VDBS and Fritschi Forge Long-Term Partnership to Advance Ski Touring Safety

Starting in the 2026/27 winter season, the mountain guide training team of the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (VDBS) will be officially equipped with touring bindings from Swiss manufacturer Fritschi.

This new, long-term collaboration aims to bridge the gap between high-level professional application and technical product development in the ski mountaineering space. By equipping the VDBS training team with Fritschi gear, vital field experience gained from rigorous training and guiding missions in challenging alpine terrain will be continuously fed back into the brand's R&D process.

Prioritizing Reliability in Alpine Terrain

For decades, Fritschi has been at the forefront of developing performance and safety binding systems tailored for alpine environments. The VDBS, acting as a state-recognized professional association, will now provide the critical perspective of daily, professional users to refine those systems even further.

"A touring binding must function reliably and be safe in professional use," explained Michael Schott, President of the VDBS. "This partnership fosters a close dialogue between practical application and development. The goal of this long-term cooperation is to pool mutual expertise in order to further advance safety in ski mountaineering."

The continuous feedback loop is expected to yield innovations that benefit not just professional guides, but the broader ski touring market.

Stefan Ibach, Managing Director of Fritschi, highlighted the value of direct input from mountain professionals:

"This professional, cooperative, and constructive collaboration enables us to produce the best products for the highest demands."