RUNNING WHERE SILVER USED TO BE MINED

“From a dry goods store to a ladies’ and men’s outfitter to a sports specialist – our family business has a long tradition,” says Hans-Peter Noack, authorized manager of INTERSPORT Noack in Freiberg. In figures, this means a tradition that has already existed for 100 years. Founded in 1924 in the Brandenburg town of Lauchhammer, formerly Bockwitz, the Noack family’s business managed by father Hans developed from a place to go for everyday fashion to a specialist sports retailer. From 1978, athletes found everything their hearts desired at Sportartikel Noack – for running, tennis, and many other sports.

After the German reunification, the family business joined the INTERSPORT Deutschland eG, the product range was expanded – and Sportartikel Noack cemented its position as a sports specialist in the region. “Nevertheless, unfavorable economic prospects in Lusatia forced us to find a new location in the years that followed,” recalls Noack. No sooner said than done. In November 2000, the company moved from Lauchhammer to Freiberg, almost 100 kilometers to the south. From Brandenburg to Saxony. To the Ore Mountains.

Not only was the location new, but a new name was also needed: INTERSPORT Noack was born. “It was much more of a new opening than just a relocation. Due to the distance, many people in Freiberg didn’t know us yet and we first had to prove ourselves as a competent sports specialist,” says the 63-year-old. The immediate proximity to the Ore Mountains also made it possible to expand the product range to include mountain and ski sports.

Over the years, INTERSPORT Noack has become an integral part of Freiberg’s town center. Sports enthusiasts can find the specialist at Kaufhausgasse 1–7, directly at Obermarkt. Modernized in 2016, the refurbished store space now includes a renewed ski workshop with laser technology and modern measurement technology for running analyses. “Our aim is to offer our customers a pleasant shopping experience. And that includes finding the best product for each individual customer,” says Noack. “With the right equipment, every sport is even more fun.”

The most important piece of equipment for all runners: their running shoes, of course. Hans-Peter Noack and his team draw on years of expertise to find the perfect running shoe for each individual customer. Detailed product advice includes, among other things, a dynamic running analysis.

With the help of a scanner and a pressure measuring plate by Superfeet, the customers’ biomechanical running data are recorded. Based on this, the INTERSPORT Noack team can identify suitable running shoe models – and, if necessary, support their function by producing 3D-printed insoles. “This is a process that we can do without when selling True Motion running shoes. The shoes themselves center the body,” explains Noack. “The data from our running analyses show this.”

True Motion running shoes have been an integral part of the INTERSPORT Noack range for three years. “The completely new approach quickly won us over,” explains Noack. “The U-TECH™ technology is a promise that many customers feel as soon as they slip into a pair of True Motion running shoes.”

Trying on running shoes before buying them is extremely important. The initial sensation has to be right, because runners feel it with every step. This is why INTERSPORT Noack organizes an exclusive “Running Day” every year in May, where anyone interested can put all the running shoe brands in the range through their paces – including the latest True Motion models.

In addition to equipment for running, sports enthusiasts can also stock up on a wide range of other sports at the region’s sports specialist. Whether you need to restring your tennis racket, your daughter wants to take up skateboarding, or it’s simply time for new sportswear, INTERSPORT Noack in Freiberg offers a range of services in addition to selling sporting goods.

Due to its proximity to the Ore Mountains, hiking and skiing equipment are also an important part of the product range. This means that athletes from the region have a fixed point of contact all year round when it comes to finding new sports equipment. Team sports are not left out either. For example, laser engraving of trophies is also part of the sports specialist’s repertoire.

For many athletes, running is an essential part of their sports routine. If running is not the main sport itself, it is often part of a balanced training plan. Thus, if you need new running shoes in Freiberg and the surrounding area or notice problems with your running and want to get to the bottom of them with the help of a running analysis, INTERSPORT Noack in Freiberg is the right place for you. True to the motto RUN LOCAL, BUY LOCAL.