Where to Ski And Snowboard -

New gear for 2010

27th August 2009, by Dave Watts

Bormio 2009

Versatility, ease of use and comfort. These are what innovations in the ski and snowboard equipment market for the coming season are designed to improve. The main stories are that skis are still getting wider, boots are getting comfier, a custom fit helmet has been launched and snowboard technology is bounding ahead. Clothing is getting brighter too, at least for men.

Ten years ago Rossignol Vipers were among the best-selling skis on the market 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. The versatility of wider skis is also improved by the more widespread use of ‘reverse camber’ or ‘rocker technology’ that was introduced on a small scale last season. Basically, this means that the tips of the skis are lifted up from the snow, and this has a twofold effect: first, it improves floatation in powder and crud (and makes landing jumps easier too); and second, it makes turning easier (on-piste as well as off) because less of the ski is in contact with the snow and so pressure is concentrated in the centre section of the ski.

Snow + Rock now divides its skis into four main groups based on the width underfoot: On piste 63mm to 73mm; All Mountain 70mm to 79mm; Freeride 80mm to 98mm; Big Mountain 99mm or more. Last March I went on a week-long test of all the new skis for 2009/10 organised by the Snowsports Industries of Great Britain (a trade body of ski distributors and retailers), and I tested skis in all these categories.

Of the piste skis aimed at decent skiers, the Scott Wind and Rossignol Zenith 4.5 Carbon did well – with the former a little more stable and the latter needing to be skied more elegantly to get the most out of it. First-time buyers should take a look at the Salomon Aeromax Ti, Dynastar Booster 10 and Fischer Viron 2.2. Snow + Rock is offering a special package aimed at first-time buyers – selling the Fischer plus binding, poles, ski bag and a pair of Salomon ski boots for just £299,  an amazing bargain compared with the £499 it would cost to buy them all separately (the ski and binding alone normally sell for £320).

With all-mountain skis (designed to be skied off-piste as well as on), I loved the Salomon X-Wing Tornado Ti and Fischer Watea 78; both these turned really powerfully on the piste and floated fabulously in the powder. The Grizzly from Volkl was fabulous too (as it should be when it sells for £850 including bindings, compared with £400 for the Fischer and £550 for the Salomon). It also has a ‘Power Switch’ system, operated by a dial, which you can twist to activate two carbon rods that run along the length of the ski,  ‘loading or unloading them with power to control the ski’s characteristics and energy’. There are three settings:  ‘cruise’,‘dynamic’ and ‘power’. I tried it and really noticed the difference between the two extremes.

With the freeride skis (designed for people who want to spend most of their time off-piste but some on as well),  top performers included the Rossignol Bandit SC80 (my personal favourite), Scott Mission, Salomon Lord, Volkl Mantra, Fischer Watea 84 and K2 Apache Explorer.  Big, heavy skiers (more like editor Gill than me!) really enjoyed the Volkl AC30 as well. The big mountain category is really designed for people who spend a lot of time in the mountains and want a great ski for powder days. Among others, the K2 Coomback, Salomon Shogun and Volkl Katana all did well.

Kästle skis were not on the test. But Snow + Rock got to try some and was so impressed that it decided to sell them and has an exclusive deal to be the only Kästle stockist in the UK. ‘Their new Hollowtech technology ensures a smooth ride and consistent edge tracking,’ says Ross McCloy, Snow + Rock’s ski equipment buyer.

WOMEN’S SKIS: A BOOMING MARKET

Nearly every manufacturer now produces a range of skis designed specifically for women (from novice to expert), taking account of their different physical make-up to men. In general, women tend to be lighter and less powerful, so manufacturers give their women’s skis a different construction, flex and shape. All this makes for skis that are easier to turn. Favourites include, in the on-piste category: K2 Tru Luv, Fischer Koa 73, Dynastar Exclusive Active, Volkl Estrella and Salomon Origins Amber. All-mountain: K2 Burnin’ Luv, Fischer Koa 78, Rossignol Attraxion 6 and Volkl Fuego. Freeride: K2 Lotta Luv, Rossignol Bandit W80, Salomon Lady, Scott Rosa and Volkl Aura. Big mountain: K2 MissBehaved, Salomon Geisha, Volkl Kiku

BOOTED AND SUITED

The big news in boots this season is that Salomon is rolling out to ten of its models the Custom Shell concept that it introduced in one boot last year. This is good news because I have heard great feedback about it. Before this innovation, customised fit focused on the liner of your boot. But now the shell can be customised too. The boot is warmed up in an oven in the shop, you then step in to it, and the plastic outer shell as well as the liner are moulded to the individual shape of your foot, especially the widest part of the forefoot where most people have the greatest problems. The boot is allowed to cool down,and you have a perfect fit. All in 20 minutes.

Atomic has brought out what it claims to be ‘the world’s first carbon negative, planet positive ski boot’, the Renu. The shell is made from ‘organic bio plastic from Castor plants’ and is also recyclable. And the liner is made from recycled foam and bamboo. It is a high-performance boot and very light – ‘good for the lighter expert skier’, says Ross McCloy.

There’s been innovation in products for the other end of your body too. Your head can now be protected by Salomon’s new Custom Air helmet. This comes with a built-in pump that you can use to inflate the lining of the helmet for a custom fit.  It has the added benefit of giving extra warmth as well.

On the clothing front, women’s clothing this season majors on the colours of a summer garden: soft greens, fuchsia and lemon through to deep purples, rich reds and aqua. They are used in a mix of busy-on-the-eye plaids, stripes and graphic prints interspersed with solid block colours. Men’s colours are bright and bold, often mixing clashing colours for jacket and pants such as royal blue with red, green or yellow. Kjus clothing flew off the Snow + Rock shelves last year and is expected to again – Claire Collins of Snow + Rock says, ‘Their fully technical range oozes style in every detail, even down to their ‘K’ logo, which has taken four years to perfect.’

GET ON BOARD

As with skis, this season sees a flood of reverse camber snowboards coming to the market following last season’s trendsetting success of Lib Tech’s Skate Banana and K2’s rocker technology. K2 now offers three rocker types, the most versatile of which is the All Terrain Rocker available on the Turbo Dream; this works by lifting the tip and tail contact points slightly for a catchfree yet controlled feel that works well across all conditions. This season K2 also launches a new Flatline technology, available on the Believer, Slayblade and women’s Ecopop boards. This is essentially a camberless board that works to distribute pressure evenly along the entire length of the contact edge, giving you optimum control. It also gives you a consistent and reliable feel under your feet whether you’re in the park, pipe, trees or on a groomed run.

Nitro has taken a cue from the reverse camber revolution and developed Gullwing Technology, available on the Team and Sub Zero snowboards. This combines reverse camber in the middle of the board for exceptional powder floatation with regular camber underneath both feet for extra stability, drive through the turns, and pop in the tail. Burton has also introduced reverse camber into its line-up in the form of V-Rocker available on the brand new Joystick, a three-stage design that places a rocker between your feet and two additional rockers in front of your feet. This works in the same way as the Lib Tech and K2 reverse camber boards, giving you more control at your feet and ultimately more fun. Burton also incorporates PDE (pressure distribution edges) to add additional grip under your feet for a more confident feel in the turns. This reverse camber technology is available on the brand new women’s Burton Lipstick board, an all-terrain board with the ICS (infinite channel system) that has been developed to work in harmony with EST (extra sensory technology) bindings. This system has been designed to give you enhanced board feel, way more cushioning to take the sting out of harsh terrain and a system that is much easier to set up, making the ICS channel and EST bindings the ultimate board-to-binding combination.

More and more snowboard companies are now joining in with the likes of Lib Tech, K2 and Arbor to produce more environment-friendly equipment using fewer harmful materials and greater recycled content. Burton now uses re-ground materials in some of its bindings, and 60% recycled steel edges in its boards.

On the binding front, Ride has developed new Wedgie footbeds that use subtle angles to align the ankles and knees to a more natural and comfortable position. This effectively eases the pressure on your ankles and knees and also gives you more leverage for extra pop when you ollie. The Ride NRC bindings feature an adjustable footbed, so you can determine the angle that suits you best, and a Custom flex ankle strap that also allows you to adjust the flex of your binding strap so you can decide if you prefer it stiffer or softer.

SNOW + ROCK TIP

TOP PISTE SKIS
FOR RED RUN SKIERS
Salomon
Aeromax Ti
FOR RED RUN WOMEN
K2 Tru Luv
FOR EXPERTS
Kästle MX 78
FOR EXPERT WOMEN
Fischer Koa 78

SNOW + ROCK TIP

ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS
FOR ADVANCED SKIERS
Fischer Watea 78
FOR ADVANCED WOMEN
Fischer Koa 78
FOR EXPERT SKIERS
Salomon X Wing
Tornado Ti
FOR EXPERT WOMEN
K2 Burnin’ Luv

SNOW + ROCK TIP

TOP SKI BOOTS
FOR RED RUN SKIERS
Nordica Speedmachine
X100
FOR RED RUN WOMEN
Salomon Idol 8 CS
(Custom Shell)
FOR EXPERTS
Salomon Impact
10 CS (Custom
Shell)
FOR EXPERT WOMEN
Fischer Soma My
Style 100

SNOW + ROCK TIP

ULTIMATE SNOWBOARD
SET-UPS
MEN’S ALL MOUNTAIN
Nitro Team board
Union Force
bindings
Salomon Dialogue
boots
WOMEN’S ALL
MOUNTAIN
Ride Promise
board
Burton Stiletto
bindings
Salomon Ivy boots

 

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