Local entrepreneurs follow Slovenia’s successes in sport and create some of the world’s best equipment.
Slovenian sport equipment industry may mostly be populated by small brands, virtually unknown outside their niche, but the industry has traditionally been innovative, run by enthusiasts, and offers the highest quality products. Few brands, however, are well established globally. Slovenians have always been passionate about winter sports and the country’s most renowned sports brand is without a doubt Elan, the innovative ski manufacturer from Begunje, a small village in the mountainous north of Slovenia. Elan’s engineers have invented – among other things – carving skis, as well as the first usable folding skis. Alpina is the global leader in cross country ski boots. Many Slovenian sports equipment companies are boutique workshops making limited series of highly specialized, top-class equipment. A typical example is Slatnar, developing skis for Slovenian ski jumping champions. Goltes offers premium handmade snowboards.
Elan also makes other sports equipment: the company's second most important market is yacht and sailboat construction. Nautical equipment is another area with numerous local companies offering top quality products and earning international awards. Seascape develops and produces award winning sailboats and has been part of the French Beneteau group since 2018. Interestingly, Seascape is located in the same Alpine village as Elan – not a part of the country usually associated with nautical sports. Another small series boatbuilder is Greenline – its hybrid and solar powered yachts are produced using eco-friendly materials and processes. Flikka’s windsurfing boards regularly win world tour IWT/PWA competitions. The company proudly emphasises that their boards are made in Europe and created by windsurfers. CAAS offers windsurfing carbon masts and extensions – another example of small workshops run by enthusiasts, offering top notch products.
Janja Garnbret dominates sport climbing – and several local companies offer various climbing equipment. The market for climbing holds and volumes is surprisingly competitive – yet the products of Slovenian SME 360 Holds appear in many top-level climbing competitions. Despite the dominance of Slovenian cyclists, however, very few local companies offer cycling related products. Berk Composites develops high-end saddles, seat posts and framesets. Bike tools produced by Slovenian toolmaker Unior are used by some of the world’s best teams, including Ineos Grenadiers and Visma lease a bike.
Some Slovenian sport equipment producers operate in a true “hidden champion” style: they are global leaders yet virtually unknown to the wider public, even locally. Slovenian SME Lupit Pole is one of the two leading global producers of equipment for pole dance and aerial yoga: their equipment is present in over 1,000 fitness studios worldwide. Akrobat is a 20 year old company constructing trampoline parks all over the globe – the company has made the world’s largest trampoline. The leading producer of wingsuits for base jumping is Ljubljana’s Phoenix Fly company. Very few Slovenians are familiar with names like Tinck Arms, M-Arms, Arex, or Polenar Tactical. The first three produce top quality shooting sports equipment, while Polenar Tactical operates the largest and most influential European YouTube channel focused on shooting.
Sport tech is challenging also for young entrepreneurs. Few young companies focus on sport related apps. Armbeep developed biometrical module monitoring psychophysical state of tennis players. HiFlyer is a platform for real time ski jump analytics. A different example: Go4 goal produces high quality football socks. While Slovenian sports industry has long tradition with pioneers like Stanko Bloudek, the constructor of world’s first ski fly ramp, these dynamic start-ups are the best promise for the future.
