Swix is a long-established Norway-based company specializing in the ski industry. The story of Swix began in 1942 when the fire destroyed the wax plant of skier Martin Matsbro in Malung, Sweden. He had to build his business all over again and decided to unite with his friend Børje Gabrielsson who founded Swix several years after the accident, in 1946.
Matsbro’s dream was to prepare a ski wax that would work in any conditions, no matter how hopeless and unwaxable they might seem. Working for Børje, he called for science and started testing his ski wax recipe in consultation with chemists from the Astra AB pharmaceutical company where Gabrielsson was CEO and researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
In one year, the team conducted 6000 trials with 200 wax formulae participating in them. At that point, the researchers already acknowledged that universal wax was pie in the sky, and they had to develop several series of smooth and sticky waxes. Swix was up to date with advanced materials like synthetic resins and refined petroleum waxes and used them in its wax recipes. The final products came colorless, so the company decided to add colors to ease the identification. This innovation caught on with other wax producers.
The Swix products became even more popular after the Olympic Games of 1948 because all gold medalists used Swix waxes.
Swix has headquarters in Norway and subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany, the USA, and Japan and produces ski wax, poles, roller skis, and sportswear.
Swix Clothing and Wax Today
Today, when the environmental issues are especially acute, Swix promotes responsible consumption and ecological production through personal example. All Swix ski pants, gloves, jackets, hats, mittens, and ski bags are built-to-last and designed timeless with slow-fashion principles in mind. The Swix clothing and waxes are fluoride-free to prevent pollution.
Shop Swix USA ski poles, sports clothing, and wax kits at Gritr Outdoors.
