Salomon

It was the new that fascinated Francois Salomon from day one. When he founded the Salomon company with his son Georges at the age of 50 and manufactured saw blades and ski edges in his workshop in Annecy, he was always looking ahead. His philosophy: "What fascinates me, is what I'm going to do tomorrow!" This principle has not changed. Salomon has remained true to its roots. This applies to the headquarters in Annecy, France, as well as to the demands placed on the products. Even today, the equipment supplier stands for innovation. A look at the company's history shows this: from ski edge manufacturer to complete outfitter for summer and winter.

 

Francois and his son Georges Salomon founded the family business together in 1947 - Francois had just turned 50. They build saw blades and ski edges in a workshop in their French home town of Annecy. Georges Salomon soon demonstrates his inventive spirit: he develops a system that enables the mass production of ski edges - a revolution in the early 1950s. It is not long before Salomon presents his first ski bindings in 1952. The business grows rapidly. Within just ten years, the brand develops into a global company. Innovations would also characterize the following years.

 

Salomon ski bindings are used for the first time at the 1966 Winter Olympics in Chile. Another invention by Georges Salomon changes the world of skiing: he develops the first safety binding. Between 1969 and 1973, the first branches are opened in Germany, Austria, Italy and the USA. With over one million pairs of bindings sold every year, Salomon is the world leader. But the brand is not satisfied with the existing product range. In the 1970s, it presents the first skiing and cross-country shoes. The first ski, the S9000, was added in 1990. One year after the skiing launch, Salomon brought out a complete range of hiking shoes and equipped mountain sports enthusiasts all year round. But that's not all. With the newly created trail running product category, the manufacturer expanded its range in 1998 and became a pioneer of modern mountain running. The special running shoes are aimed at all runners who prefer to move off the beaten track ;in nature.

 

Even after more than 65 years, the founder Francois Salomon and his philosophy of constant development are still present. This is how innovations such as the XA Pro 3D - a multifunctional shoe that has achieved cult status -, the BBR - the V-shape freeride skis - or the Guardian freeride binding type with ascent mechanism were created in Annecy. All these innovations are based on another principle: Salomon is 'designed for freedom'. For the freedom that every outdoor athlete experiences in nature. Thanks to Salomon, athletes enjoy it every second. Because the "designed for freedom" spirit stands for functional products that are made by athletes for athletes.

Salomon has been part of the Finnish Amer Sports group since 2005. The headquarters are still in Annecy, France, near the Mont Blanc massif. This is also where the heart, head and soul of the company is located: the Annecy Design Center, or ADC for short. Theory meets practice, top athletes meet experienced developers. They work closely together at every step, with the best athletes, including Kilian Jornet for trail running and Mark Abma for skiing, checking and testing every detail. The developers immediately incorporate their feedback on shoes, skiing and clothing - only the best products are good enough. All outdoor athletes benefit from this close cooperation. This is because every new technology and every further development is reflected in the collections for ambitious athletes and amateur sportspeople. This is also a key factor in the success of Salomon products. And of course, functionality and innovation will continue in the future.