Amer Group Plc announces that the Finnish alpinists Kalle Palander, Sami Uotila, Jouni Kaitala, Riitta Pitkänen, Anu Pesonen and Petri Härkönen will race for the Atomic team over the next two years. In addition, Amer Sports Finland has agreed to sponsor a group of young talented Finnish alpinists.
"The Finnish racers - and these racers in particular - are amongst the world's best slalom and giant slalom racers. Atomic aims to have a successful international Atomic Racing Team and we are therefore very pleased that the Finnish racers are joining us", says Rupert Huber from Atomic. Based on the World Cup points earned in the 2001/2002 season, Kalle Palander will be the leading alpinist in slalom in the Atomic Racing Team in the coming season and Sami Uotila will be number five in giant slalom.
"We tested several brands and Atomic was the fastest. The Finnish background of Atomic was also important to us. So joining the Atomic team was an easy decision to make", says Palander.
In addition to the agreements with the top Finnish alpinists, Amer Sports Finland will start to support a group of young Finnish alpinists, Jouni Pellinen, Rasmus Laine and Tii-Maria Romar. The young alpinists will be provided with Atomic equipment.
Janne Leskinen, Director for alpine skiing and freestyle in the Finnish Ski Association, is pleased with the agreements: "An alliance with an internationally recognized winter sports equipment company shows that the Finnish alpine skiing has now reached the same level as traditional alpine skiing countries."
Atomic, a subsidiary of Amer Group Plc, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of winter sports equipment. The 2001/2002 season was a successful one for Atomic. Athletes endorsing Atomic's Alpine Racing Products won the Men's Overall World Cup, and the Atomic Freeride Team won the X-Games. At the Winter Olympics. Atomic athletes won 8 alpine and 14 nordic medals.