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TSG Timeline

TSG History

Milestones of our history

More than 30 years ago TSG was born in a german student town called Münster. The first BMX craze had just come to an end and skateboarders were protecting their extremities using made-up pads and weird helmets that weren’t intended for skateboarding. This was the moment when TSG was born.


THE STORY OF TSG

Back in 1988, the Iron Curtain was still in place, Run-D.M.C., Rakim and Public Enemy ruled rap while N.W.A. raised straight outta Compton to put the west coast on the map. Snowboarding was in its infancy and most mountain bikes were still rigid even though the first full-suspension model had just been released. The first BMX craze had just come to an end and skateboarders were protecting their extremities using made-up pads and weird helmets that weren’t intended for skateboarding.

This was the moment when TSG was born. Riders needed technical safety gear, and that’s what we gave them. As fanatical skaters ourselves, we developed and launched the first protective pads for skateboarders in 1988 and our first skate helmet two years later.

Today, a dizzying 30 years on, with tremendous progress in technology, design and style, TSG is still rider driven, still privately owned and operated, and still dedicated to making the best protective gear in the world. Designed in Switzerland.

The TSG Timeline

1988
1988_tsg-history-brand-foundation.jpg
Titus Dittmann founds TSG (Technical Safety Gear) in Germany.
1988_tsg-history_first-protection-pads.jpg
TSG develops and launches the first protective pads for skateboarders
1990
1990_tsg-history-first-helmet.jpg
TSG introduces its first skateboard helmet (Helmet Regular)
1994
1994_tsg-history-first-bmx-mtb-pads_katalog_season_1998.jpg
TSG presents its first BMX and MTB specific pads
1996
1996_tsg-history_us-team.jpg
Tony Hawk, Rune Glifberg, Buster Halterman, Mike Vallely, and Ryan Nyquist: TSG’s skateboard & BMX team is nothing but impressive!
1998
1998_tsg-history_first-certified-helmet.jpg
TSG launches the first certified hard-shell skate and BMX helmet worldwide
1998_tsg-history_company-logo.jpg
TSG establishes its first company-logo helmets in cooperation with skate brands
1999
1999_tsg-history_tony-hawk-crash-helmet.jpg
Launch of the Tony Hawk Pro Model helmet. The Birdman tests its quality in a very odd way when he lands on his head doing a loop. The film crew expects him to be in a coma, but Tony is fine. He thanks us by signing this helmet and sending it back to us.
1999_tsg-history_first-snowboard-helmet_katalog_season_2000.jpg
TSG creates its first snowboard helmet
2005
2005_tsg-history_ruedi-herger.jpg
Ruedi Herger and his partners take over TSG from Titus AG. They found TSG International AG and relocate the headquarters and design lab of the company to Zurich, Switzerland
2005_tsg-history_mtb-line.jpg
TSG develops a comprehensive mountain bike helmet and protection line
2005_tsg-history_mtb_timo-pritzel_berlin-wall.jpg
TSG team rider Timo Pritzel jumps over the Berlin Wall with his mountain bike
2005_tsg-history_snowboard_riders.jpg
TSG starts sponsoring snowboarders. The first team riders are Eero Ettala, Gian Simmen and Iouri Podladtchikov
2006
2006_tsg-history_evolution.jpg
The Evolution helmet is the first half-shell helmet with TSG custom snug fit, setting new standards in fit and comfort
2006_tsg-history_snowboard-helmet.jpg
TSG designs a comprehensive snowboard and ski helmet and protection line
2007
2007_tsg-history_superlight.jpg
TSG launches its first in-mold half-shell helmet: Weighing in at 300g the Superlight is the lightest half-shell helmet ever!
2008
2008_tsg-history_skateistan.jpg
TSG collaborates with non-profit organisation Skateistan
2010
2010_tsg-history_kraken-helmet.jpg
TSG introduces the Kraken helmet, the world’s first helmet that flexes and conforms to the head!
2010_tsg-history_nipper_mini.jpg
TSG unveils the Nipper helmet line, the world’s lightest kids half-shell helmets
2011
2011_tsg-history_award-ispo.jpg
The Arctic Kraken helmet wins the ISPO Boardsports Award
2011_tsg-history_skate-aid.jpg
Start of collaboration with non-profit organisation Skate-Aid
2012
2012_tsg-history_award-eurobike.jpg
The Kraken+ helmet, TSG’s first helmet with MIPS technology, wins the EUROBIKE Award
2012_tsg-history_softfoam_kneeguard_nose_dive_timo.jpg
TSG introduces its first soft foam protection line
2013
2013_tsg-history_dawn-helmet.jpg
The Dawn Helmet is the first certified full-cut helmet worldwide
2013_tsg-history_roller-derby-line_svrg_baroninvonlinse.jpg
TSG’s first Roller Derby protection line
2013_tsg-history_stay-strong.jpg
Start of co-operation with Stephan Murray’s Stay Strong
2013_tsg-history_fmb-champ_sam-pilgrim_rampage_2013_by_aledilullo-8955.jpg
Sam Pilgrim is crowned FMB World Tour Champion with a TSG Evolution helmet
2014
2014_tsg-history_first-bike-apparel.jpg
TSG’s first bike apparel line
2014_tsg-history_d3o.jpg
TSG starts using D3O protection foam in its protection
2014_tsg-history_dawn-flex-helmet.jpg
The Dawn Flex is the most comfortable certified full-cut helmet
2014_tsg-history_pass-helmet.jpg
The Pass Helmet is TSG’s first downhill skateboard full-face helmet, develop with three-times world DH champion Martin Siegrist
2014_tsg-history_goggle-one.jpgTSG releases its first ski and snowboard goggle, Goggle One
2014_tsg-history_iouri-podladtchikov_olympic.jpg
Iouri Podladtchikov wins the Olympic Games in Sotschi wearing a TSG Fly helmet
2015
2015_tsg-history_trailfox-helmet.jpg
The Trailfox helmet is TSG’s first enduro specific helmet
2015_tsg-history_mtb-apparel_jonas-janssen.jpg
TSG engages designer and mountain biker Jonas Janssen for product design and development of the TSG bike apparel lines
2016
2016_tsg-history_status-helmet.jpg
The Status Helmet becomes TSG’s first urban specific helmet with LED lights. It also sports the first all-reflective shell in the world
2017
2017_tsg-history_artilage-foam.jpg
TSG starts using Arti-Lage protection foam in its protection
2017_tsg-history_presto-mtb-goggle.jpg
TSG launches its first MTB goggle, The Presto
2017_tsg-history_bike_appparel.jpg
TSG introduces its MTB apparel line in collaboration with team riders Timo Pritzel, Amir Kabbani and Sam Pilgrim
2018
2018_tsg-history_30th-anniversary.jpg
TSG celebrates its 30thanniversary
2018_TSG-History_WRT-coop.jpg
TSG joins forces with the World Rookie Tour
2019
2019_TSG-history_scope-launch.jpg
TSG launches new mountain bike enduro helmet: The Scope Helmet
2020
2020_TSG-history_kneepad-wavesk8.jpg
TSG designs first knee pad for surf skate: The Kneepad Wavesk8.
2021
2021_TSG-history_sentinel-launch.jpg
TSG launches the Sentinel Full-Face Downhill Helmet together with helmet designer Stephane Dion.
2021_TSG-history_first-sunglasses.jpg
TSG introduces its first sunglasses
2021_TSG-history_olympia-2020_daniel-dhers.jpg
Daniel Dhers (VEN) wins silver at the Olympic Summer Games 2020 in Tokio in BMX Freestyle wearing a TSG Meta helmet. The Games took place in summer 2021 because of the corona pandemic situation.
2022
2022_TSG-history_wmn-mtb-apparel.jpg
TSG debuts with mountain bike apparel for women. Developed and designed together with sports apparel designer and avid snowboarder and mountain biker Heida Birgitdottir.
TSG starts cooperation with Schneestern, the masters of action sport parks & and with surf camp specialist Wavetours.