Our story
Why Protern exists
Protern exists to help athletes and coaches train smarter and improve faster.
In alpine skiing, understanding performance has always required experience, intuition, and long days on the hill. Objective data and video can help, but only if they are accurate, reliable, and practical to use during real training days.
We built Protern to connect performance data and video in a way that works for coaches, athletes, and programs at every level. From daily training sessions to long-term development, Protern is designed to support better decisions on snow and beyond it.
From a simple question to a new way of training
The idea for Protern began with a simple problem. Coaches had access to more data than ever, but no easy way to isolate it, understand it, and use it during training.
The first idea
In the spring of 2019, our team was in Finland working on a prototype product for cross-country skiing with national federation partners. During a training session, one coach said, “If there was an easy way to isolate and analyze all this data, that would be great.”
From cross-country to alpine skiing
Around the same time, Swiss-Ski had been experimenting with GPS sensors for speed skiing at the 2018 Olympic Games. Working closely with Swiss-Ski, we adapted our early software to meet the demands of alpine skiing, where line choice, execution, and timing differences matter every run.
Proof on snow
By July 2019, Protern was ready for real testing. During early trials in Zermatt, Corinne Suter reduced her training run time by over half a second using insights from Protern. This was an early signal that the system could deliver meaningful value on snow.
First World Cup use
In November 2019, Protern was officially launched with its first customer, the Swiss national alpine ski team, at the Lake Louise Audi FIS Ski World Cup. Since then, elite teams using Protern have gone on to win World Cup medals while continuing to refine how they train.
Bringing data and video together
Not long after teams began using detailed run data, coaches started asking the same question. How can we see this information directly on video?
We saw this as an opportunity to move video analysis forward, not just by adding overlays, but by improving the entire workflow around filming, syncing, and reviewing runs.
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Coaches wanted data and video aligned automatically, without manual syncing
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Protern Video was built to add dynamic data overlays that update with each run
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The workflow was simplified so video and data could be reviewed without extra steps
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Today, teams use Protern to review performance visually, consistently, and at scale
Built for real training environments
Protern is designed around how teams actually train. Every feature is built to support clarity, consistency, and long-term development.
Objective performance on any course
Protern provides timing, speed, and split data anywhere on the course. Coaches and athletes can see where time is gained or lost, regardless of terrain or venue.
Video that works on training days
Video analysis is only useful if it fits into the day. Protern simplifies filming, syncing, and review so coaches can focus on feedback, not managing files or tools.
Athletes who stay engaged
Athletes own their Protern sensor, bib, and account. This allows them to review their own data and video, stay engaged in the process, and carry their system with them as they move between teams.
Used by teams around the world
Today, Protern is used by clubs, academies, and national teams across more than 30 countries. Our customers range from youth programs to elite World Cup teams, with national ski teams from over 25 countries using Protern as part of their training process.
Many programs start with one or two training groups before expanding across their entire team. Protern is designed to support that growth, while keeping workflows consistent no matter where athletes are training.
