ispo BrandNew Awards announces winners

The jury for the ispo BrandNew, the world’s biggest startup contest in the sports gear industry, has selected seven winners and 31 finalists. Although the 44% increase of applicants compared to the previous year meant a lot of work for the 18 jury members at the beginning, they were able to agree on the winners in the end for numerous innovations in all contest categories.

Nominees had to fulfill the following criteria: first, the brand or company could not be older than four years, second the company could not have even exhibited previously at ispo, and third submitted products, designs and marketing concepts had to be extremely innovative. The first-class jury composed of representatives of the sports industry and trade media selected seven winners and 31 finalists, who will present their innovations at ispo winter 07 in Munich, from the total of 231 applicants.

The awarding of the much sought-after ispo BrandNew trophies will take place on the catwalk of the BrandNewVillage in Hall A2 at 4:30 p.m. on February 5, 2007. BrandNewVillage, which covers a total area of more than 1,800 square meters, has long been one of the most important visitor attractions at ispo and has already helped many young entrepreneurs to enter the market successfully over the past years.


And here are the winners of the 15th ispo BrandNew contest:

The Italian company Jochum & Nesler is the Advansa Overall Winner. Using their newly developed “Speedriders”, a mixture of paraglider and parachute designed for high speeds, skiers and snowboarders can simply fly over rough terrain in the future. Thanks to the excellently designed brake and steering system, you can end your temporary flight maneuver at any time and return to the slopes. The new flight device promises pure adrenaline and convinced the jury not least due to its special stability and quality properties.

The DuPont Hardware Winter Award goes to the US company Guru. Its “Trampboard”, developed specifically for learning new snowboard tricks and jumps, replaces conventional trampolines used previously in the snowboard scene for this purpose, which could not provide appropriate protection for boards and people despite lined steel caps. This training gear, which the jury believes is long overdue, is made of durable and flexible plastic. Equipped with a regular snowboard binding, the Trampboard also gives jump-happy boarders the required snowboard feeling, which is imperative for learning realistic movement sequences.

The jury concluded that the company Graditech from Austria submitted the most convincing product in the category Nilit Hardware Summer. The “Streetstepper” they submitted is transport means, fun gear and fitness trainer all-in-one and enables perfect integration of sport into everyday life. Built like a city bike, the certainly most effect training equipment from fitness studios can now be used in fresh air. Regardless of whether you are on the way to a café, supermarket or work, even mundane walks become a fitness experience with the Streetstepper. The movements easy on your joints make it possible to build up those muscle groups, which are often cited as problem zone no. 1.

The Airboard Hardware Accessories Award goes to Headzone this winter. The Australian newcomer company is presenting its “Headgear” at ispo winter 07, a multifunctional training helmet with built-in CB radio system that simplifies learning sports considerably, in which there are naturally larger distances between trainers and learners. While windsurfers, kiters, skiers and snowboarders were only able to learn about and implement the tips and tricks of their coaches afterward in the past, the waterproof communication system now makes immediate error correction and effective structuring of training sessions possible. In addition, lengthy learning phases in difficult sports can be shortened substantially. The jury believes that the combination of functional teaching gear and additional safety represents an invention long overdue with a great deal of potential.

The winner of Freudenberg Accessoires Awards is the Blatand Company from Germany. Their “Body Network” is an interesting alternative to private fitness trainers, especially from a cost viewpoint. The fitness computer data can simply be uploaded to a cellphone per Bluetooth. Users get personal analyses and exercise plans starting from five euros per month via online registration.

The YKK® Sportswear Award goes to Westcomb this winter. “I Rebel Hoody” is the name of their jacket, which not only spares sports-enthusiastic iPod fans bothersome cable clutter, but also simplifies handling the electronic companion thanks to an operation panel integrated into the sleeve. In addition to its functions, the breathable and waterproof jacket from Canada convinced the jury with its attractive design.

The jury award the Creora Style Award to the founders of the Berlin designer label bombdesign, whose creative bag collection makes the hearts especially of women beat faster. Because bags, in addition to shoes and clothes, are among the most sought-after “pieces of booty” of women, and present problems of space with increasing quantity, bombdesign invented a special fold-out mechanism, with which individual bags can be stored quickly and practically. In addition, the bags, which only get their right shape with a zipper, are double-face and available in various colors and varieties.

You can find additional information about the winners and finalists at www.ispo-brandnew.com.