Austria Ski Team playing cards

These two packs share the same back design (reproduced on the back of each box) and seven of the skiers appear in both packs. However, those are really the only similarities. See the boxes

Pack 1 is a non-standard version of a Four Seasons Class B pack with German suits. All the cards are divided horizontally. Because traditionally in a ‘Seasons’ pack the courts are all male, so in this pack all the skiers are male. Each is named discreetly in two corners. All wear jackets with the names of their sponsors. The manufacturer’s name and logo appear on the VII of Bells and Piatnik’s name also appears on the IX of Leaves. The box indicates that this was a present from the Austria Ski Team.

Above: Austria Ski Team ‘Seasons’ playing cards produced by Piatnik, c.2000. 32 cards + 1 “Weli” card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 100 mm.

Pack 2 is French-suited. This time the courts are divided at an angle, with each skier named in the central band. A French-suited pack requires queens, so the Obers in the German-suited version have been replaced by four female skiers. All wear jackets with the names of their sponsors. Piatnik’s name only appears on the extra card. The box indicates that this was a present from Kronen Zeitung, Austria’s largest newspaper.

Above: Austrian Ski Team French-suited playing cards produced by Piatnik, c.2000. 32 cards + 1 extra card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 100 mm.

On each tuck box a claim is made that each pack contains “16 Assen” (16 Aces). In one sense that is true but there are in fact only 12 different skiers in each pack, the other four Aces (or Deuces) being plain. The most famous skier depicted is probably Hermann Maier, who appears on the King of Hearts in both packs.