World Cup alpine ski racer Thomas Dreßen named Vredestein brand ambassador

Thomas Dreßen, the retired German World Cup downhill and super-G ski racer, has signed an agreement with Apollo Tyres Ltd to become ambassador for the Vredestein premium tyre brand.

Dreßen will use his platform as a former competitive skier to promote the award-winning Vredestein range of winter and all-season tyres, as well as the brand’s links to international winter sports. Earlier this year, Apollo Tyres signed a new agreement for Vredestein to become the ‘Official Main Sponsor’ of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025.

With five World Cup victories, including his legendary 2018 win in Kitzbühel, which made him the first skier to win a debut race at the location since 1988, and 10 career podium finishes, 30-year-old Dreßen retired from skiing in early 2024 after a series of injuries. Despite stepping away from competition, he remains active in sports, recently completing the 227 km Ötztal Cycling Marathon across the Alps.

In addition to his sporting achievements, Dreßen serves as an ambassador for the Nicolaidis Young Wings Foundation, a charity that provides grief counselling to children and young adults who have lost a parent or partner. This cause is deeply personal to Dreßen, who lost his father, also a skier, in an accident when he was a child.

This new partnership is part of a diverse sports and motorsports marketing programme developed for the Vredestein brand. Earlier this year, the brand became linked with Olympian and champion French runner Yann Schrub, as well as three-time Formula 1 race winner Giancarlo Fisichella.

Commenting on the partnership, Dreßen said: “Winter sports have always been a huge part of my life; and partnering with the Vredestein brand to support the FIS Alpine Ski Championships is a real honour.”

“The high-performance qualities of the Vredestein winter tyre range naturally align with alpine skiing. As an athlete who values top-tier equipment to perform at my best, I see a clear connection between the demands of competitive skiing and the engineering excellence of Vredestein’s winter and all-season tyres.”

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President, Commercial, Europe at Apollo Tyres, said: “We’re excited for the upcoming ski season and are delighted to welcome Thomas to the Vredestein team. His expertise and vast experience make him the perfect ambassador to promote some of our award-wining winter range, which includes the new Ultra-high-performance Wintrac Pro.”