Macugnaga (Italy) 07.04.09 - An unforgettable week end: last week end the alpine and Nordic ski slopes of Macugnaga hosted the first edition of the unprecedented event called Briko 4 Blind. For more than twenty years, indeed, Gruppo Verbanese Sciatori Ciechi has been allowing sightless people to play both alpine and Nordic skiing.

Briko4Blind - Bode Miller, photo (c) Curti

During the last week end almost twenty sightless people were given the opportunity to play their favourite sport with world best athletes. The US champion Bode Miller and the world silver medallist Peter Fill, on Saturday, and Pietro Piller Cottrer, on Sunday, acted as exceptional guides for sightless skiers.

Briko4Blind - Bode Miller, photo (c) Curti

"It was my first time as sightless skier’s guide" said Bode Miller "and I was surprised by the way these wonderful people ski". Even more moved, Peter Fill, the guy from Castelrotto, said: "At the beginning I was a little nervous, but the sightless skier I was accompanying told me not to worry, and so I loosened up". For both of them, this has been an important and really touching experience they wish to repeat.

Briko4Blind - Peter Fill, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Peter Fill, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Bode Miller, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Peter Fill, photo (c) Curti

On Sunday, the day dedicated to cross-country skiing, Pietro Piller Cottrer went even beyond: "After accompanying several skiers I decided to live the experience of skiing as a sightless person" said the champion from Sappadia "and now I appreciate even more the enthusiasm of these extraordinary people".

Briko4Blind - Pietro Piller Cottrer, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Pietro Piller Cottrer, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Pietro Piller Cottrer, photo (c) Curti

Also the people that planned and arranged this event to the last detail were extremely satisfied. "We wished to arrange a wide-ranging event with a friendly atmosphere" said Mr. Carlo Bololi, Briko chairman "at the end of the season, in a relaxed atmosphere without the pressure of competitions, our athletes managed to perfectly catch the spirit of this event".

Briko4Blind - Pietro Piller Cottrer, photo (c) Curti

Briko4Blind - Bode Miller анд Peter Fill, photo (c) Curti

The first edition of Briko 4 Blind has closed leaving in our hearts the memory of a week end of great enthusiasm and great attention towards disabled people.

BRIKO srl
press release
5.04.2009

About Briko

The history of Briko dates back to 1985, when the company started producing ski wax for the Italian ski team; after its athletes' success, Briko widened its product range to include goggles, helmets and technical clothing; these products were designed together with the Briko sponsored athletes who took part in the equipment development process. Briko made a lot of technical progress; among its most
successful products are: Thrama lenses, launched in 1989, using a new innovative wide range of filters. In 1992 the Kasco helmet was launched, a product designed for the cycling world; the Kasko helmet was followed in the year 2000 by Forerunner, a helmet designed for free ride skiers' needs. However, clothing lines completely changed Briko’s share in the market; in 2000 Briko launched the Katana collection, a line of technical clothing for cycling lovers, both on the road and cross-country.

In 2003 Briko launched the Beitostolen line for Nordic skiing. The Briko team includes very popular athletes from the international sports scene, such as Bode Miller, Benjamin Raich and Peter Fill for Alpine skiing and Pietro Piller Cottrer for cross-country skiing. Today Briko products are sold in over 60 countries; Briko is carrying on its product development, currently focusing on skiing (both Alpine and Nordic skiing) and cycling; its wide range includes goggles, masks and helmets, as well as sports technical clothing (www.briko.com)