Jacek Stalmach

Skibob Manufacturers Series

By: J Aranda Albuquerque NM

SBM: What started your skibob racing career?

Stalmach: I was born in Poland, in times of [socialism/communism], and the companies did a lot for the workers and employer [to share]. My father had a hat manufacturing company, and they [built some] skibikes for the people. Every weekend, the company took a bus to the mountain and people went skibiking. So when I was 15, and I wanted to ride skis, my parents told me "that is too expensive for us, but you can ride the skibikes of the company," so that was the start for me.  I tried a few times and started training. However, starting at 15 was a little bit too late to become a racer. Really, 10 years old is the last moment for skibike racers when compared to professional skiers that start at 5 years old. As a child, you can learn more things without [hesitation], like going fast. Older people have to think about what they do, and are thinking about safety.

SBM: But, you became a professional competitor!

Stalmach: I did OK, but really [started] too late. I was four-time world champion starting in 1995. Later, from 1998 to 2003, I was the Men's, Women's and Junior coach of Austria's National Team. Now I don’t have time for this because my company is growing.

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SBM: What skills are required in professional racing?

Stalmach: There is a big difference with recreational [riding]. Recreational skibikers ride on the whole ski, not on the edge, so they have a different technique. The professional technique is carving by riding on the edge, the same as skiing.

SBM: So then, what is special about a racing skibob?

Stalmach:It is important that the skibike have much control and it must be fast. (The world record is 198km/hr). My company's World Cup and Colorado models are designed for the whole frame to move together and the new-generation skis are made with laminated wood core. For our recreational Snow Horse, it is the saddle and handle bar that move. With these skibikes the riders can do jumps, half pipe, trees, moguls...

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SBM: With all the races in Austria, is sport big there?

Stalmach: Maybe not too big, but same as snowboarding. Skiing is still number 1 in Austria, with a long history, but skibikes are not [doing] too bad. The big difference between skibike sport in Austria (and generally in Europe) and America is that we have World Cup races, World Championships, a lot of races in Austria. We also have races in Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland. The sport is [present] in Finland and a little in Russia. In the World Cup we'll have one or two people from Japan.

SBM: Are skibikers bashed in Europe?

Stalmach: No, the whole of Europe is open for skibiking with no regulations, except for France, where it is not too open. Skibiking is, for lot of people, a nice sport. But most [Europeans] don't have enough money to [travel] so they will prefer to ski... In Europe six people go in a van, or cars to go to races, so we don't need airplane. The longest trip is one day, maybe 12 hours. We drive there, and stay for four, maybe five days, and then drive back to home. Then do it again in two weeks, and so on, for the whole winter.

SBM: Will we see skibiking in the Winter Olympics soon?

Stalmach: I think not. The International Federation of Skibob must have 15 national federations, and we only have 10 [nations currently represented]. So this is not enough to [propose] to the Olympic Federation to make this an Olympic sport. It's too small, and there is not too much money into this. It costs a lot of money to bring up a sport. If the organization can bring TV to the races it is possible that the sport get more sponsoring, which means more money. But the sponsor companies only want to [appear] on TV. So it is a loop.

SBM: What's next for your company?

Stalmach: Because there are not many racers, we'll have more direction into recreation. We had 30% more sales in America since last year. We want to grow bigger in America.

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SBM: You have so many skibikes in your catalogue. What does it take to produce so many models?

Stalmach: My company makes a new model every year, as an evolution [of previous designs]. Colorado is this year's model.  When I first have an idea, I'll speak with my engineers and we build it together. We have 5 people in the design team, and 29 for the whole company. We could make about 1,000 skibikes if we had to. (Editor's note: Stalmach Group manufactures many other stainless steel products).

SBM: What do you have planned next?

Stalmach: My company has two skibike lines: the Racing Skibob and the Fun Skibobs. The Race line is perfect for the next two years because we've been making this skibike since 1992. So, for the future, I'll make a new recreational skibikes. We have some good ideas for the next type of skibikes.

SBM: Who is your biggest competitor? Flaschmann?

Stalmach: No, because the Flaschman company makes the exact same skibike for 20 years. Their skibike is very heavy at 23kg. My heaviest is 15 kg, and the recreational skibikes are 10kg with a light iron frame. The smallest is the Kids at 3.5kg for $99.  

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SBM: What do you see in the US skibiking?

Stalmach: I like the people here. The skibikers are very friendly. I came to America for the first time two years ago and found that people were very enthusiastic and open. They see my skibikes and say "Oh, I want to try!”. People ask directly [about it] and want to use the skibike once or twice. So we built [and named] the Colorado after last year's Festival because Colorado has amazing country.

SBM: Well, Jacek, you're welcome any time!