Change Of Leadership At Wintersteiger
WINTERSTEIGER Sports, the specialist for ski and snowboard service machines and winter sports rental systems, announced in January that it was seeking to fill the position of Managing Director. It has now been confirmed that the successor will come from within the company's own ranks.
The new Managing Director of WINTERSTEIGER Sports GmbH is Christian Thaler – a name that is particularly familiar to customers in Italy and South Tyrol. The 51-year-old has headed the Italian branch, based in Alta Badia, since 2000. As a former ski racer and member of the FISI (Federazione Italiana Sport Invernali) Ski Instructors and Trainers Commission, Thaler brings not only 30 years of industry experience but also in-depth expertise from racing.
"Green blood flows through my veins," Thaler jokes, alluding to the company's color, when asked about his motivation for the new role. "After 25 years as General Manager, I'm looking forward to shaping the future of WINTERSTEIGER Sports together with the entire team and further expanding our position as a market and technology leader," Thaler continues.
In recent years, WINTERSTEIGER Sports has achieved significant success. The introduction of the "Jupiter" significantly advanced the automation of ski service. The "Rental of the Future" sports retail concept also produced innovative products that make the ski and snowboard rental business more efficient and profitable.
With approximately 250 employees and sales of approximately €84 million in the last fiscal year, the Sports division is WINTERSTEIGER's largest business unit. In addition to winter sports, the company also offers manual and fully automatic bike wash systems. The portfolio is complemented by the retail brands Bootdoc and Hotronic.
"Our broad base opens up a wide range of development opportunities for us – yet our focus remains clearly on the winter business. Our experienced team of specialists forms the foundation for our future success," Thaler concludes.
With a view to the 2025/26 winter season, Christian Thaler's focus will include the further development of ski service automation, the expansion of digital services, and the strengthening of the company's international market presence. Christian Thaler will assume his new position at the Ried im Innkreis location on August 1, 2025.
WINTERSTEIGER Sports GmbH employs almost 250 people, including its subsidiaries in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Norway, as well as branches in the USA and Canada. The entire product range is divided into three areas: "Rent & Service" encompasses ski service machines, stone and belt grinding machines, binding adjustment, waxing, and base repair equipment, storage, depot, and drying systems, as well as rental software and shop equipment. "Bike Services" includes manual and automatic cleaning systems, software for bike assembly and rental, and drying solutions for sports equipment. Retail represents the comprehensive boot fitting range with foot analysis devices, insoles, and compression socks sold under the BOOTDOC brand, as well as HOTRONIC heating systems. In 2024, WINTERSTEIGER Sports GmbH generated sales of €84 million.
