PRESS RELEASE

MDV Sports heads into the Olympic season with a strong team

Straubing, , 1 June 2021. Alice Robinson, World Cup ski racer and shooting star from , has extended her successful collaboration with MDV Sports and confirmed her trust in Marker, Dalbello and Völkl equipment for the upcoming Olympic season. At the end of the 2020/2021 FIS World Cup season, additional athletes opted to change gear as well, now trusting in the triumvirate of brands for the coming 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Newcomers to the Alpine team include German racer Sebastian Holzmann and ’s Chiara Mair. But they are not the only promising new team members to join the ski manufacturer Völkl, the traditional Italian company Dalbello and the bindings manufacturer Marker this winter Olympic season.

Alice Robinson and MDV Sports: the success story continues Alice Robinson aims to write a new chapter in her success story with MDV Sports: the World Cup ski racer has extended her contract, reaffirming her trust in her equipment provider in the upcoming winter Olympic season. An official member of the MDV International Race Team since 2017, she races with Völkl skis and Marker bindings and, since 2018, Dalbello ski boots. In March 2021, the young New Zealander again attracted attention with a strong finish in the 2020/21 World Cup finals in Switzerland, racking up her first win of the season in the last race. With that, the 19-year-old Robinson became the only skier besides ’s ever to earn three World Cup wins before reaching the age of 20. The young athlete has big plans for the upcoming season as well. Her goal? To compete for victory in the 2021/22 giant slalom overall World Cup and succeed at the Olympics. “We are delighted that Alice is part of the MDV family and grateful for the trust she has placed in our equipment and the team. We are confident that this partnership holds great promise going forward,” said Jonathan Wiant, President of Marker Dalbello Völkl.

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Strong newcomers the women’s team In addition to Alice Robinson and the MDV World Cup athletes Tina Robnik (SLO), Andrea Filser (GER), Mina Fürst Holtmann (NOR) and Martina Dubovska (CZE), who already trust in the three brands’ equipment, additional slalom and giant slalom skiers from several countries will be joining the women’s team in the coming season. The group includes Austria’s Chiara Mair and Bernadette Lorenz, who have already made the switch to Marker, Dalbello and Völkl gear. Croatia’s Leona Popovic is also set to tackle the new season with skis from the Straubing-based traditional company Völkl, boots by Dalbello and bindings by Marker. In addition, American skier Storm Klomhaus just recently confirmed her change of outfitter after feeling instantly at home with MDV during training.

“We are very proud to welcome these talented young athletes to our MDV family and into the Olympic season with such a strong women’s team,” said Eric Wolf, Racing Management MDV Sports, of the quantitative and qualitative growth of the women’s squad.

For Sebastian Holzmann, it’s back to the roots with MDV Sports MDV Sports can also report a successful addition to the men’s team: German slalom specialist Sebastian Holzmann is changing outfitters and hoping for Olympic success with the new Marker, Dalbello and Völkl equipment. The switch to Völkl represents a journey back in time for the 28-year- old technical skier, who skied on the German brand as a teenager. For the coming season, Holzmann joins several World Cup stars who are again part of the MDV family, including Italian slalom specialist Stefano Gross along with Sebastian Foss-Solevaag (NOR) and Adrian Pertl (AUT). The Norwegian won the gold medal and the Austrian silver at the 2021 Alpine Ski World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo – a sensational double triumph for MDV Sports.

Further information and images available on request from [email protected].

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About Marker Marker has been synonymous with innovation and safety in for over six decades. Hannes Marker presented the world’s first safety-release in 1952. In the 1970s, the M series, with its automatic heel release, revolutionised the binding market. Marker has been setting new standards in the freeride and freestyle segment since 2007 with its Duke PT and by continuously expanding the Royal Family. The company is based in Penzberg, Bavaria. It launched its Protective Snow Equipment in the 12/13 season, which includes innovative helmets, goggles and protectors. Marker is the owner of the GRIPWALK® trademark and patent holder. Marker licenses technology and brand to industry partners, including sister companies such as Dalbello and K2. GRIPWALK® is a result of the innovative capabilities of Marker and Dalbello. Responsible for communication, marketing and sales is MDV Sports.

About Dalbello Ski boots made by the traditional Italian company Dalbello have always been renowned for exceptional quality, finest craftsmanship and high-end design. Back in the 1960s, the company’s founder Alessandro Dalbello gathered experience in the production of ski boots in Switzerland. The first pair of boots to carry the Dalbello brand was sold in 1974, the year the company was established. Dalbello ski boots sell successfully all over the world, thanks to their high quality standards and exceptional fit. Dalbello has been part of the Marker Völkl Group since 2015, but is still based in Casella d’Asolo, .

About Völkl Völkl has been dedicated to building skis for almost a century. This passionate winter sports brand is the only ski manufacturer still to develop and manufacture in Germany. Völkl’s main factory in Straubing is one of the most advanced ski factories in the world and epitomises the very best of German technology and quality. Its team of development engineers, ski makers, product managers and athletes has made Völkl one of the world’s leading ski manufacturers. Völkl pursues its aim of creating the ultimate equipment for skiers the world over in conjunction with its partners Marker and Dalbello. Marker develops and produces ski bindings, helmets, ski goggles and protectors, while Dalbello is dedicated entirely to the development and production of ski boots.

Marker Dalbello Völkl (International) GmbH Press contact Ruessenstrasse 6 LEWIS Communications GmbH 6341 Baar, Switzerland Patrizia Fauster Tel.: +41 41 769-73-00 Karlstraße 64, 80335 Munich, Germany Fax: +41 41 769-73-92 [email protected] [email protected] +49 89 17319032 www.voelkl.com

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