Historic photo of Klaus Obermeyer
An early historic image of Klaus Obermeyer on a powder day on Aspen Mountain
Obermeyer has been “catching air” for nearly 100 years
In 1947, Obermeyer came to Aspen to teach skiing for ski school founder Friedl Pfeifer
A deep snow scenic from the early days of Aspen Highlands.
Historic photos of Klaus Obermeyer performing impressive feats in the snow
These three simple words serve as a mantra for generations of Aspenites who have been influenced by Aspen ski icon Klaus Obermeyer. More than just a term of adoration, the phrase is an admonition for all of us to seize the adventure in each day, to celebrate the beauty of the mountains, to live a life full of purpose and to always, always maintain a positive attitude. Live like Klaus.
Obermeyer celebrated his 103rd birthday this past December, and he still wakes each morning with those tenets top of mind. He has skied for nearly a century, a milestone he plans to complete this winter. “I have my ticket, I have my boots, and I have my skis. I have everything I need,” he says.
But in addition to being Aspen’s most legendary skier, Obermeyer is also the community’s most notable homegrown entrepreneur and businessman. Sport Obermeyer, the eponymous skiwear concern he founded in 1947, is commemorating its 75th anniversary as an industry leader and innovator. A remarkable achievement in a world of everchanging tastes and technologies.
Obermeyer was born in Bavaria and had his first ski adventures when he was just 3 years old. As a youth he had trained as an engineer. He came to Aspen in 1947 at the behest of Friedl Pfeifer, the founder of the Aspen Ski School, to teach skiing, and found not only amazing mountains but a world of opportunity. “Friedl said to me, ‘Klaus, you are a German engineer. When you are not teaching skiing, you should try and make skiing safer and more fun.’ And so that started our company, Sport Obermeyer.”
Obermeyer posing with a pair of San Marco ski boots.
“I HAVE BEEN A VERY LUCKY GUY.” –KLAUS OBERMEYER
Model Michaela Bercu poses with Klaus Obermeyer in the 1980s
Aspen Magazine featured Obermeyer in a midwinter 1984 cover story about the growth of Sport Obermeyer titled “The Little Company that Could
Obermeyer flying with family and friends.
The first innovation was one of necessity. Obermeyer saw that on cold days skiers would not come for their lessons because there was no warm clothing to ride up Lift 1A. “I had a down comforter that my mom had made me take to America, and I cut it up and made a parka out of it. I had feathers in my coffee for three weeks,” Obermeyer recalls. He began selling the jackets, and skiers immediately appreciated the warmth.
Still, he needed help to get the business going. “I had so many friends. The first loan I got from a bank in Denver was for $5,000 for six weeks and was cosigned by a French ski client and friend (Baron Francois de Gunzburg) of mine who we called ‘Whoop-Whoop’ because that is what he yelled as he skied down the mountain.” The company relied on 17 local seamstresses who would sew the parkas together in a metal warehouse that sits where Obermeyer Place is now in town. Obermeyer had purchased the land and the building for $1,200. “We sold the jackets like hot cakes. There was just no competition.”
The parkas were just the first of many advances that would evolve from Obermeyer’s personal experiences on the ski slopes here in Aspen. Over the next 75 years, Sport Obermeyer became well known as a leader in product development and is credited with such sport-changing innovations as the double-prong ski stop, mirrored sunglasses (“You could see out, but they couldn’t see in,” Obermeyer laughs) and high-altitude sunscreen. The emphasis on creating clothing for kids and families suggests a desire to not only meet consumer needs but to grow the sport of skiing as well.
“We tried to make skiing more fun, not just make money,” Obermeyer says with conviction. Today Sport Obermeyer is a leader in technology-driven, fashionforward skiwear sold at an affordable price. Klaus Obermeyer Jr., who is in the process of transitioning into a leadership role, says that the company’s future lies in remembering its past. “I think a lot about the ‘why,’” he said recently. “Th e company was born to share the joy and magic of the outdoors. We exist to contribute to the outdoor community with our products. That’s what will drive our company forward.” He pauses and laughs, just like his father, before adding, “And really, it’s all about the fun.”
While the company started and remains a family concern, in many ways Sport Obermeyer is also a home-grown community company. Over the last 75 years, many Valley residents have had careers and raised their families while working in the company’s facility in the Aspen Business Center. “It has turned out to be a nice little business that has been a part of Aspen,” says Obermeyer in an understatement.
COURTESY OF SPORT OBERMEYER
Sport Obermeyer has always been about the design of the day. Th is collection of fashion catalogs from the late 1960s and early 1970s celebrated the tenor of the times.
And Sport Obermeyer’s commitment to the environment (the local “green” office receives 60% of its heat from solar energy, and there is a swimming pool for employees that is also powered by the sun) is in keeping with Aspen’s conservation philosophy as well. “Part of my philosophy is that we need to be kind to the planet because we are so fortunate to have such a wonderful world. We need to be positive, to make the world a better place,” Obermeyer shares.
Much like Nike reflects the vision of Phil Knight and Apple that of Steve Jobs, Obermeyer is a company that embodies the founding ethos and commitment of its founder to produce innovative products and improve the experience of the customer. While the company has achieved success and prospered, the mission has always been about providing consumers with great experiences.
A collection of Sport Obermeyer historic photos and fashion catalogs
But it is Obermeyer’s abiding love for skiing, his devotion to the mountains and the planet that provide the ultimate legacy for all who encounter him personally or are simply just touched by the products Sport Obermeyer produces. His granddaughter Laura explains, “He has the most genuine, authentic and positive spirit of anyone that I know. And maybe that’s because he has 100 years under his belt.”
“I have been a very lucky guy,” Obermeyer reflects. “I have traveled the world; I have made many friends; I have a very smart and honest son who was raised in the world of sports and is taking over running the company.” He pauses for a moment and then laughs. “I can go play with the angels.” Live like Klaus.
Photography by: COURTESY OF SPORT OBERMEYER
