Chinese winter sports equipment industry gains global traction

By Guo Xiaolong, Dou Hao, People’s Daily

Driven by surging interest in winter sports, China’s winter sports equipment industry has expanded rapidly in recent years. Supported by a maturing industrial ecosystem, Chinese manufacturers continue to deliver high-quality products and steadily strengthen their competitiveness and brand recognition in overseas markets.

Customs data reveal that since the latter half of 2025, China’s exports of ice skates to Central and Eastern Europe and ski apparel to North America have recorded double-digit growth. Globally, Chinese ice and snow equipment is gaining broader acceptance and increasing trust among consumers.

This trend was on evident at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Economy Expo 2026. At a  booth from Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, Belarusian ski enthusiast Sergeyevich examined a pair of competition skis. “They offer better responsiveness in turns, improved flex, and rebound — comparable to leading international brands.”

According to Li Zhibo, general manager of the exhibitor, this pair of skis, emblazoned with a five-star red flag, were developed for the Chinese national aerial skiing team. The product has passed four rounds of rigorous testing and is expected to appear at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The skis utilize aerospace-grade composite materials and precision 3D printing technology, achieving superior toughness-to-weight ratios at half the cost of comparable imports. Its R&D team adjusts core materials to match athlete’s power application and technique, shifting from “athlete adapts to equipment” to “equipment adapts to athlete.” This ensures top-tier performance, with multiple technical metrics meeting leading international standards.

“Using equipment development for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics as a springboard, we plan to expand into elite-grade snowboards and alpine skis, so that our homegrown products can gain traction both on the global circuit and and in overseas markets,” said Li.

Not just skis — Chinese-made ski poles are also gaining popularity among international consumers.

At the showcase of Ninghai Better Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. (Better) in Ninghai county, Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang province, a wide variety of ski poles are displayed — foldable, telescopic, ultra-lightweight.