Klaus Obermeyer
Klaus Obermeyer was born December 2, 1919, in the small Bavarian alpine village of Oberstaufen, Germany.
Klaus began his career in the American ski industry in 1947, first moving to Sun Valley, where he spent a winter selling Bavarian neckties and shoe strings out of a Buick belonging to a long-time friend, film producer Warren Miller. It was then on to Aspen, where he worked as a ski instructor; a job that coincidentally led to his founding of Sport Obermeyer.
As an instructor, Klaus found that frostbite due to extreme cold, inadequate clothing, and severe sunburn took their toll on his students. And he didn’t get paid if his students didn’t show up! Determined to keep his students warm and comfortable, Klaus designed and produced the precursor to the down-filled parka, an industry first and a beginning for Klaus as a true innovator in the burgeoning ski industry. After that came high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon wind shirts, mirrored sunglasses, the Boot Fit Press, and more. In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen. The innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double-lens goggles, the first waterproof, breathable fabrics, and line after line of high-tech, fashion-conscious skiwear, the likes of which had never been seen. Obermeyer’s trademark slogan is “Technical clothing from the heart of the mountains,” and Klaus Obermeyer has surely followed his heart in Aspen.
Obermeyer’s commitment to producing high-quality, performance-oriented skiwear at a fair price was fueled by Klaus’ personal commitment to excellence. His true passion for skiing and an impeccable reputation in the industry for continued customer satisfaction demonstrate that Klaus Obermeyer embodies the necessary requisites for long-term success in the sport.
Klaus began his career in the American ski industry in 1947, first moving to Sun Valley, where he spent a winter selling Bavarian neckties and shoe strings out of a Buick belonging to a long-time friend, film producer Warren Miller. It was then on to Aspen, where he worked as a ski instructor; a job that coincidentally led to his founding of Sport Obermeyer.
As an instructor, Klaus found that frostbite due to extreme cold, inadequate clothing, and severe sunburn took their toll on his students. And he didn’t get paid if his students didn’t show up! Determined to keep his students warm and comfortable, Klaus designed and produced the precursor to the down-filled parka, an industry first and a beginning for Klaus as a true innovator in the burgeoning ski industry. After that came high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon wind shirts, mirrored sunglasses, the Boot Fit Press, and more. In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen. The innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double-lens goggles, the first waterproof, breathable fabrics, and line after line of high-tech, fashion-conscious skiwear, the likes of which had never been seen. Obermeyer’s trademark slogan is “Technical clothing from the heart of the mountains,” and Klaus Obermeyer has surely followed his heart in Aspen.
Obermeyer’s commitment to producing high-quality, performance-oriented skiwear at a fair price was fueled by Klaus’ personal commitment to excellence. His true passion for skiing and an impeccable reputation in the industry for continued customer satisfaction demonstrate that Klaus Obermeyer embodies the necessary requisites for long-term success in the sport.