BACKLINE Magazin
DE

Tech talk interviews

52 interviews · 43 companies · 6 issues

In every BACKLINE test magazine we talk to the people behind the gear: product managers, engineers and CEOs explain technologies, materials and the future of ski touring. All interviews are searchable by company, year and name.

Tech talk on

Ski touring socks

BAUERFEIND SPORTS

Christian Naujoks

Head of Product Management

Christian is a passionate athlete who competed in competitive judo – in parallel, he was always interested in trying and practicing various sports. Currently, his focus is on road cycling and fitness training. Christian brings his professional expertise through a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sports Science, complemented by a Master's degree in Sports Management (M.A.). He has been part of the Bauerfeind SPORTS team since 2016 and has held various positions – he has been responsible for product management since May 2022 – with the ambition to develop functional products that inspire athletes and offer tangible benefits.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skis

BLIZZARD SKIS

Jacopo Michieli

Product Manager

Jacopo has been an avid skier since childhood, hitting the slopes at just 3 years old. Like most Italians, he comes from the world of racing and is a certified ski instructor. At 18, he stopped competitive sports to focus on his Material Engineering studies at the University of Padua. Since March 2025, Jacopo has been a Product Manager at Blizzard Ski, turning his passion into his profession.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring backpacks

EVOC

Tobias Baier

Head of Sales and Marketing

Tobias has been working for EVOC for four years and is responsible for the strategic direction of the brand in these areas as Head of Sales and Marketing. As a passionate mountain biker and ski tourer, he also contributes his experience to product development. Winter sports fascinated him as a child, and as a native "Flachlandtiroler" (flatland Tyrolean), he stood on skis for the first time at the age of four. Since he was 14, he has also been snowboarding, and almost 15 years ago, he was infected by the ski touring bug – which ultimately led to successful participation in the PDG 2022. He prefers to be out in fresh snow and sunshine – and ideally in good company!

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring helmets & goggles

JULBO

Nicolas Defude

Product Manager

Nicolas grew up in the Jura mountains – a landscape that shaped his passion for mountain sports. For more than 20 years, he has worked in the outdoor industry, and at Julbo, he is the Product Manager responsible for helmet development. For him, it's a natural way of life: Winters come and go, but the encounters, experiences, and special moments in the mountains remain – and flow directly into his work.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skins

KOHLA

Thomas Span

Managing Director

Thomas Span has been the Managing Director of KOHLA since 2018, leading the family business in its second generation. In addition to his role as a strategic leader, he is deeply involved in the development of new skin technologies. Whenever new products need testing, he personally goes on tour – adhering to the principle: “Only what proves itself on the mountain makes it to market.” As a passionate ski tourer, he regularly explores his home region, the Stubaital, in his free time.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring poles

KOMPERDELL

Max Bolzer

Managing Director

Max Bolzer is the Managing Director at Komperdell and responsible for development and purchasing. He started his career at Komperdell in 2011 as a Product Manager for Golf, before also becoming responsible for new developments in the pole sector. In his free time, Max can often be found in the mountains, hiking in summer and skiing in winter.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Avalanche transceivers

MAMMUT SPORTS GROUP AG

Michael Vollmer

Head of Safety Equipment Team

Michael has been with Mammut for 15 years – initially responsible for the development of avalanche airbags, today he leads the product management and development department for safety equipment such as avalanche transceivers, airbags, shovels, probes, ropes, harnesses, helmets, belay devices, etc. As a passionate mountaineer, he spends every free minute in the mountains – climbing and mountaineering in summer, powder skiing and ski touring in winter, or more precisely, on a splitboard (oops: sorry Backline :-), but deep down we're all looking for the same feeling).

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring bindings

QWICKLANE

Dominik Riediger

Managing Director

Dominik is co-founder and managing director of Qwicklane, responsible for the commercial area – i.e., marketing, finance, sales, partnerships, and everything else that comes up. His goal is to support his two colleagues in development, so they can fully concentrate on technology and product. Dominik comes from Lenggries and was on skis there as a child – skiing has accompanied him his entire life. After his time in racing, he discovered ski touring and now, with Qwicklane, has the opportunity to develop a product from this passion that makes the sport easier, safer, and more accessible for many.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring boots

SALOMON

Stefan Baumgartner

Sports Marketing Manager Wintersports AUT & GER

When not at his desk, Stefan spends every free minute on the ski slopes and in the backcountry. His profession as Salomon Sports Marketing Manager blends with his great passion for powder adventures and ski alpinism. The certified ski instructor and ski guide seeks special experiences on ski trips, for example, to Alaska, Japan, Iceland, or Norway.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring apparel

W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES

Chris Mayer

Product Specialist GORE-TEX Performance

Chris Mayer discovered his passion for sports early on – especially for handball, volleyball, and skiing. He studied Sports and Economics for teaching at a Gymnasium (high school) and Sports Economics (Diploma) at the University of Bayreuth. Afterwards, he began his professional career at a large Franconian sports company, where he worked as a Senior Product Manager for Performance Running, Indoor, and Tennis. The mountains were far away during this time – skiing somewhat fell by the wayside. Chris has been working at Gore since 2006, initially as a Product Specialist for Windstopper and GORE-TEX Snowsports, and today in the GORE-TEX Performance division. In Southern Bavaria, he has enthusiastically resumed skiing – first on mogul slopes, later freeriding. Today, ski touring is his main focus. And when he's not out and about himself, he passionately supports his children on the slopes – and in the wax room.

Test magazine 2025 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring crampons & headlamps

BLACK DIAMOND

Loïc Tonnot

Ski & Mountain Product Manager Europe

Loic manages the entire product development and market launch process. He analyzes market trends, develops product strategies, and works closely with research, marketing, and sales teams to successfully bring innovative products to market. His passion for outdoor sports is reflected in his work and drives him to outstanding performance.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring poles

CONTOUR

Werner Koch

Owner and Managing Director

Owner and Managing Director Werner Koch grew up in the family business. As an enthusiastic ski tourer, he can often be found in the mountains of the greater Innsbruck area whenever possible.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skis

HEAD DEUTSCHLAND

Justus Specht

Marketing & Product Manager Winter Sports

Justus Specht has been responsible for winter sports marketing in Germany since 2020. He is an enthusiastic ski tourer and relies on the Crux 93 Pro, which is the ideal choice in every mountain situation due to its universal waist width.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring boots

LANGE

Christopher Bingmann

Marketing Manager, Rossignol Group Germany

Christopher Bingmann has been leading the event and marketing activities for Rossignol in Germany since 2014. He is passionately on the slopes, an ambitious ski tourer, and a freerider. We'll see you on the mountain or for an après-ski.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring backpacks

MAMMUT

Elias Wehrlin

Team Lead Packs & Bags

With his experience as a product manager for backpacks, Elias is now the Team Lead responsible for the global strategy and development of Mammut's "Packs & Bags", thus combining his passion for outdoor sports such as ski touring and mountaineering with his profession.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring bindings

MARKER

Frieder Schnaidt

Product Line Manager at Marker Germany GmbH

Frieder has been a Product Line Manager at Marker since 2022. His great passion is snow sports, especially skiing. In the mountains, he finds peace, freedom, his place to feel good, and inspiration.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skins

MONTANA SPORT INTERNATIONAL AG

Walter Muheim

Head of Climbing Skins Department

Walter has been with Montana Sport International AG since 2009, where he spent the first four years in the logistics department and skin production. His great interest and fascination with ski climbing skins led him to take over the management of the climbing skins department in 2013. As an enthusiastic winter sports enthusiast, he brings not only expert knowledge but also practical experience to product development, enabling him to create innovative solutions that meet customer needs.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring helmets & goggles

OAKLEY

Peter Walberer

Sports Marketing & Communication Manager DACH

After studying sports science at the Technical University of Munich, Peter gained years of experience in the sports industry and is a passionate snowboarder himself. He has been with OAKLEY since 2016 and is responsible as Sports Marketing & Communication Manager for the DACH region.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Avalanche transceivers

ORTOVOX

Didi Kotlaba

LVS Product Manager

Didi is responsible for the development and optimization of LVS devices. He oversees the entire product lifecycle, from conception to market launch, to ensure that the devices meet the highest safety standards. He also works closely with research teams, engineers, and outdoor professionals to integrate innovative features into LVS devices. Personally, Didi is an enthusiastic mountain athlete and spends a lot of time in the Alps, where he tests equipment himself. In his free time, he volunteers as a tour guide and avalanche course instructor for the Austrian Alpine Club.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring socks

WRIGHTSOCK/SOURCEPLAN GMBH

Günter Klein

Managing Director

About 20 years ago, Günter Klein founded the distribution company Sourceplan GmbH, under whose umbrella he distributes the brands Wrightsock, Body Glide, and Blasenstopper in Germany and Austria. At the beginning of 2024, Günter Klein consolidated these brands on the online platform Reibungslos.de, thus bundling various solutions for preventing skin friction and blister prevention.

Test magazine 2024 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skis

ARMADA

Tom Suesskoch

Global Brand Director

Tom Suesskoch – a lifelong skier – arrived in Innsbruck in 2012 via California and Zurich, where he has since established and is responsible for the European Armada headquarters as Global Brand Director.

Test magazine 2023 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring boots

Atomic

Jason Roe

Business Unit Director Skiboots

Jason has been responsible for the development of alpine and touring ski boots for 14 years. He lives in Pongau near Salzburg, directly next to a ski resort, and spends 60+ days a season ski touring and just as many on the slopes.

Test magazine 2023 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring poles

BCA

Simon Allwein

Sales and Marketing Coordinator Europe

Simon Allwein works at Backcountry Access as Sales and Marketing Coordinator Europe. As a snowboarder, Simon uses his splitboard for tours. He lived in Revelstoke, British Columbia for 10 years and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on splitboarding tours in the backcountry.

Test magazine 2023 ·

Tech talk on

Ski touring skins

CONTOUR

Werner Koch

Owner and Managing Director

Owner and Managing Director Werner Koch grew up in the family business. As an avid ski tourer, he can also be found in the mountains of the greater Innsbruck area as often as possible.

Test magazine 2023 ·

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