ISPO Award Winner 2024: Skimulator Fitting device for perfectly fitting ski boots

How can I determine the optimum and truly suitable size for ski boots? This is a question that Helmut Bachschmid, managing partner of a large Sport2000 specialist store for 35 years, asks himself again and again.With this in mind, he invented the Skimulator, a fitting device for perfectly fitting ski boots in sports retail. “The Skimulator can mimic the incline (alpine) or ascent (touring) of a ski slope, which is a prerequisite for determining whether the ski boot really fits,” explains Bachschmid's co-founder Christoph Hercher, describing how the Skimulator works.
“In order to keep distances short, we found a very competent manufacturing company near Kelheim that produces the Skimulator to the highest quality standards and ‘Made in Germany’,” explains Hercher. Their own company is based in Ihrlerstein.

Up to 70% of ski boots are sold too big according to DSLV. The Skimulator prevents this from happening. To try on ski boots, customers put on the integrated ski bindings and are brought into a typical downhill position. A three-color display shows the inclination according to international slope standards. So it's easy to adjust the angle of a blue, red or black slope via remote control, depending on the ability or preference of the person trying the boots on. The stance width can also be individually adjusted in three stages by altering the binding rails, allowing precise adjustment of the foot and leg spacing according to height and build. This allows the customer to try out how a boot fits while skiing simulating a real downhill position in store.

The mounted ski bindings are adjustable from size 32 to 48, so they are not only suitable for adults, but also for children's ski boots. The Skimulator can be used with both Grip-Walk and conventional soles and not only for alpine ski boots, but also for touring ski boots. This means that not only downhill slopes but also uphill ascents can be simulated to check the fit. A safety bar ensures a secure footing during the fitting process, even when bending the knees.

What other advantages does the Skimulator offer retailers? “The use of the Skimulator is not only a great sales aid and support, but also gives customers the assurance of having bought the right or suitable ski boot – and that's a great thing,” explains Wieland Göpfert (sen.) from Sporthaus Göpfert in Dresden. “Customers want to use the Skimulator when buying ski boots and insist on it. It is very positively evaluated by men and women without exception.”

Siegfried Stauß, SBS Sport und Mode GmbH in Lahr, also confirms this affinity of customers. In addition, he also emphasizes the show effect of the device and the associated competence. “But no time is lost by using the Skimulator. What's the point of customers walking a few steps up and down in the store?” he adds.

Skimulator also gives retailers a major advantage over the competition and pure online retailers by offering a unique fitting experience that also results in fewer returns and better sales. The device is space-saving and, at 0.67 m2, does not require much floor space. Thanks to transport wheels, the simulator can be easily moved. It offers potential for additional sales and has already paid for itself very quickly after purchase.

Four adjustable feet make the Skimulator adaptable to the floor space. Likewise, the tread area can be customized with a logo. The entire Skimulator is screwed together, not welded, and formed out of strong steel plate. This guarantees a very long service life and, if necessary, a cost-effective repair service.

• Stepless adjustment of the slope incline/decline via remote control
• Suitable for alpine and touring ski boots - also perfect for boot fitting
• Compact expertise: doesn't take up much space 
• Fast results and good additional sales