Stuttering demand

Fisherman

Happy at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach with Raphael Haaser (right): Fischer Sports boss Franz Föttinger.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Markus Wenzel, AFP)

"The ski resorts are running out of snow anyway", "Skiing is far too expensive anyway" - phrases like these hurt Franz Föttinger. "But we are facing up to the problems," says the Fischer boss. The Managing Director of the sporting goods manufacturer spoke to the "Krone" newspaper about the importance of the World Ski Championships in Saalbach, stuttering demand, cutbacks and dealing with price increases.

He held the tip of his ski with his left hand while he sank to his knees with a blank stare: the pictures of the visibly overwhelmed Raphael Haaser after winning the giant slalom title at the Ski World Championships in Saalbach not only touched Austrian fans - they also brought great joy to Fischer Sports boss Franz Föttinger.