ISPO. On Monday, 30 January, the Overall Winners of the ISPO AWARD 2012 received their trophies at a gala ceremony. With innovative ideas they convinced the jury of experts of their excellence, taking first place in the Action, Outdoor, Ski and Performance segments. "Every one of the applications submitted was high quality," said Tobias Gröber, Head of Business Unit Consumer Goods Exhibitions at Messe München GmbH, during the presentation of the awards at ISPO MUNICH. "But the Overall Winner products are outstanding. Their innovation, design and performance have the potential to make a powerful impact on the market and transform it."

Photo © Messe München GmbH

Overall Winner Action Segment: NOW Snowboarding
The innovative I.P.O. binding system that is based on the movement of skateboard axles stood out in front of two other ISPO AWARD winners, eight nominees and 38 submissions in the Action Segment. What swung the jury's decision in selecting this product as Overall Winner above all other entries was that it featured the highest level of innovation.

Overall Winner Outdoor Segment: Edelrid Cable Vario via ferrata set
The number of entries in this year's Outdoor Segment was unusually high. 19 nominees and four AWARD winners were selected from a total of 110 submissions. The adjustable via ferrata set by Edelrid came out on top. Edelrid was chosen as Overall Winner because in the jury's view the development of the Cable Vario represented the greatest step in improvement of all products competing in the Outdoor Segment.

Overall Winner Ski Segment: Dupraz Sports D2
The sleek, stylish design of the D2 in combination with excellent performance in deep snow and on groomed slopes - characteristics that placed the D2 by Dupraz top in the Ski Segment and persuaded the jury to give it the Overall Winner vote. This product won against the five other ISPO AWARD winners in the Ski Segment, chosen from 16 nominees among a total of 64 entries.

Overall Winner Performance Segment: HIOD One by Free2Move
The young Swedish company Free2Move impressed the jury with a new idea that allows cyclists to communicate with each other. The use of Bluetooth technology to produce an extremely creative solution sealed the jury's vote for the title of Overall Winner in the Performance Segment. The field consisted of 26 applicants, of which four won an ISPO AWARD from eight nominees.

New presentation concept successful – preparations for 2013 under way
Besides the four Overall Winners, 18 other award-winners received their prizes at a gala ceremony on Monday, 30 January. They were the winners in the various categories that make up the Action, Ski, Outdoor and Performance segments and in the Eco Responsibility division. This year's 22 winners of the ISPO AWARD are the first to be chosen according to the new, modified concept. "And we're well on the way to achieving this," Tobias Gröber, Head of Business Unit Consumer Goods Exhibitions at Messe München GmbH, says in the wake of the successful presentation in 2012. Looking ahead he says, "Improvements and innovations are planned to increase the status of the award in the industry still further." Applications for the ISPO AWARD 2013 can be submitted from 1 September 2012 and the deadline for entries is 11 January 2013.

About Messe München International (MMI)

Managing close to 40 trade expositions for industrial, consumer goods, and new technology in Munich alone, Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading exposition companies. More than 30,000 international exhibitors and more than two million visitors participate in the events at the Munich Trade Fair Center, the ICM – International Congress Center Munich, and at the M,O,C, Event and Order Center every year. In addition, MMI manages trade expositions in Asia, Russia, the Mid East, and South America. MMI operates a global network with six foreign subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, as well as more than 60 foreign representations, covering more than 90 countries worldwide. As an internationally active company, Messe München International is dedicated to endorsing sustainability and environmental protection. It was the first ever trade show center to be certified by TÜV SÜD as an “Energy Efficient Business”.

Further information at: www.ispo.com/award