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www.fischersports.com/nordic

February 17, 2009

Fischer Launches Revolutionary Nordic Hole Race Ski

The World’s Most Innovative Cross Country Ski Brand Defies Tradition to Improve Race Performance; the Hole Has Already Won a World Championship

Fischer Skis today announced the launch of its new race ski, the Nordic Hole Ski. The innovative Hole Ski defies tradition by incorporating a hole in the ski tip which reduces mass, resulting in higher stride frequency and faster skating speeds.

The Fischer Nordic Hole Ski achieved World Champion status earlier this week when Helena Jonsson (SWE) won the Women’s 10 km Biathlon Pursuit in Pyeong Chang, Korea. It was the first ever gold medal in an individual World Championship race for the 24-year old Swede, who also competes in Fischer boots.

Fischer recognized that the heavier the ski tip, the more energy is required to bring the ski back again to the optimum push-off position. Its breakthrough Hole Ski design reduces mass in the ski tip by five grams and consists of a unique configuration of HM carbon laminates. By lightening the ski tip, the pendulum motion is balanced out and therefore less energy is exerted and lost. This enables greater precision in skating strides and higher stride frequency – which translates into faster skating speeds.

“Thanks to relentless research, passionate enthusiasm and intensive development work together with the world's best athletes, Fischer has raised the bar in ski technology to continue as the global leader in Nordic skiing and racing,” said Peter Ashley, vice president, Nordic Division, Fischer Skis U.S.A.

The Nordic Hole Ski also optimizes the skating angle of each skating stride. The reduction of weight in the tip means that the angle of each skating ski is virtually identical on each skating stroke providing the best power transfer for each stride and faster speeds.

Fischer’s Nordic Hole Ski features the Worldcup sidecut, WC Plus base, and is available in lengths ranging between 177 and 192 cm. The 182 cm ski weighs only 980 g. The recommended binding for the Nordic Hole Ski is the NNN R4 Skate NIS, an innovative manual NNN binding that is easy to use and provides maximum stability and control.

The Nordic Hole Ski is a further highlight of Fischer’s exceptionally practice-oriented development work that benefits every cross country skier with every step they take. With this innovation, Fischer once again increases its lead in the race for technological supremacy.

See the new Fischer Nordic Hole Race Ski at the Birkie Expo!