Student from the Wels Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria supports the development of the ReNew ski by HEAD Sport GmbH.

Turning a hobby into a career: That’s exactly what Patrick Niedermayr has done. While pursuing his studies at the School of Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Wels, he worked part-time in the Alpine Ski Development Department at HEAD Sport GmbH, where he focused on optimizing ski manufacturing processes for sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of future skis.

After graduating from a technical high school with a focus on mechanical engineering, Niedermayr completed his training as a ski instructor and sought out a field of study that would bring him closer to his goal of gaining a foothold in the ski industry. That’s why he chose to study lightweight construction and composite materials at the Wels Campus—always with the idea of combining technology with sports. The ski industry combines tradition with modernity, and with his passion for actively shaping the future of the ski industry, the ReNew Ski became a reality. The implementation of this project was made possible thanks to the excellent collaboration and commitment of everyone involved in the company.

Sustainability Through ReNew
In his bachelor’s thesis, Patrick focuses on the “ReNew Ski.” His goal was to further develop the prototype into a production-ready ski model. The ReNew concept enables changes that have never before been seen in the ski industry. Using sophisticated technology, it breathes new life into skis that are supposedly at the end of their useful life. The ReNew Ski is the first ski on the market that can be remanufactured using a special process.

Patrick conducted comprehensive tests to evaluate the performance of the ReNew Ski. The lab results showed that ski-specific parameters such as flex and torsional stiffness, as well as camber, were virtually identical to those of a new ski after simulating five life cycles and subsequent refurbishment. However, since the feel of the ski while skiing is crucial, Patrick tested the skis under real-world conditions. Using defined ski instructor exercises and a direct comparison—a standard ski on the left, a ReNew ski on the right—it was demonstrated that the dynamic performance of the ReNew ski matches that of a new ski, even after multiple refurbishments. This confirms the high performance of the ReNew concept and its comparability with new skis.

The ReNew concept stands for consistent performance with reduced CO2 emissions. A single application of the ReNew process reduces CO2 emissions by 16.94%*. With repeated applications, the reduction increases further: After five renewals, as confirmed by laboratory and ski tests, a reduction of 27.11%* in CO2 equivalents can be achieved. All materials, production data, and transport routes were recorded and used to calculate the product carbon footprint in accordance with the latest standards. The calculation of CO2 equivalents was performed by an external, independent company.

The results clearly demonstrate how the ReNew concept makes a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the ski industry. HEAD is proud to be the first company to offer a sustainable solution for skis based on the circular economy starting in the 2024/25 season.

* Green Vision Solution GmbH’s Product Carbon Footprint Analysis (PCF)

Lightweight Construction Has Long Been a Reality in Sports
Lightweight construction will become a central focus in industry in the future. Wherever masses are moved—including in robotics and plant engineering—lightweight construction innovations will be implemented to reduce operating costs. In the sports sector, however, lightweight construction has long since found its way in. Sports equipment, such as tennis rackets, road bikes, mountain bikes, skis, or motorsport vehicles, must be as light as possible while simultaneously meeting the highest safety standards and withstanding extreme loads.

Collaboration with Companies 
The career-oriented degree program in Lightweight Construction and Composite Materials at the School of Engineering offers students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of corporate projects even while they are still studying. Especially during the phase of writing bachelor’s and master’s theses, the curriculum allows for full-time employment in companies. Companies such as HEAD Sport GmbH offer exciting internships as well as topics for final theses.