Events featuring celebrities and stars such as "Running Man" and "Rush Forward" are 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 Skiing Tour, sponsored by Cimalp (China) Outdoor Products Co., Ltd., was held 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 respectively. Li Yanxin claimed the women's elite group title with a time of 1 minute 16.30 seconds, followed by Zhang Qing, Xing Yanyan, You Qing, Han Xuerong, Li Xiaoja, Wang Zijiao, and Xing Xin in 2nd to 8th places.
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 Paradise in Hebei, Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin, Taiwu Ski Town in Hebei, and Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang. As a visually engaging and recreational outdoor sport, skiing is becoming a new urban fashion trend, supported by the booming development of outdoor activities.
Outdoor Sports Becoming a Major Trend
According to data from the "China Ski Industry White Paper," in 2015, the total number of skiers nationwide reached 12.5 million, with several ski resorts hosting over 200,000 visitors. Building on this, the General Administration of Sport of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and others have successively issued the "Ice and Snow Sports Development Plan (2016-2025)," "National Ice and Snow Facilities Construction Plan (2016-2022)," and "Mass Winter Sports Promotion and Popularization Plan (2016-2020)." With the 24th Winter Olympics approaching in 2022, the state has proposed the "North Snow Southward Movement" strategy and the ambitious vision of "300 million people participating in ice and snow sports." In fact, not just ice and snow sports, but all outdoor activities have become part of the national strategy.
In 2016, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Guidelines on Accelerating the Development of the Fitness and Leisure Industry," aiming for the fitness and leisure industry to reach a total scale of 3 trillion yuan by 2025. This includes establishing a comprehensive fitness and leisure service system, promoting daily fitness, and developing outdoor sports such as ice and snow, mountain, water, aviation, and auto/motorcycle. It also encourages fashionable and ethnic specialty sports, all of which will greatly boost the growth of outdoor activities.
The "China Outdoor Industry Report" suggests that China’s outdoor market growth rates returned to double digits in 2018 and 2019, and are expected to exceed 20% in 2020. This is mainly due to the increasing popularity of outdoor sports in China over the next few years, which will also drive the growth of the outdoor retail industry and highlight its growing advantages.
Yuan Li, General Manager of Cimalp China
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 outdoor activities. Therefore, their clothing needs have expanded beyond just warmth and windproofing to include more features, creating opportunities for international brands that focus on functionality and quality."
Technology and Fashion Are Standard in Outdoor Apparel
Previously, Chinese outdoor apparel competed with regular sportswear and down jackets, often taking a low-end, homogenized approach. This limited profit margins, hindered R&D, and failed to meet the demands of an increasingly fashionable and high-end demographic.
The "China Outdoor Industry Report" indicates that future outdoor brands will move toward segmentation and scenario-specific offerings. For example, there will be specialized gear for diving, tents and sleeping bags for mountaineering, and ski suits for skiing. The outdoor sports brand landscape includes professional outdoor brands, sports brands with outdoor product lines, casual and luxury brands with outdoor offerings, and low-end consumer market brands with outdoor products. Given the trend toward high-end outdoor sports, professional outdoor brands will become the main force, offering unique advantages in fabric, design, technology, fashion, and comfort. Some have even introduced designer outdoor apparel. Beyond the Olympic ideals of "higher, faster, stronger," the focus will also be on "more aesthetic, more fashionable, more technological," with increasing integration of tech elements such as personalization, intelligence, and excitement. Yuan Li pointed out that technology + outdoor sports and fashion + outdoor sports represent the next opportunity for outdoor businesses, driving the industry from rough, high-speed growth to refined, standardized, and professional growth. This provides fertile ground for international brands like Cimalp and top domestic brands to expand further. Yuan Li said: "The Cimalp brand originates from France. By sponsoring the China Alpine Skiing Tour, it has greatly boosted both our products and brand, especially as coaches and athletes provided valuable feedback for product improvements, ultimately earning praise from consumers. The company has continuously researched fabrics and quality, collecting extensive data from Chinese consumers, particularly regarding body types, color preferences, and regional differences."
Yang Jingxin competing in the race, where he won the men's elite group championship with a time of 1 minute 09.85 seconds
CIMALP (Cimalp) adheres to high quality as its foundation, emphasizing the combination of technology and fashion, and leads outdoor trends by offering customized, fashionable outdoor products. Features such as permanent anti-static, antibacterial, quick moisture absorption, and fast drying are all achieved using BULESIGN-certified, eco-friendly, and premium materials from around the world. From the inside out, the brand provides wearers with a safe and comfortable experience.
For the China Alpine Skiing Tour, CIMALP (Cimalp) has specially launched a series of fashionable ski suits made with lightweight, abrasion-resistant, and tear-resistant high-tech fabrics, such as imported Rogers polyurethane from the United States.PORON ?XRD!"These include extreme impact protection materials (the yellow protective material), and impact-resistant materials composed of imported British D3O "smart molecules" (the orange, curved material). The surface is treated with Teflon for oil and stain resistance, and features include YKK waterproof zippers, underarm ventilation zippers, heat-reflective linings, adjustable waistbands, abrasion-resistant fabric at the hem, hem zippers, and windproof cuffs. The windproof hood also effectively blocks wind and snow from hitting the face. 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 for wearers.
Among these, the permanent anti-static technology is a high-tech feature tailored by CIMALP (Cimalp) specifically for Chinese outdoor enthusiasts (given China’s vast geography, cold and dry winters often lead to 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.
Interview with Women’s Champion Li Yanxin
Women’s champion Li Yanxin also gave a media interview after the race, saying: "I’m grateful to the organizers and sponsors for providing this competition platform. My skiing skills have improved significantly, and I also participated in the Songhua Lake stop. I know the sponsor Cimalp very well and appreciate their product design philosophy, especially the professionalism of the ski suits. They are not only comfortable but also stylish, making them 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 rides, summer and autumn hiking, water, and air sports, and winter (including the Spring Festival period) ice and snow activities. 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. The company develops and customizes new windproof, waterproof, and cold-resistant down jackets and other quick-drying series suitable for mid-to-high-end individuals seeking an "extreme sports, urban outdoor" style. Building on the French headquarters’ approach of "joint R&D, joint procurement, joint production, and joint sales," the company has conducted differentiated R&D tailored to different regional cultures—"special groups, special needs, special designs, special customization"—resulting in mid-to-high-end extreme/fashion outdoor gear suited to the Chinese market. It skillfully blends classic and modern styles, perfectly combining extremes with romance. With a strong French essence, CIMALP (Cimalp) interprets the perfect fusion of century-old heritage and extreme fashion.
As a professional outdoor brand, Cimalp provides suitable and professional clothing for outdoor enthusiasts all year round, igniting people’s passion for travel and encouraging them to go outside in every season. Let outdoor lovers join hands in 2017 to discover the beauty of nature and enjoy the wonders of sports.