Military Ski Master List (w/ Photos)

[Jurassien]

Yes, indeed – no argument there. I’d recognise both of these distinctive Swiss camouflage patterns anywhere.

The Stöckli company, so I’m told, were specialised in making the Hellebarde before they turned their hand to ski making.

[Manney]

China… Edelweiss Raid 2023. Altai skis? Just going by what appears to be printed on the skis… seriously doubt these are Altai skis. Probably an indigenously made ski.

[Love the Sierra]

WOW! Fascinating thread. So glad that I joined this group. I will have to keep my eyes on those surplus sales.

[Nick BC]

Actually I think those are Trab Altavia skis. I have a pair. The give-away is the deep notch in the tails. I’m really enjoying this thread, well done Manney!

[Manney]

Awesome. Thanks, Nick. This gives me something to dig into.

Was trying to learn Mandarin on the fly searching arcane Chinese ski manufacturers. LOL. Not doing too well at either.

[Manney]

New post… Trab Altavia 6.0, thanks to a tip from @Nick BC . Used by Chinese forces at Edelweiss Raid 2023 (first time China competed in this gruelling military competition).

New deletion… Unnamed Hagan ski attributed to German Army, thanks to a tip from @Jurassien. The photo and listing deleted was from a ski last photographed in use by combat forces in 2013. It has since been replaced by a slightly wider Hagan ski with a disruptive cam pattern. That ski has been observed in photos as early as 2018. This means that Germany is using one model of Hagan ski for its alpine forces.

New deletion… Kastle TX93. Attributed to Bundesheer, based on a photo from Edelweiss Raid 2023. That photo only showed two soldiers with this ski, in a line of dozens of others using a separate ski. The color was different than most TX93s sold commercially with a bright luminous oval on the tip, so my working theory was that it wasn’t luminous. Just found the darker, more subdued color available commercially… with a luminous oval. Luminous markings are unlikely to be used in any combat scenario (forces might use IR strobe or blue force locator beacons, but not a glow in the dark ski. LOL). Unable to find any other photos of the Bundesheer using the TX93, so it is likely that this is either a trial ski, personal ski, or an event-only use of the TX93. If in doubt… leave it out. Thanks again, @Jurassien for highlighting this anomaly and encouraging me to dig deeper.

[Jurassien]

Actually I think those are Trab Altavia skis.

That is indeed correct……….and @Manney can spare himself the Mandarin lessons if these pictures (from Edelweiss Raid ’23) would suffice:

Communist hat, Capitalist skis:

Altavia:

A Chinese participant shows his displeasure at a Race Marshall's decision:

[Jurassien]

Hang on a minute! If my eyes don’t deceive me, this one says “Stelvio” – also a Trab model.
(Chinese Laundry in the background):

[Manney]

Hang on a minute! If my eyes don’t deceive me, this one says “Stelvio” – also a Trab model.
(Chinese Laundry in the background):

Chinese Laundry.png

Only one pic of Stelvio. Maybe it’s only used for laundry? Don’t know of that counts as “operational” use. LOL

Staring to think that Trab is the preferred ski of authoritarianism. Russians and Chinese.

Ditching Mandarin class allows time to look at Chilean mountaineering forces. Those guys look hardcore.

[Manney]

Is that a Voile logo? @fisheater might get his wish… not US Forces though. Chilean 3rd Mountain Division.

The line on this top sheet reminds me of the last gen Hagan skis discussed earlier:

Practically everything seen has been marked “Ejercito de Chile” in some way… including poles.