Re-Opened Salomon Brand Store In Solden Welcomes Season-Opening World Cup Alpine Ski Races

Salomon announces the grand re-opening of its newly re-fitted, on-snow brand store at Sölden, Austria. The Salomon Station, as it is known, is located on the slopes of one of the largest ski resorts in the Austrian Alps, which offers skiing for all ability levels and hosts the season-opening event of the FIS World Cup alpine ski season.

Every year, on the last weekend in October, Sölden attracts 25,000 fans for the men’s and women’s slalom. The races are contested on the slopes directly in front of the store, allowing the Salomon Station to serve as a de-facto hub for thousands of ski racing fans over the course of the weekend.

The re-fitting of the Salomon brand store at Sölden comes 15 years after the location first opened. Visitors to the store can expect to find a best-in-class in-store experience with premium services, an opportunity to test the company’s latest products, a community base from which to train with the coached of racing icons and access to the unique “My Perfect Ski Day” experience. Additionally, the store offers premium services such as boot fitting, valet service and expert advice for winter sports enthusiasts.

The shop’s rental area boasts the newest equipment from Salomon’s collection and is available for any consumer who visits, as well as guests that will be sent from Salomon’s premium partner network across central European countries. On the top floor is a bar that complements the best-in-class service of the store below and is the perfect place for a mid-day break or a post-run drink with friends facing Sölden’s legendary slopes.

“This store will offer a first-class experience for snow sports visitors to Sölden and also serve as a great learning tool as we look to update other resort locations going forward,” said Valerie Marot, Salomon’s Head of Retail Experience. “Obviously, the alpine racing world descends on Sölden to kick off the World Cup season, but this Salomon brand store will serve skiers and riders all winter long with the best service, equipment and expertise available in one of Europe’s premier ski destinations. It’s exciting to have it re-fitted and ready for the season.”

The staff at the Salomon Station at Sölden is led by Berni Gstrein, the store manager who was a silver medalist in the Alpine Combined at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. The “My Perfect Ski Day” experience is handled by Berni himself, and anything is possible—from freeriding to carving the scenic runs of the Ötztal Alps. This service will be sold either directly in the store or on the Salomon station website at www.salomonstation.at.

As part of Salomon’s ongoing dedication to connect closely with racing communities, the Salomon Station will host “training camps” where Juniors will be able to book a camp led by racing icons Günther Mader, Fritz Strobl and Gstrein.

Salomon currently has 190 retail locations around the globe, and they are intended to offer the most authentic brand experience and premium service from knowledgeable staff. Video screens play Salomon TV episodes and the overall space is designed to better connect visitors to the local sports communities through various events and gatherings.

After unveiling the brand’s new “Time to Play” positioning in 2016, Salomon applied this new identity to a number of its new and re-designed retail locations around the globe, including its Chamonix store in the heart of the French Alps and in Whistler, Canada. At both locations, and in urban locations like Paris where the brand opened a store in 2018, the stores have been a success.