe.

TASMANIAN MERINOWOOL For MERINO COOL we combine FINEST MERINO WOOL with the COOLING TENCEL® eucalyptus wood fiber. Made from sustainable raw materials, this fiber blend impresses with its extremely functional properties and cooling effect! Tencel® is a COMPLETELY ECOLOGICAL FIBER. Even its basis, cellulose, is obtained from sustainably-grown eucalyptus wood. This type of wood grows particularly quickly, on FSC-CERTIFIED WOOD FARMS, without genetic engineering or artificial irrigation.

SWISSWOOL

Farms with more than 10,000 merino sheep, spread over countless acres and LUSH, UNSPOILED COUNTRYSIDE are typical for Tasmania. This natural paradise is home to more than three million sheep, some ten thousand of which are spread across three ORTOVOX farms that produce the WORLD’S HIGHEST-QUALITY WOOL for our Mountainwear collection.

MERINO COOL

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54

Come and join us on our trip to Tasmania! Video clip

INTERVIEW

TASMANIA – THE ORIGIN OF OUR WOOL VAST, HILLY GRAZING PASTURES, PEPPERED WITH MERINO SHEEP.

At first we imagined the milk cows near our homes in Upper Bavaria.

These animals appear to have the most relaxing job on earth, grazing on beautiful green grass in a wideopen paradise. If we replace these brown-spotted cows with thousands of merino sheep, expand their grazing range by several times, and replace stern-faced Bavarian farmers with a relaxed Tasmanian farmer who loves every minute of his work, we find ourselves on the other side of the world – in TASMANIA, the most Southern state of Australia!

Surrounded by thousands of kilometers of water, it comes as no surprise that Tasmania has the best air in the world. Untamed mountains alternate with virtually endless green and fertile plateaus. The western portion of the island is almost inaccessible.

Very few paths lead to the wild and rugged peaks that often remain covered in snow until early summer. It is the ideal habitat for animals like the Tasmanian Devil... and the merino tsheep.

PHOTO Edgar Neves, Hendrik Reschke, Shutterstock

Transparency means taking a closer look. Three ORTOVOX employees from the product management and marketing departments embarked on a journey to the origins of our wool.

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PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE SHEARING PROCESS. We do not shear the animals ourselves. We leave this to the professionals. But we do have OUR OWN SHEARING BARN where three to four shearers can work simultaneously.

Shearing is pure manual labor. It always takes place at knee height. For this reason, the shearers are supported by a harness around their upper bodies to help prevent back pain. They hold a sheep between their legs and shave the wool from its entire body.

This causes the animal ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN.

The eastern highlands of Tasmania are home to ONE OF FOUR FARMS where we obtain merino wool for our Mountainwear collection.

Merino sheep have been raised on ASHBY FARM for five generations.

We visited the farm and got to know the farmer, WILL BENNETT, along with his family.

WILL, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR FARM. Our family has lived on this farm for MORE THAN 100 YEARS. We have 2800 hectares where we keep approximately 9000 MERINOS, a few cattle, and cultivate poppy and wheat. It is not uncommon for our sheep to go for weeks without seeing any people, making them dependent on themselves.

Over the past few years we have developed a farm management plan that has earned us the “CERTIFICATE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND ECOLOGICAL FARM MANAGEMENT“ and for “ecological cultivation of the brush country ecosystem.”

TASMANIAN MERINO WOOL IS OF A PARTICULARLY HIGH QUALITY. WHY IS THAT SO? Outstanding wool can only be produced when all of the conditions are right. The animals need lots of grass, plenty of space to run, and gentle care. We have FORGONE MULESING FOR MORE THAN FIVE years. Instead, we chose to breed merinos that are much less susceptible to dangerous insect bites. With more than 180 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RAISING MERINOS in Tasmania, our animals probably now produce the highest quality wool available.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WOOL AFTER THAT? A machine presses the wool into cubeshaped packages called bales, each weighing up to 200 kilos. The wool quality and our farm name are then painted on the bales before being picked up by a wool dealer. Samples are taken from each bale at an enormous WAREHOUSE and examined in a laboratory. The final quality of the wool is determined here, which is also the determining factor in how much we get paid. Depending on the order, the wool may be assigned EXCLUSIVELY TO ONE CUSTOMER, such as ORTOVOX, or it is mixed with other wool of the same quality before being sold.

Find all of our wool products at the end of this booklet or at ortovox.com/merino

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SWISSWOOL – MORE THAN JUST WOOL „ORTOVOX – THE ONES WITH THE AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS…

• W ool has no problem with rain. It warms you, even when it is wet, and then dries without a problem, just like a synthetic fiber jacket.

• W hereas synthetic fibers quickly get too hot, the comfort range of wool is much greater (likewise with down) • W ool does not start to smell, even after long periods of use.

• W ool transports moisture away from the body, encloses it in the core and then dries out the fiber from there.

• Wool regulates your body temperature.

PHOTO Dominik Haas, Leonhard Habersetzer

SURE, AND THEY’VE GOT MERINO WOOL UNDERWEAR TOO. AND ORTOVOX MAKES JACKETS TOO? AND THEY HAVE WOOL IN THEM?“ Those are the first thoughts that several of our customers probably had when they held our Swisswool jackets in their hands in store for the first time. It has to be a warm jacket, an insulated jacket. In the past there was only a choice between down or Primaloft.

With Swisswool, we have now added a new dimension to this choice. So why is our wool filling so impressive?

The name Swisswool represents insulated jackets which are filled with wool and keep you just as warm as synthetic fiber or feather jackets. Anyone who has ever opted for wool in their sports clothing before will not be surprised by the following technical facts: Wool can do several things where other materials have their weaknesses.

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In order that they can provide all of these qualities, Swisswool jackets are filled with a thicker or thinner wool fleece, depending on the product’s retention of heat. This fleece is blended with Polylactide, a stabilzation fiber that is obtained from maize, so that the end product can be washed in the washing machine on a wool wash cycle and at a low spin setting without any problems at all.

The outer material is nylon and acts as a shield against wind and also water to some extent. So there are plenty of reasons to opt for a jacket filled with wool.

But there is yet another argument that plays a major role: The sheep’s coat, i.e. the wool, grows back again and again. The filler material for Swisswool is, as the name already suggests, wool that comes from Switzerland.

WOOL IS A SUSTAINABLE RAW MATERIAL. Wool is a sustainable raw material.

A few years back, sheep farmers in Switzerland were stripped of all their subsidies for wool. Many farmers were faced with ruin.

Because of the wool’s fiber properties, the market price for Swiss wool was so low that just disposing of it was actually cheaper than

selling it. But the material is simply perfect as an insulation material. Organizations such as Swisswool realized this.

A few years ago, the Swiss initiative set up collection points where they started collecting wool directly from the farmers and then paying them more substantial amounts for it again. There are now more than 22 Swisswool collection points at which over 400 tons of wool are collected every year. Swiss wool is appreciated once again and traditional agricultural structures have been preserved.

The wool collected by Swisswool is used for house insulation as well as for insulation in Swisswool jackets from ORTOVOX. Incidentally, the jackets are manufactured entirely in Europe. Conclusion: Swisswool is more than just wool.

Find our Swisswool products at the end of this booklet or by going online at ortovox.com/all-swisswool

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PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

THE FILM Watch the film of our nostalgic story!

A journey to the early days of skiing.

The styles may have been different, but the wool fibers were just as functional and protective then as they are today!

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ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES put on a good show on their wooden planks, but in the end, there was only one of them who made it to the top of the podium.

Stefan Krause, Head of Product at ORTOVOX

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

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A DAY AT THE OFFICE WITH A DIFFERENCE. But whether they’re at a desk or on skis in the snow, the ORTOVOX team are always there, full of enthusiasm and absolute passion, always spurring each other on to achieve top performance.

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INTERVIEW

„IN THOSE DAYS THEY WERE ALL GUTSY“ THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE BAYRISCHZELL SKI CLUB PROVIDED THE INITIAL IMPETUS FOR OUR NOSTALGIC SKI RACE ON THE SONNWENDJOCH MOUNTAIN…

MR MAYR...

Please, call me Anderl, Mr Mayr’s already asleep.

OKAY THEN, ANDERL, WHEN DID YOU TAKE UP SKIING? We used to go to school on foot, and from first grade we used to set off to school on our skis at 6:30a.m. so that we could get there for 8a.m. It didn’t matter whether it

was minus 20 degrees or just 0 degrees.

And then if there was time, we used to go skiing after school as well. I went to school during the war, and it was sometimes closed if there was no fuel because of the war.

So that just meant even more skiing.

WHAT WERE SKIERS LIKE BACK THEN? Gutsy – yes, they were all rather gutsy.

WHAT WERE THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS LIKE ON THE SONNWENDJOCH? We used to go to the Sonnwendjoch whenever there was not enough snow on the Sudelfeld. We used to go in a Unimog, and we would sit in the back in the open trailer with the hazelnut slalom poles and we would go up the cirque. Then we would set

PHOTO Skiclub Bayrischzell

ANDERL MAYR, who was born in 1934 in Geitau near Bayrischzell and still lives there, became a member of the ski club in 1951.

Anderl has been skiing since he was a child, and vividly remembers those days. Stefanie Rieder-Haas and Michi Sieber from ORTOVOX visited him at his home.

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up the slalom course and down we would go with the poles. Occasionally someone would fall head over heels and end up caught in the bushes with the slalom poles after having rolled over several times. But there was always a nice little snack and a beer at the bottom, and then we would head back home.

WHAT DID YOU USE TO WEAR BACK THEN? Well, we only used to have wedge pants (Editor’s note: made from wool) and anoraks and double-laced ski boots. There was an inner shoe which you laced up and then an outer shoe which you laced up. And the binding was fixed and didn’t come undone like it does today. Either your foot gave way or the ski did. I was almost always lucky in that it was my skis that broke. I broke quite a few skis back then.

HOW COULD YOU SKI WITH THE SKIS YOU HAD BACK THEN? You really can’t compare the wooden skis we had with today’s materials. When I was on the Sudelfeld for the first time, I still had skis without edges, just simple slats. You really had to know how to ski then... People really knew how to ski back then.

Then, after 1951, I had Laupheimer skis with edges. And from then on it just got better...

Back then, my slalom skis were 2.10m long, and my downhill skis were 2.15m or 2.20m.

But once you’d got used to them, they were pretty stable. The slopes weren’t as well prepared back then. And the long skis balanced out the humps. With today’s short skis, we would have had a serious accident.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SKIING NOW AND BACK THEN? It was definitely more dangerous back then.

When I think back to how we used to go down from the Sudelfeld, none of it had been cleared yet. There was just one schuss trail through the woods and then you came out at the hole at the bottom. If we’d have fallen then, that would have been curtains for us.

We were basically a lot wilder back then. But these days there is a lot more safety. When I think back to just how much we were risking back then. But, well, when you’re young, you don’t think about that sort of thing.

AND WHAT ABOUT AVALANCHES?

We were very careful in that respect.

We knew where there was a danger of avalanches and we pulled ourselves together.

DO YOU STILL SKI TODAY? I would still be brave enough to do it today, but now I have an artificial hip and it’s too dangerous for me because people on the slope now push themselves beyond their own ability. And at 75 years old, after someone crashed into me on the slope, I said to myself, “You know what, you’ve done enough skiing for one lifetime.”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ANDERL!

THE BAYRISCHZELL SKI CLUB picked out the north cirque of the Sonnwendjoch because it was easily accessible in spring and yet it still offered enough snow for a decent race even in April.

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

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NOSTALGIC RACERS WANTED END OF APRIL in the Foothills of the Bavarian Alps. The valleys are already awash in luscious green; only the cirques on the north side still have some snow.

Up until the 1960s, the Bayrischzell ski club held their championships way up on the steep north cirque of the “HINTERES SONNWENDJOCH.” At first they used original wooden skis and wore traditional wool outfits. A tradition that we ORTOVOX employees are reviving on the occasion of our 25TH WOOL ANNIVERSARY.

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

A JOURNEY TO THE EARLY DAYS OF SKIING

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KNICKERBOCKERS, TRADITIONAL “JANKERS,” and HEAVY LEATHER BOOTS! On the lookout for traditional clothing from the early 20th century, most of us found what we needed in our grandfathers’ attics. Smelling somewhat musty, but surprisingly functional, given the length of the ascent through the Kloaschautal valley.

As in earlier days, the ascent took 2 1/2 hours until the yearned-for white stuff could finally be seen way up in the cirque. With the skis slung over our shoulders, or on our bikes (naturally without any gears and from the same year as the skis), we were soon sweating under the weight of the heavy wooden planks. Some thighs were already tired out before the starting shot was fired.

SKIS AS THIN AS MATCHES and nearly two meters long, with no steel edges and extremely loose bindings were a challenge to even the best of skiers; mushy spring snow only added to the challenge.

Anyone who made it to the target jump was a real nostalgic hero.

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The wooden planks were as heavy as tree trunks and as thin as matches. Skiers wanting powder back then had to undertake a long, laborious trudge through the snow with skis on their shoulders, before they could get to the top of the slope.

There were no lifts – SKIERS WERE LIKE WILD DOGS! New materials have made ski equipment lighter and more stable, forging the way for modern-day skiing. However, the wild dogs from back then knew how to dress. They knew about the ONION PRINCIPLE (today’s LAYERING SYSTEM) and they wore wool. The properties of wool haven’t changed much up

WELCOME TO

THE EARLY YEARS OF SKIING!

to now. However, what has changed is the style, the colors, and the blending with other fibers that can do things that wool alone cannot do. ORTOVOX has been USING WOOL in its products SINCE 1988. To celebrate our anniversary, we decided to follow in the footsteps of our grandparents and take a trip to the roots of skiing.

We hope you have fun reading our stories and using the new ORTOVOX products!

PHOTO Hansi Heckmaier

THE WILD DOGS OF ORTOVOX

WOOL TRADITION SINCE 1988 INVENTED LONG AGO