Rossignol, the world's oldest and biggest ski maker, will cut the wages paid to its skiers by 50 per cent next season to help the company survive the economic crisis.

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Rossignol, sold by Quicksilver to Australia's Macquarie Bank and US consumer group Jarden last November, announced last month it was cutting 400 jobs, or 30 per cent of its staff.

"We have asked them (skiers) to accept a 50 percent cut in their fixed salary," chairman Bruno Cercley told French sports daily L'Equipe.

The company was not immediately available to comment.

Among the skiers under contract with Rossignol are overall World Cup winner Lindsey Vonn (pictured) of the United States and France's Jean-Baptiste Grange, who won this year's slalom World Cup.

"Although they did not jump for joy, they understand. They appreciated the transparency and the explanation," Cercley was quoted as saying.