Adorable Story #52: Willy Bogner Jr.

The pro skier, turned film-maker, turned fashion icon

Willy Bogner Jr. filming with his crew — Photo © Bogner.com

Willy Bogner Jr. was one of the world’s best Alpine skiers and was crowned German champion several times. He missed out on gold in slalom following a fall at the 1960 Olympics.

He took part in the production of four James Bond movies in his role as a ski cameraman and movie director.

In 1972, he launched his first ski fashion collection “Formula W”, and in 1977 he took over the reins from his father Willy Bogner Sr. as head of the Bogner company, acting as CEO for 39 years before passing on leadership in 2016.

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Willy Bogner was born in Munich, to Wilhelm (Willy Sr.) and Maria Bogner on January 23, 1942.

Willy Bogner Sr. — Photo © Bogner.com

His father Willy Bogner Sr. had been an enthusiastic skier since his earliest youth who then learned the skiing business from Norwegian legendary ski manufacturer Marius Eriksen (father of the future Olympic giant slalom champion of 1952, Stein Eriksen).

Willy Bogner Sr. represented Germany at the 1936 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing and Nordic combined.

Skiing Career

In 1960 Willy Jr. won the prestigious Lauberhorn downhill at Wengen, when he was only 17-years-old.

Willy placed ninth in downhill at the Squaw Valley Olympics, but due to a fall was unable to finish the giant slalom, despite leading after the first run. In 1962 Willy won the slalom and Alpine combined at the Winter Universiade.

After competing at the 1964 Winter Olympics, he skied in the 1966 World Championships, placing fourth in the slalom and fifth in the combined.

Filmmaking

Retiring from professional skiing after the 1966 ski season, Willy began a film-making career, which has been quite successful.

As a filmmaker, Willy was not only full of ideas, but has also always been enthusiastic about using the latest technology available.

In 1966, his first film “Ski Fascination” offered a combination that had never been seen before in sports films: a choreography of snow artistry, sketches and ski ballet, shot on the slopes in Ultrascope.

The shots, which were as novel as they were spectacular, were the reason why Willy was later hired for the 1969 James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (for which he quickly invented a special mount for the 16 kg Panavision camera including a Hasselblad viewfinder system).

Bond & Bogner

Willy was a filmmaker for several James Bond movies, notably “A View to a Kill” for which he won the 1985 Bambi Award, and the Bavarian Film Award Special Prize in 1986.