1 February 2013, 00:00
Passionate skiers among the consumers can look forward to the skis for next season: they will be even easier to manage, turn and control. In addition, they will be lighter and even more enjoyable.
There are several factors that play a role in this comfort trend: on one hand, Rocker technology in tip and tail provide a shortened effective edge application in the snow – in Freeride, all-mountain, on-piste and race skis. This results in increased agility and easier turn initiation. On the other hand, extra-light, sometimes even multi-layer wood cores (used by companies like Dynastar) and new construction materials have become more common. And finally, the industry applies innovative shock absorption and stabilization systems to increase comfort and performance – on as well as off the groomed runs! For example, there is a freely suspended interface between ski and boot recessed into the ski (Atomic), which transfer all energy to the ski via only a single central point. Similar to a full-suspension bike, this system absorbs bumps from all directions and the ski deflects extremely well.
Furthermore, there are systems that alleviate the weaknesses of Rocker construction, such as vibrations in the ski tip and tail. A stabilizing exterior skeleton frame made of elastomers and fiberglass (Head), for example, or a freely suspensed mass inside the ski (Völkl), which follows the ski’s vibrations with a slight time delay and counteracts them. Turning is made easier with the help of rubber inserts at the tail end (Stöckli). Completely new, often narrower tip and tail geometry (such as by K2, Rossignol, Dynafit) make skis – especially the touring models – even more agile, and lighter thanks to material reduction, such as with the help of an open honeycomb structure (Rossignol).
As a side segment, sporty, narrow slalom and ultra-fast, longer racing models are further developed, and some of them feature Rocker construction in the tip (for example, Fischer). All new on-piste models offer the best possible quiet running performance and stability at even the highest speeds. A new type of spine made of Carbon, combined with side elements running across the ski like ribs have a reinforcing effect (Elan). The combination ensures torsional stability and the ski becomes extremely reactive during turn initiation. Sometimes, a single racing model in a variety of lengths and matching waist dimensions completely covers the range from slalom, 155 to 165 cm, to giant slalom, 170 to 185 cm (Salomon).
The industry focuses in particular on on-piste skis. They will be even easier to handle for most skiers and control is much simpler than before. All-mountain skis with widths between 70 to 80 mm under the binding remain in the spotlight, add to this wider shapes, Rocker construction in the tip and sometimes also in the tail.
They feature more stable wood cores, material and weight reduction, and new construction technologies in areas like the sidecut. Dynamic sidecuts maintain complete contact to the snow, optimize energy transfer and offer more dynamic performance (Blizzard). Other new sidecuts no longer limit the ski to one radious but allow a number of them (e.g. Line). All innovations with which manufacturers are changing the former rather hard to handle all-mountain models into quiet-running, harmonious yet agile skis despite their wide dimensions (e.g. Nordica) – of course, if the set-up is done correctly. Further benefits of this construction: classic leisure skiers can easily handle this ski all day long, including excursions into the powder, tracked terrain or not so great snow conditions.
For all those, who love the backcountry, the selection is growing, compared to last year. Many of the new full-Rocker powder skis are wider and more robust, more playful and effortless than before. Central widths around 130 mm are no longer rate, and often feature 70 percent Rocker pre-tension (such as Mountain Wave). Weight is also an issue in this area: the Freeride skis are getting lighter, despite their length and width, which is a result of state-of-the-art materials like new Carbon fibers, Lithium Aramid and Titanal (Völkl, Elan, Scott) or the use of light wood cores (such as Bambus, Blizzard). They were developed with an eye on the yet young Freetouring ski category. It covers skiers who increasingly shy away from groomed slopes. They prefer to hike with light skis (such as by Nordica), some of them made by smaller manufacturers (such as Movement), touring-compatible ski bindings and lightweight Freemountain ski boots (featuring interchangeable soles and walk function), yet do not want to compromise on downhill performance.
While a few manufacturers still focus on adding weight to the continuously growing classic touring ski segment (La Sportiva) to increase the downhill and competition performance, the majority of the backcountry segment believes in light weight. The result are models weighing just a hair over one kilo (Dynafit, Elan, Scott, Fischer).
Their innovative construction promises less ballast during ascent, yet provide stability and support during the downhill run, in powder as well as on groomed runs. Traditional touring ski shapes are innovatively combined with progressive Rockers. The result: hybrid shapes (such as by Black Diamond), featuring moderate width of less than 100 mm under the binding, yet offering the best performance on a powder day, without a lot of effort needed to lay tracks.
As of next winter, Freestylers can play around with new products such as a ski built like a skateboard with a patented skatedeck construction. It also features durable six-layer maple wood and a 3D zone (Line Ski).
ISPO MUNICH 2013 is held from February 3 to 6, 2013 at Messe München. For more information on ISPO MUNICH as well as the complete side event program, please refer to www.ispo.com/munich. Photos for download are available at the image archive.
Corinna Feicht
MESSE MÜNCHEN GMBH
Assistentin Projekt-PR
Assistant Trade Fair PR
corinna.feicht@messe-muenchen.
Source: Messe München; IFAT