Where to Ski And Snowboard -

New gear for 2012 – the trends

22nd October 2011, by Dave Watts

Ski test 2011/12 - Bormio, Italy [(c) Dave Watts]

Every year, new developments and technology mean that the skis, boots and snowboards on offer get better and better. This year is no exception, with some great leaps forward for every type of equipment. The key innovations for the coming season are designed to improve versatility, ease of use and comfort.

The main stories are that Salomon has a revolutionary new ski that is likely to acquire cult status, skis in general are still getting wider, more skis and snowboards are featuring ‘rocker’ technology, boots are getting comfier with more custom-fit options and ski-walk modes, and clothing is lighter and stretchier.

Last March I went on a week-long test of all the new skis for 2011/12 organised by the Snowsports Industries of Great Britain, a trade body of ski distributors and retailers. There were over 750 pairs available, and I tested skis in all categories from intermediate piste skis through all-mountain to expert freeride.

REVOLUTIONARY NEW SALOMON BBR SKIS

The new Salomon BBR skis were the talk of the test. These have hugely wide shovels of 140mm or more (compared with, say, 120mm for more conventional skis) and pointed tips. The guy who came up with the very successful Salomon X-Scream and Pocket Rocket skis designed them, and the story is that the BBR concept was inspired by the way that a surfboard works, with the tip pushing water out of the way.

Salomon refuses to categorise them as any particular type of ski because they are so different from any other skis currently on the market. It claims they are a ‘powder ski that carves on-piste’ and ‘a piste ski that floats in powder’. Marketing hype maybe but I loved them and thought they were great fun, turning remarkably quickly and giving a solid, confidence-building platform, both on- and off-piste.

My guess is they will prove hugely popular and you’ll see these blue monsters everywhere for the next few seasons. They are available in a 7.9 model (easier to use) and an 8.9 (for faster, more aggressive skiers).

WIDER AND WIDER

There were lots of other excellent skis at the test too, and the trend to wider skis continues. Ten or so years ago Rossignol Vipers were among the best-selling skis and were 68mm underfoot and 111mm at the front.

Now the norm is more like 78mm underfoot and 120mm at the widest point. Wider skis are more stable, easier to ski and more versatile – they float a lot more easily through powder and crud as well as still turning easily because of the greater sidecut.

Snow+Rock now divides its skis into four main groups based on the width underfoot: On Piste 63mm to 73mm; All Mountain 74mm to 81mm; Freeride 82mm to 102mm; Big Mountain 103mm or more.

The versatility of wider skis is also improved by the spread of ‘rocker technology’. Basically, this means that the tips (and often the tails) of the skis are lifted up from the snow, which improves flotation in powder and crud and makes turning easier (on- as well as off-piste) because less of the ski is in contact with the snow so pressure is concentrated in the centre section. Now lots of skis have ‘rocker’; K2, for example, has it on virtually its whole range.

Examples of the best skis on test, and of the new season’s skis for women, can be seen in our next feature: New gear for 2011/12 – part deux: the skis.

Salomon’s new BBR ski (top, bottom, blue) and Enduro LX (middle, red)

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