Christof Innerhofer
Christof Innerhofer is changing ski brands ahead of the 2027 World Cup season, ending a long and successful partnership with Rossignol to join HEAD at age 41.
The Italian speed skier brings more than two decades of World Cup experience to the brand, including six victories, Olympic medals and World Championship gold. Innerhofer also becomes another notable offseason signing for HEAD following Henrik Kristoffersen’s move earlier this spring.
Innerhofer said the decision was not driven by frustration with Rossignol, but by a desire to find a fresh competitive environment late in his career.
“I had many good years with Rossignol,” Innerhofer told Ski Racing Media. “But I still wanted a new challenge and new motivation. With HEAD, the feeling from the first training sessions felt really good.”
Following the move to HEAD, Innerhofer said, “It’s never too late for new goals, new motivation and new dreams”, emphasizing that the 41-year-old still has more to give to the sport that has given him so much.
HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber said, “The passion Christof Innerhofer has for this sport makes him a perfect match for our team. I am very pleased that he has decided to join HEAD. He is the perfect addition to our team as part of our activities in Italy.”
Much of the announcement and athlete reaction was released through an official HEAD press release published this week.
Career highlights
The Italian’s biggest career accomplishment to date came at the 2011 World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen where he won super-G gold, downhill silver and combined silver on the challenging Kandahar venue.
Innerhofer also won Olympic downhill silver in Sochi in 2014 along with bronze in the combined. The Italian is a six-time World Cup winner, with 18 World Cup podiums during a career spanning more than two decades.
Why the move matters
The comments suggest Innerhofer still has significant ambition despite entering his 21st season on the World Cup tour.
Innerhofer also described a strong first impression from the HEAD team during offseason testing, particularly the willingness to collaborate closely on equipment setup and ski feedback.
“They welcomed me with open arms,” Innerhofer told Ski Racing Media. “They already gave me super good skis and they were happy with my feedback. It feels good.”
The 2011 super-G world champion also said, “This is exactly the atmosphere that gives me motivation and makes me feel that I am in the right place. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead, to new successes together, and to continuing to contribute my experience and enthusiasm with all my energy.”
Age is just a number
On the day of final training in Val Gardena in December, Innerhofer will turn 42.
To achieve the goals he’s set out to, he’ll have to replicate the accomplishment of his former competitor Johan Clarey of France, who scored a Kitzbühel podium at age 42.
Many within the sport questioned whether such a major equipment change made sense this late in Innerhofer’s career, but the Italian said the early training sessions confirmed the move was the right decision for him.
“Many people were surprised,” Innerhofer told Ski Racing Media. “But I’m really happy that I made the change.”
In his career, Innerhofer has won some of the biggest speed races on tour taking downhill victories in Bormio, Beaver Creek, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Wengen during his 355 World Cup starts over the last 20 years.
A podium return?
Innerhofer clearly has the intention and desire to reach his previous heights with emphasis on the move to hopefully return to the World Cup podium; he hasn’t had one since December 2018.
The move to HEAD signals that the veteran Italian still believes he can compete near the front of the field despite entering the later stages of his World Cup career.
This is an achievement that Rainer Salzgeber echoes as the target: “Given his past achievements, our goal is to help him reach the podium once again. Christof Innerhofer has felt at home with us right from the start; he puts his heart and soul into it. We are going to focus on putting his ideas and enthusiasm into practice and making them reality.”
There have been many moves in the ski racing “transfer window” so far this spring and Innerhofer’s move to HEAD represents one of the more notable veteran equipment changes ahead of the new season.
About the Author: Matt Garcka
