Stockholm, Sweden (Nov. 26, 2024) — POC, the Swedish brand known for pushing boundaries in sports safety and protection, this week releases a new signature edition with leading freeride skier and current Freeride World Tour champion Hedvig Wessel.
Designed exclusively with Wessel, the new collection stems from Wessel’s natural talents and inspiration drawn from skiing and climbing the beautiful and commanding mountains in her homeland of Norway. This third version of Wessel’s signature series continues to be influenced by her roots.
“Norway’s national mountain, Stetind, inspired my first signature edition with POC, which was followed by Storen,” Wessel said. “Both mountains have beauty and extreme difficulty, and I wanted to follow them with an equally inspiring peak from the Lyngen Alps — Piggtind. When I first saw the sunset and colours that enveloped the mountain I knew I wanted to ski and climb there. And I wanted the collection to speak in the tones I saw and absorbed there, and which would represent the power and beauty of sunsets.”
The new Hedvig Wessel edition includes the Calyx Carbon, Nexal, Nexal Mid and the Devour Glacial, and are inspired by the pink sunsets and beautiful tones of Piggtind.
The Calyx Carbon helmet, certified for mountaineering, skiing and cycling, Nexal goggles and the Devour glacial eyewear are highly suited and developed for technical terrain, especially ski touring where rope work and mountaineering skills are required. It’s an environment where Hedvig spends more time and these products were chosen to meet the demands imposed by skiing in these settings.
As the current Freeride World Tour champion, Wessel inspires many with her technical abilities and natural approach to skiing. But those who followed her journey to the 2024 Freeride World Tour title will know that it has not been straightforward. Wessel started at age 11 with mogul skiing, culminating in representing Norway at two Olympic Games. Having switched to big mountain skiing, today Hedvig is considered as one of the worlds leading freeskiers. It’s her dedication and focus that sets Wessel apart as a skier and artist.
Sofie Tenmark, Special Projects Manager at POC, said: “Being able to work with such a dedicated and talented skier is always a real pleasure. And when that skiing ability is equally matched with a naturally creative and curious mind, the results are just wonderful. The new design we have created together is special, and we are particularly proud to release this edition for all to enjoy.”
The new Calyx Carbon in the collection is limited to fifty pieces, all uniquely numbered and including a handwritten note by Wessel. It will also feature a soft neck warmer. The Devour Glacial will come with a lanyard, ensuring retention in challenging conditions.
