The Cimalp Cup China Alpine Ski Tour Signals Winter Outdoor Trends Among Mid-to-High-End Audiences ...

Events featuring celebrities and stars such as "Running Man" and "Rush Forward" have been leading the trend in outdoor sports and are becoming favorites for many, even in winter.

On January 22, the fourth stop of the Cimalp Cup China Alpine Ski Tour, sponsored by Cimalp (China) Outdoor Products Co., Ltd., took place at the Wanlong Resort Ski Resort in Hebei. Yang Jingxin won the men's elite group championship with a time of 1 minute 09.85 seconds, while the 2nd to 8th places were taken by Liu Ji, Wei Zhonghua, Yang Yanbin, Jiao Yang, Zhang Xiuguo, Hui Jiang, and Wang Yihao. Li Yanxin claimed the women's elite group title with a time of 1 minute 16.30 seconds, with the 2nd to 8th places going to Zhang Qing, Xing Yanyan, You Qing, Han Xuerong, Li Xiaoja, Wang Zijiao, and Xing Xin.

It is reported that the first three stops were held in Wanlong, Hebei; Songhua Lake, Jilin; and Taiwu, Hebei. The event is organized by the Chinese Ski Association and hosted by Wanlong Resort in Hebei, Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin, Taiwu Ski Resort in Hebei, and Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang. As a visually appealing and recreational outdoor sport, skiing is becoming a new urban fashion trend, backed by the booming development of outdoor activities.

Outdoor Sports Becoming an Irresistible Trend

According to data from the "China Ski Industry White Paper," the total number of skiers in China reached 12.5 million in 2015, with several ski resorts hosting over 200,000 visitors. Building on this momentum, national bodies such as the General Administration of Sport and the National Development and Reform Commission have issued the "Ice and Snow Sports Development Plan (2016-2025)," "National Ice and Snow Facilities Construction Plan (2016-2022)," and "Mass Winter Sports Promotion Plan (2016-2020)." With the 24th Winter Olympics in 2022 approaching, the government has proposed the "North Snow South Move" strategy and the ambitious vision of "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports." In fact, not just ice and snow sports, but the entire outdoor activity sector has become part of the national strategy.

In 2016, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Guidelines on Accelerating the Development of Fitness and Leisure Industries," aiming for a total industry scale of 3 trillion yuan by 2025. This includes developing comprehensive fitness and leisure services, promoting daily exercise, and expanding outdoor activities such as ice and snow, mountain, water, aviation, and auto/motorcycle sports, as well as niche and ethnic sports—all of which will significantly boost outdoor sports development.

The "China Outdoor Industry Report" indicates that China’s outdoor market growth rebounded to double digits in 2018 and 2019, with expectations of exceeding 20% growth in 2020. This is largely due to the increasing popularity of outdoor sports in China, which will elevate the outdoor retail sector and enhance its competitive edge.

Yuan Li, General Manager of CIMALP (Cimalp) China, said: “Today’s outdoor enthusiasts are no longer just hardcore fans, but they are increasing their frequency of participation. This has expanded their clothing needs beyond warmth and windproofing to include more features, creating opportunities for international brands that emphasize functionality and quality.”

Technology and Fashion Become Standard in Outdoor Apparel

Previously, Chinese outdoor apparel competed with regular sportswear and down jackets, often adopting a low-end, homogenized approach. This limited profit margins, hindered R&D, and failed to meet the demands of increasingly stylish and high-end consumers.

The "China Outdoor Industry Report" shows that outdoor brands are moving toward segmentation and scene-specific offerings. For instance, there are specialized gear and clothing for diving, mountaineering tents and sleeping bags, and skiwear for skiing. The outdoor brand landscape includes professional outdoor brands, sports brands with outdoor lines, casual and luxury brands with outdoor products, and low-end consumer market brands with outdoor offerings. Given the trend toward premium outdoor gear, professional outdoor brands are expected to lead, thanks to their unique advantages in fabric, design, technology, fashion, and comfort—some even offering designer outdoor collections. Beyond the Olympic ideals of "higher, faster, stronger," the focus is also on being "more aesthetic, more fashionable, and more technological." Technology is increasingly integrated into products, adding elements like personalization, intelligence, and excitement. Yuan Li noted that tech-integrated and fashion-forward outdoor products represent the next opportunity for outdoor companies, shifting the industry from rapid, unrefined growth to refined, standardized, and professional expansion. This provides fertile ground for international brands like Cimalp and top domestic players to grow further. Yuan Li said: “The Cimalp brand originates from France. By sponsoring the China Alpine Ski Tour, it has greatly boosted both our products and brand image. Coaches and athletes provided valuable feedback for product improvements, ultimately earning praise from consumers. The company continues to research fabrics and quality, collecting extensive data from Chinese consumers, especially regarding body types, color preferences, and regional differences.”

CIMALP (Cimalp) adheres to high quality as its foundation, emphasizing the integration of technology and fashion, and leads outdoor trends through custom-designed fashion outdoor products. Features like permanent anti-static, antibacterial, quick moisture absorption, and fast-drying properties are all achieved using BULESIGN-certified, eco-friendly, and premium materials from around the world, delivering safety and comfort from the inside out.

For the China Alpine Ski Tour, CIMALP (Cimalp) has specially launched a series of fashionable skiwear, using lightweight, abrasion-resistant, and tear-resistant high-tech fabrics, such as imported Rogers polyurethane from the U.S.PORON? XRD?Including extreme impact protection materials (the yellow protective material), imported D3O “smart molecules” from the UK for impact resistance (the orange, curved material), among others.The surface is treated with Teflon for oil and stain resistance. Additional features include YKK waterproof zippers, underarm ventilation zippers, heat-reflective linings, adjustable waistbands, abrasion-resistant fabric at the cuffs, zipper-secured cuffs, and windproof cuffs. The windproof hood effectively shields the face from wind and snow. All materials are BULESIGN-certified, eco-friendly, and premium, offering 100% windproof, waterproof, and cold-resistant protection, along with permanent anti-static, antibacterial, quick moisture absorption, and fast-drying properties, ensuring a safe and comfortable experience.

Among these, the permanent anti-static technology is a high-tech feature tailored by CIMALP (Cimalp) for Chinese outdoor enthusiasts (given China’s vast geography, cold and dry winters often generate static electricity). Using imported Japanese anti-static fibers, permanent anti-static substances are added to the polyester chips during fabric production, ensuring long-lasting and durable anti-static effects that do not weaken or disappear even after repeated washes.

Women’s champion Li Yanxin also gave a media interview after the race, expressing gratitude to the organizers and sponsors for providing the competition platform. She mentioned her personal improvement in skiing skills and participation in the Songhua Lake event. “I know the sponsor Cimalp very well and appreciate their product design philosophy. The skiwear is especially professional—it’s not only comfortable but also stylish, making it a great choice for female skiers who care about appearance.”

The current global trend is for people to match appropriate outdoor activities with each season—for example, spring outings and auto/motorcycle sports, summer and autumn hiking, water, and air activities, and winter including ice and snow sports even during the Spring Festival. Cimalp (China) Outdoor Products Co., Ltd., while retaining its authentic French heritage, is fully committed to exploring the Chinese market through continuous innovation in design style and brand philosophy. It develops and customizes new windproof, waterproof, and cold-resistant down jackets and other quick-dry series suitable for mid-to-high-end consumers seeking an “extreme sports, urban outdoor” style. Based on the French headquarters’ model of “joint R&D, joint procurement, joint production, and joint sales,” the company has introduced differentiated R&D tailored to regional cultures, offering “special groups, special needs, special designs, and special customizations.” This has resulted in mid-to-high-end extreme/fashion outdoor gear suited to the Chinese market, skillfully blending classic and modern styles, and perfectly harmonizing extremes with romance. With a strong French essence, CIMALP (Cimalp) interprets the perfect fusion of century-old heritage and cutting-edge fashion.

As a professional outdoor brand, Cimalp provides suitable and professional apparel for outdoor enthusiasts year-round, igniting their passion for exploration and encouraging them to venture outside in all seasons. Let outdoor lovers join hands in 2017 to discover the beauty of nature and enjoy the wonders of sports.