1861
The company Kneissl is founded as a “wooden carriage workshop”
Kneissl Heritage
Kneissl knows tradition is important and stopped mass production years ago! Quality over quantity and uniqueness overall, this philosophy has helped our brand achieve cult status and has produced individual, performance skis specially for you.
The pure classical design of our skis shows attention to detail and is the reason that we have been manufacturing skis in Kufstein for nearly 100 years.
1919 - 1921
Franz Kneissl I started first serial production of alpine skis in Austria. Kneissl ski becomes a registered trademark
1932
Renamed to “First Austrian ski factory”
1936 - 1938
The first laminated ski is developed. As 18-layer ski Kneissl “Splitkein” it goes into production. Franz Kneissl travels to the USA to purchase Hickory directly in Memphis Tennesse
1936
20.000 pairs of skis are produced
1945
Death of Franz Kneissl I.
1946
After the war Franz Kneissl II. takes over the company and continues the business with 3 employees
1948
Participation at the Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz with the “One Man Team Engele-Haider”
1950
Kneissl introduces the first multi-coloured ski to the market. With 4 colours it marks a new standard in design. Kneissl becomes the most successful ski brand at the Ski World Championship in Aspen, with 3 out of 6 possible gold medals. At the beginning of the 1950s almost the whole Austrian National Team rides on Kneissl skis
1960
The first synthetic ski with a wooden core is developed – the Kneissl “White Star” becomes a legend in the skiing world – a technological milestone in the whole skiing industry
1967
In Japan a Kneissl Cup is implemented. Participation is only possible for skiers riding on Kneissl skis – right at the first race more than 150 participants start
1969
Opening of the next Kneissl factory by its Highness Prince Karim Khan
1974
The hour of birth of the Kneissl sportswear collection due to the taking over of the sportswear company “Sportalm” Kitzbühel. For the first time a skiing company produces and sells sportswear under its own brand – the Kneissl Star and Logo. Production of fully synthetic alpine skis, nordic skis and jumping skis as a further technological step
1975
Kneissl is the most successful brand at the Nordic Ski World Championship in Falun. This impressively proves the breakthrough of the new technology in ski production
1978
Kneissl develops the first fully synthetic tennis racket “White Star Pro”, a real “silver bullet”
1981
The German Crosscountry-Ski manufacturer Trak becomes controlling shareholder
1982
Kneissl manufactures tennis rackets for Puma under the brand Puma
1989
Takeover of the company by a group of Austrian investors around Erhard Grossnigg and Hans Peter Haselsteiner
1990
Kneissl develops the “BIG FOOT”. It revolutionizes the winter sports market and is known as the main incentive for the carving ski
1991
Kneissl and Dachstein are combined together into the “Kneissl Dachstein Sportartikel AG”
1992
Kneissl develops the first carving ski “Kneissl ERGO”. The “ERGO” gets the ski market out of its depression and provides the skier with a whole new skiing experience. Techniqe, image and attraction of the ski sport are sustainably changed, the ski sport is revived. The “BIG FOOT” becomes the world’s most sold winter sport product.
1994
Death of Franz Kneissl II.
1996
Kneissl takes over the brands Raichle and Dynafit
1998
Renamed to Kneissl & Friends. The red star accompanies as strongest brand Raichle, Dachstein, Dynafit and Deeluxe as a family brand
2003
The company group is restructured and the ski boot segment and its brands are sold. A Tyrolian investor group takes over the company, secures the founding location in Kufstein and puts a focus on the core competences of the company with development and manufacturing of skis of the highest quality