Totally Deep's First International Backcountry Podcast
A brief history of Dynafit and Cripple Creek Backcountry
For over 40 years Dynafit’s commitment to the sports of ski touring, ski mountaineering and ski mountaineering racing have been unparalleled. After Fritz Barthel invented the Tech binding it took decades of commitment to bring it to the forefront of skiers minds. However, a small but dedicated crew have carried the torch forward until today. What has that meant for walking uphill on skis? Complete dominance by tech bindings from Dynafit and its 20+ competitors.
Fritz Barthel the creator of the "tech binding" Posing with Doug
Read more here for all of the 40 + years of brand history
Dynafit headquarters have long existed in TK a small town on the outskirts of Munich and it has long been the companies dream to make it back into the mountains. After years of planning and building the Dynafit HQ was slated to open and we were very excited to get over to Kiefersfelden for the grand event.
Kiefersfelden is a small town under the radar of the other incredible tourist destinations in the Bavarian alps. In spite of the fact that we had not heard of it, it lacked nothing in beautify and access to the mountains that surrounded it. Vertical cliffs rise right out of town and and craggy peaks loom even hire just a few miles in the distance. One day a long bike ride took us over the boarder with Austria and past at least 4 ski resorts in our 100km loop.
The first 24 hours of the event consistent of Dynafit competence centers from all over the world. Started 20 years ago the Competence Center title was bestowed on shop that epitomized the brand through up hill ski focus, service and aligned philosophies with the brand. When Cripple Creek Backcountry began Dynafit was the first company we solicited, for we knew if we could have access to their boots, bindings, skis and skins we would have access to the head to toe system to see a fast and light specific shop in Colorado flourish. Seeing the other shops assembled here from all over the world was incredible especially the ones that had been Competence Centers for the full 20 years. We were just one of 3 North American shops invited over for the event.
Dynafit Speed Factory tour
After a day of sharing stories, ideas and feedback with each other and Dynafit team, it was time for the grand opening and an early sneak peak at the Seed Factory. Part brand showcase, retail store, corporate office and R&D laboratory, the Speed Factory is a stunning and ambitious manifestation of Dynafit’s vision. The store had the impeccable German persicion and organization on display everywhere in the country from the cars on the autobahn to the impeccably stacked firewood outside of every cottage and immaculate garages. The binding lab showed huge machines flexing the toes and heals 1 million times to simulate the lifetime of the product out in the mountains.
Dynafit bindings being put through their paces
In the end the Dynafit Speed Factory is a crazy manifestation of a brands image brought to reality and imbedded in the German mountains. Backcountry skiing being such a solitary sport makes it always amazing when so many people are brought together from all over the world to share the vision of walking uphill on skis.
