MIPS Assembles Its First Team Of Sponsored Athletes, Signs Olympic Freeskier Henrik Harlaut
MIPS, the world leading helmet safety technology company, today announces the formation of its first-ever professional athlete team, Team MIPS. The team will be an ever-growing global force of helmet safety advocacy led by athletes from across the world, spanning a diverse range of backgrounds and professional sports including cycling, skiing, motorcycle/motocross and more.
Team MIPS’ first sign is freeski superstar Henrik Harlaut, one of the most iconic winter sports athletes and the most decorated skier in X-Games history (12 medals with 7 Gold). Henrik Harlaut was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1991, started skiing just two years later. At the age of five, he was regularly downhill skiing at the local hill, Väsjöbacken. At nine years of age, in his home resort of Åre, Henrik discovered freeskiing at the RedBull Big Air competition and was hooked. He showed incredible talent at a young age and, at 13 years old, he entered the US Freeskiing Open. From this point, the results came fast and furious across years of global competition. In January 2020, Henrik became the most decorated skier in X-Games history, winning his 12th medal. Now, Henrik is considered the best freeskier in the world with a massive impact on the sport. Henrik continues to dominate competition and is releasing SALUTE, a freeskiing movie filmed over the two years, in November 202
The core mission of Team MIPS is to raise brain protection awareness and lead the world towards using safer helmets. Its athletes, above all, will draw upon their own experiences to encourage all people, regardless of age, skill level, or preferred sport, to make the right decision when purchasing a helmet. Many of the athletes have either experienced a brain injury personally or have worked in close proximity to those who have.
MIPS specializes in helmet-based safety and protection of the brain. Based on an ingredient brand model, MIPS Brain Protection System (BPS) is sold to the global helmet industry. MIPS solutions are patented in all relevant markets and are based on more than 20 years of research and development together with the Royal Institute of Technology and the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.
MIPS is the world leader in this field and cooperates with 107 helmet brands that offer more than 583 models equipped with MIPS BPS on the global helmet market. The company’s headquarters, with 41 employees in research and development, sales, marketing and administration is located in Stockholm together with the test facility
“It’s hard to think of a single skier that I know who hasn’t gone through the trauma of a concussion,” says Harlaut. “If you’re skiing at a certain level, it feels like concussions are almost impossible to escape. But if you wear the right helmet and take the right precautions, you can reduce the risk of brain injury. It’s shocking how many people don't realize this — clearly there’s a lot of education to be done. This is why I’m so excited to be a part of Team MIPS,” Harlaut explains.
Click here to watch Henrik Harlaut in his first official conversation as a Team MIPS athlete, talking about the upcoming season and his new collaboration together with legendary skier Tom Wallisch. Also see attached images of Henrik Harlaut in his new helmet.
