Next act in the power struggle between FIS and Red Bull: the Hirscher brand must also cover the revised logo

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The next chapter in the power struggle between the International Ski Association (FIS) and Red Bull: Apparently the custom logo on the skis of stars like Henrik Kristoffersen and Co. not good enough for the FIS. Red Bull originally wanted to present the Red Bull on the skis of athletes in the ski world. This should have been made possible by the drinks manufacturer’s collaboration with the ski brand “Van Deer” of ex-skier Marcel Hirscher (eight overall World Cup victories). The FIS repeatedly threw a spanner in the works, as we now know, again.

As the Austrian portal “oe24” reports, Hirscher and Red Bull’s Van Deer Racing skis will have to be re-included in the future. About a month ago, the new logo without a bull was presented and was seen as a supposed solution to no longer masking off the skis. But that is apparently not enough for the FIS. Now apparently a tough approach is being taken again as the ‘Racing’ letters in the new logo have been arranged to resemble the Red Bull feature. This corresponds to the information from Blick.

Changes also need to happen at Odermatt

The FIS has already intervened several times at drinks giant Red Bull. Kristoffersen and Co. had to mask off their skis last winter after Marcel Hirscher announced the collaboration of his new ski brand with Red Bull in the summer of 2022. This resulted in “Van Deer – Red Bull Sports Equipment GmbH” with the common logo. With the taped planks, Kristoffersen won the two World Cup slaloms in Garmisch (De) and Wengen and became world champion in slalom in Courchevel (Fr) in February. The FIS even threatened the Norwegian with revocation of his license during the season if he did not comply with the rules.

The next crackdown in early August: The FIS management made it clear to ski superstars such as Marco Odermatt (25) and Alexis Pinturault (Fr, 32) in an email that they would like the helmet design of Red Bull racers in the future. Until now, the figurehead helmets were painted with the brand’s colors over the entire surface instead of just on the logo area.

Red Bull and the creative solutions

Now the new logo of the young ski brand from Marcel Hirscher and the large company is not good enough for the FIS. Red Bull is known for overcoming advertising rules through creative solutions. The best-known example: RB Leipzig is not officially called Red Bull Leipzig, but RasenBallsport Leipzig. At first glance, everyone can see who is really behind it.

Red Bull would have liked to appear on the skis in a slightly less obvious form, with the ‘Racing’ lettering shaped into a bull on the shared ‘Van Deer’ brand. But the FIS clearly remains strict here. (str)

Source : Blick