SIA trade show attendees making their way inside the Colorado Convention Center to suss out the latest ski goods. Photo courtesy SIA/Chris Schneider
What do Julia Mancuso, Sage Kotsenburg, Glen Plake, Bode Miller, and every ski and snowboard retailer and manufacturer in the country have in common? They were all at the annual Ski Industries America trade show in Denver last week to talk shop, display wares, suss out what’s new, and schmooze at the snowsports industry’s largest gathering. And, oh yeah, there was also a bit of partying everywhere from the off-campus Burton showroom to a block party hosted by apparel-maker Spyder.
Offering four days of networking with anyone who’s anyone in the snow sports industry, this year’s show saw more than 20,000 attendees from 1,000 brands exhibiting in more than 332,000 square feet of space at the Colorado Convention Center. Afterwards, attendees headed to Copper Mountain’s on-snow demo event to test the new products on the slopes.
A show attendee sampling a giant goggle in the Oakley booth. Photo courtesy Eugene Buchanan
Couldn’t be there yourself to see what’s new, including air-insulated jackets (yes, you pump them up), inflatable snow shoes, and skis that actually fold into thirds and slip in your backpack? Behold our round-up of a few new freeride products—including skis, boots, bindings, protective apparel and airbags—that you can expect to see on retailers’ shelves next season.
BCA’s new avalanche airbag; photo courtesy BCA
Protective apparel
Push the envelope far enough and a helmet alone won’t cut it anymore. Long popular in Europe, body protection apparel is now ringing up cash registers domestically as skiers and riders hit parks, pipes, and more. “Back protection is vital,” maintains Salomon’s Chris Mckearin, whose Flexcell spine protector comes with a hard, flexible exoskeleton and removable back pads for modern-day huckers. Citing that 25 percent of avalanche fatalities are caused by chest trauma, Backcountry Access (BCA) unveils its MtnPro protective line, including the Float Vest, which offers spinal protection as well as an avalanche airbag for snowmobilers.
Airbag packs
Airbags are the latest rage in avalanche protection, keeping skiers and riders on the surface if caught in a slide. Market leader Backcountry Access offers the Float 8, 22, and 32 airbag packs, powered by compressed air that lets you easily refill the canisters for multiple deployments. The Float 32 (32 liters) includes a fleece-lined goggle pocket, two waistbelt pockets, dual ice axe carrying system, side cinch straps and adjustable waistbelt.
Dynafit’s new Chugach touring skis; photo courtesy Dynafit.
Backcountry skis
Weight savings for the up, performance for the down. That’s the take-home from the backcountry ski category for 2015/16. “Gear is getting lighter and more efficient,” says DPS Skis’ Erme Catino. “That’s where the momentum’s going.” Leading the charge: Category pioneer Dynafit, which unveils a new two-model, Free Tour ski collection, including the 108mm-underfoot Chugach ($800) and 118mm-underfoot Hokkaido ($900), both with Dynafit “Scoop Rocker3.” Manufacturers are also targeting resort-accessed backcountry. “Skis that rip inbounds still need to be light enough for side-country use,” says G3’s Gord Bailey, which debuts its powder-oriented Scapegoat Carbon ($929.95), which weighs just 5 pounds, 13 ounces per pair.
One of countless retailers deciding what to stock his store shelves with this year; photo courtesy SIA/Chris Schneider.
Backcountry bindings
This year it’s all about DIN releasability, the kind that traditional alpine bindings have, in the tech, or pin-binding, world. Dynafit addresses these with the freeride-focused Beast 14 ($750), with a DIN range of 5-14, and lightweight Radical ST 2.0 ($550), retaining the original’s simple operation. Alpine stalwart Marker also enters the tech-binding category with its Kingpin ($599/$649), which has a six-spring toe piece and alpine-style heel. “Our goal was to engineer a frameless PinTech binding comparable with conventional alpine bindings in performance, comfort, and protection,” says R&D director Michael Mangold.
G3 debuts the new ION LT, which weighs just 456 grams per binding, with release values of 5-12. “AT bindings have become very acceptable, even to skiers using big freeride skis,” says G3′s Bailey.
Dynafit’s new carbon Khion backcountry boot; photo courtesy Dynafit
Backcountry boots
In boots these days, it’s all about having a walk mode, which, unlike its alpine brethren, loosens the cuff for easy walking and ski touring. Dynafit debuts its new free-touring Khion Carbon, whose new Precision Lock System locks down the cuff in ski mode and releases it to walk. Salomon hangs its hat on its new 1,576-grams-per-boot MTN LAB ($900), an alpine-touring/freeride boot. And Scott enters the market with its new four-buckle, 1,400-gram Superguide Carbon boot, featuring a Powerlite Carbon shell and high-range-of-motion tour mode.
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