Anzi Besson brings Austrian gear to U.S.

It has been a fast ride, but through some incredible persistence and effort, it is now possible for U.S. consumers to purchase official Austrian Ski Team gear. 2007 Austrian Ski Team Gear. It’s just not that easy to find the handful of outlets.
BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — It has been a fast ride, but through some incredible persistence and effort, it is now possible for U.S. consumers to purchase official Austrian Ski Team gear. 2007 Austrian Ski Team Gear. It’s just not that easy to find the handful of outlets.
    Benni Raich, the World Cup leader, the defending Cup champion and a double gold medalist at the Torino Olympics, points out the gear is Italian made, created for the team by Anzi Besson, “So you know it is good.”
    But getting it into the U.S. market hasn’t been easy. Jac Quin, Anzi Besson VP USA, has been instrumental in bringing the uniform pieces to the States. “I met with Pierre Rainville [president North America] in Burlington, Vermont, in October and we made the decision to go.” They had 1,000 pieces shipped in time to get to Beaver Creek for the Birds of Prey World Cup races.
    “It got to Memphis a week ago,” he said on the eve of the first races. “And it sat in [U.S.] Customs until yesterday. I’ve still got boxes all over my hotel room.”
    For shoppers at Beaver Creek Sports, a couple of racks of assorted gear were available, but getting it distributed about the nation, especially in such small numbers, has yet to take place.
    “It’s definitely limited-edition stuff,” said Quin. “The shops will be exclusively picked.”
    As a “rep” for 20 years, and a man who has run shops as well, Quin has his ideas about how and where it will be distributed. He has a Stratton, Vermont, connection, having operated a store there, and he anticipates sending gear to Equipe Sports in Stratton, and at Egon Zimmermann’s shop in New Hampshire. And, of course, at Beaver Creek Sports. Beyond that, it’s a good question.
    “We’ve made the decision not to go to Vegas this year [to the annual ski industry show] because it is so late. But it’s such great quality, it’s sporty and functional.”
    We asked Raich if the Anzi Besson gear was any good. He turned and pointed to the posters he was signing at the announcement. “Two gold, four silver, four bronze,” he read. “That about says it all. It is warm and it suits well.”
    And, we might say, it looks good.