Most retired ski racers settle for commentary gigs and product endorsements. Marcel Hirscher started building skis. The Austrian legend — 67 World Cup wins, eight straight overall titles, two Olympic golds — launched his own brand, VAN DEER, in 2021, and Red Bull came on board as co-owner a year later. The result is VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports, an Alps-based ski maker with real racing credentials.
The name is a clever nod to Hirscher's half-Dutch heritage, since "hirsch" is German for deer. But it's his perfectionism that defines the company. Teammates apparently found his obsession with gear specs exhausting during his 15-year racing career; now it's the selling point. His philosophy is straightforward: every skier, from first-timer to weekend regular, deserves equipment built to World Cup standards. "We build skis with World Cup quality, adapted for free skiing," he says.
That process means translating the tiny margins of racing — where a shift in edge angle or flex can cost hundredths of a second — into skis that feel natural for ordinary skiers. The products are tested hard, including on World Cup circuits where they've already collected medals and podium finishes. Hirscher even raced on them himself during his comeback 2024/25 season.
The range now covers six lines: the new FREERIDE SERIES for off-piste skiing and the H-POWER SERIES for all-day, all-terrain cruising, joining the existing PRO, RACE, JUNIOR PRO and TOURING SERIES. Athlete feedback loops directly into development, which keeps the pace of innovation fast.
For skiers shopping this season, VAN DEER is worth a look if you want traditional Austrian craftsmanship with modern materials — and a backstory few brands can match. It's especially relevant for anyone planning a trip to the Austrian Alps, where the brand is rooted and where you're likely to spot its skis on lifts from Salzburg province outward.
