A year of collaboration: iFLOW and Snowsports Academy take stock
For over a year, the Austrian clothing manufacturer iFLOW and the Snowsports Academy have enjoyed a remarkable partnership. Together, they set themselves the goal of designing a ski suit that sets standards in both functionality and design, meeting the rigorous requirements of the Snowsports Academy. As a brand that proudly calls itself "born in the Arlberg region," expectations were high from the outset. The suits had to prove themselves under extreme weather conditions – from storms and icy temperatures on glaciers to rain, sunshine, and mild weather – to provide the best possible support for the training team.
The beginnings
The development phase was characterized by creative ideas and the challenge of implementing them technically. Florian Matt, one of the two founders of iFLOW – primarily responsible for development and production – contributed all his experience and expertise. The highlight of this early collaboration was the first testing during the Interski Congress in March 2023 in Levi, Finland. In icy temperatures as low as -30°C, the prototypes were tested under real-world conditions by iFLOW CEO Thomas Ebster and a team from the Snowsports Academy, quickly proving their quality. After some adjustments, the suits went into production and reached the team in time for the start of the season in November.
An intensive year of testing
The following year proved to be the ultimate stress test for the suits. Changing weather conditions, from rain and storms to snow and sunshine, offered a wide range of testing opportunities. The suits were used not only in the Austrian Alps, but also in other, sometimes exotic, locations such as Georgia, Greece, indoor snow centers in the Netherlands and Dubai, and on the Skimachine roller track at the Snowsports Academy.
Conclusion and Outlook
The collaboration with iFLOW has proven to be extremely inspiring. Thomas Ebster and Florian Matt's passion and ambition to develop world-leading ski suits have inspired everyone involved and significantly shaped the partnership. Thanks to iFLOW's professionalism, focused collaboration was possible, and the results were impressive from the very first year.
Following our initial analysis meetings, we are brimming with creative ideas for further development. These innovations are already being integrated into the model for the 2024/25 season. We are very much looking forward to continuing our successful partnership and are already excited for the next winter, when we will once again be perfectly equipped to brave all weather conditions.
Click here to go to the iFLOW website: https://iflow.biz
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