HARBIN, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) — Driven by a booming home market with robust demand, Chinese producers are aggressively innovating to seize a bigger share of the ice and snow sports activities tools trade from established worldwide manufacturers.
“These are the skis we specially developed for the Chinese national team. They have passed multiple rounds of testing and are expected to be used at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics,” stated Li Zhibo, common supervisor of Harbin Qianmao Snow Dragon Sports Equipment Co. Ltd., pointing to a pair of black skis whereas talking with potential shoppers at an expo.
The three-day 2026 Harbin International Ice and Snow Economy Expo, which opened Monday, has attracted tools producers from world wide. For years, breaking the monopoly of overseas manufacturers has been a key aim for Chinese firms on this sector.
“After years of design and R&D, we successfully developed skis specifically for China’s national freestyle skiing aerials team. In the past, Chinese athletes always used foreign-made skis,” Li defined.
By utilizing aerospace-grade composite supplies, his firm makes skis which can be each light-weight and extra versatile, at about half the worth of imported merchandise.
Established in 2002, Li’s firm produces ski boots and bindings. Its merchandise now provide 80% of ski resorts throughout China. Since the beginning of winter, the corporate’s workshop has been busier than ever.
“Order volume has significantly exceeded the same period in previous years. From national policies supporting the ice-snow economy to the Asian Winter Games held in Harbin, this industry is facing a historic opportunity,” Li stated.
At the expo, many Chinese firms showcased merchandise like carbon-fiber skis and helmets.
Qin Wenbao, a product supervisor at Bingxuehuanteng Sports Equipment Technology (Harbin) Co. Ltd., defined that shut cooperation with establishments just like the Harbin Institute of Technology has pushed innovation, offering strong R&D assist.
A rising variety of Chinese firms are actually exporting their merchandise. Li Mingyang, deputy common supervisor of Qiqihar Heilong International Ice and Snow Equipment Co. Ltd., stated the corporate has constantly developed new merchandise and expanded its abroad market, with exports to some international locations together with Kazakhstan.
China has established a product system protecting 15 main tools classes. The variety of associated enterprises has grown from round 300 in 2015 to roughly 900 in 2023.
This growth is fueled by a thriving sports activities scene. Data exhibits that in the course of the 2024-2025 ice-snow season, spending at Chinese ski resorts reached 78.613 billion yuan ($11.2 billion).
Shen Yumei, advertising director for China of Italy’s TechnoAlpin, a worldwide snowmaker producer, acknowledged that China’s steady development of recent ski slopes and ice rinks led the corporate to ascertain its fourth world tools middle in China, aiming to serve Southeast Asian, Japanese and South Korean markets.
Despite the progress, Chinese firms are nicely conscious of the remaining hole with overseas merchandise. “Technologically, I think many domestic products are not inferior and offer better value. However, foreign brands have a deeper heritage. China is a latecomer, and it will still take time to truly break through,” stated Yu Yang, president of Beijing Carving Ski Sports Development Group Co. Ltd.
“Providing skis for the national team was a breakthrough that has motivated us to keep moving forward. I hope that one day, domestic brands can break through and stand firm globally,” Li Zhibo stated.