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Elan (company)
Encyclopedia
Elan is a Slovenia
n company, located in Begunje
, specializing in the production of sporting goods. It is best known for its ski
s and snowboard
s. Other products include sailboat
s from 30 to 50 ft length, motor yacht
s, apparel (mostly sportswear), equipment for sports facilities. The brand-name became better known in the 1970s, when Swedish skiing ace Ingemar Stenmark
won three consecutive Alpine skiing World Cup
s on Elan skis.
Elan company changed the world ski industry by inventing shaped skis, also called parabolic skis, that made carve turns possible at low speeds and with short turn radius. They were first developed in 1988 by Jure Franko
who calculated a suitable flex pattern for new kind of skis with his colleague Pavel Skofic. They organized a project dubbed SideCut Extreme – SCX – and set out to build prototypes.
The Elan Group consists of 20 interlinked companies under the joint ownership of the Skimar company. Most of the group’s companies use the Elan brand-name and logo as part of their projects, products and services. The company's headquarters are located in Begunje
, Slovenia, while its various manufacturing companies are scattered throughout Central Europe: Elan skis and sailing yachts are made in Slovenia, Elan snowboards
are manufactured in Austria
, and its motor yachts are produced in Croatia
. The group markets its products through independent distributors in 46 countries over the world, with marketing taken over by Elan’s own companies in North America, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland.
Elan 31
The Elan 31 is a monohull boat created by Humphreys Yacht Design and sold since 2002. The hull is a 9.20 meters long (31 feet). It weighs 4,5000 kgs and it’s a single-masted sail boat (sloop). Its draft goes to 1.85 meters. It can contain 138 liters of fresh water and 44 liters of gas.
The Elan is designed for 6 people and it’s a very comfortable boat for sailing : there’s a gallery, two cabins and a little bathroom. It’s a beautiful and elegant boat which is recommended for learning to sail.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n company, located in Begunje
Begunje
Begunje is a village in the Radovljica municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. It is the location of the headquarters of the Elan Line company. The 12th century Kamen castle lies just outside the village and the 15th century Katzenstein mansion, rebuilt in the late 17th century, at...
, specializing in the production of sporting goods. It is best known for its ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
s and snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
s. Other products include sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
s from 30 to 50 ft length, motor yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, apparel (mostly sportswear), equipment for sports facilities. The brand-name became better known in the 1970s, when Swedish skiing ace Ingemar Stenmark
Ingemar Stenmark
Jan Ingemar Stenmark is a Swedish former skier, active during the 1970s and 1980s. He is regarded as one of the most prominent Swedish sportsmen, and as the greatest slalom and giant slalom specialist of all time. He competed for Fjällvinden Tärnaby.Stenmark was born in the province of Lappland...
won three consecutive Alpine skiing World Cup
Alpine skiing World Cup
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions, launched in 1966 by a group of ski racing friends and experts which included French journalist Serge Lang and the alpine ski team directors from France and the USA...
s on Elan skis.
History
The company originates from a Yugoslav Partisan workshop that operated during the Second World War, when skis were produced for the local Partisan forces. Begunje fielded the only specialized Partisan ski-unit of Yugoslavia during the war.Elan company changed the world ski industry by inventing shaped skis, also called parabolic skis, that made carve turns possible at low speeds and with short turn radius. They were first developed in 1988 by Jure Franko
Jure Franko
Jure Franko is a Slovenian former alpine skier, best known for winning a giant slalom silver medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo....
who calculated a suitable flex pattern for new kind of skis with his colleague Pavel Skofic. They organized a project dubbed SideCut Extreme – SCX – and set out to build prototypes.
The Elan Group consists of 20 interlinked companies under the joint ownership of the Skimar company. Most of the group’s companies use the Elan brand-name and logo as part of their projects, products and services. The company's headquarters are located in Begunje
Begunje
Begunje is a village in the Radovljica municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. It is the location of the headquarters of the Elan Line company. The 12th century Kamen castle lies just outside the village and the 15th century Katzenstein mansion, rebuilt in the late 17th century, at...
, Slovenia, while its various manufacturing companies are scattered throughout Central Europe: Elan skis and sailing yachts are made in Slovenia, Elan snowboards
Elan snowboards
Elan Snowboards is a member of world-famous Slovenian ski company Elan Group and is one of the world's largest producer of high-end snowboards and produces boards since 1987...
are manufactured in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and its motor yachts are produced in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The group markets its products through independent distributors in 46 countries over the world, with marketing taken over by Elan’s own companies in North America, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland.
Elan 31
The Elan 31 is a monohull boat created by Humphreys Yacht Design and sold since 2002. The hull is a 9.20 meters long (31 feet). It weighs 4,5000 kgs and it’s a single-masted sail boat (sloop). Its draft goes to 1.85 meters. It can contain 138 liters of fresh water and 44 liters of gas.
The Elan is designed for 6 people and it’s a very comfortable boat for sailing : there’s a gallery, two cabins and a little bathroom. It’s a beautiful and elegant boat which is recommended for learning to sail.
Popculture
- 1985 - "Russians" were skiing on ELAN in MGMMetro-Goldwyn-MayerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
James Bond series A View to a KillA View to a KillA View to a Kill is the fourteenth spy film of the James Bond series, and the seventh and last to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from Ian Fleming's short story "From a View to a Kill", the film is the fourth Bond film after The Spy Who Loved...
film with Roger Moore - 1988 - Elan skis were clearly shown in 20th Century Fox20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
romantic comedy film Working GirlWorking GirlWorking Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank...
. Katharine Parker (Sigourney WeaverSigourney WeaverSigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
) was skiing on RC ELAN skis and poles. And co-starring with Melanie GriffithMelanie GriffithMelanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
, Harrison FordHarrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
, Alec BaldwinAlec BaldwinAlexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
and Joan CusackJoan CusackJoan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
.
External links
- elansports.com an Official page
- elanskis.com for Skis section
- elansnowboards.com for Snowboards section
- sail.elan-yachts.com for marine yachts
- elan-yachting.com for yachting
- elan-inventa.com for equipment and services for sports facilities
- elansports.com.ua for Ukraine market