Snow Sports | Evolving Consumer

It Just CL!CKS

When out on the slopes the last thing you are likely to have is a tool to adjust your bindings. The CL!CK CARABINER is something that will likely be within reach and is thus there when you really need it most.

This tool provides a large slot screwdriver, a pair of Phillips heads and even bottle opener for those times when you reach the end of the run. While designed with skiers and snowboarders in mind, this could be a tool for anyone looking to clip one on. Designer Mark Schmid of San Diego is now looking to Kickstarter to get the CL!CK to click with investors. Video after the jump

Weekend Reading List (11.09.2013): Lance Comes Clean, Student Board, Race Circuit

Lance Comes Clean

From Cycling News: Lance Armstrong exclusive interview: Part 1
A year on from USADA’s Reasoned Decision, Lance Armstrong swivels in his desk chair as he talks at length about the last 12 months and many aspects of his career starting from when he turned professional back in 1992. The now disgraced Texan has agreed to sit down with Cyclingnews Editor Daniel Benson for a face-to-face interview in his new temporary home in a sleepy suburban district of Austin. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (11.09.2013): Lance Comes Clean, Student Board, Race Circuit

Covering the Digits

When you’re out on the slopes you could leave the phone in your pocket (or even home) but you know you’re going to reach for it, and with the Burton Gondy Leather Glove you don’t even need to expose your hands to the cold.

These feature a soft and supple leather shell, Themacore insulation, and GORE-TEX waterproof membrane that will keep the fingers dry, while the TouchTec enabled leather palm is optimized for touchscreen control. If you don’t have these on your hands… leave the phone in the pocket (where it belongs).

Burton Gondy Leather Glove Official Website

Uniform Look

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games are just a few months away, and last week the U.S. Freeskiing Team – which will make its Olympic debut – unveiled its uniforms for the big show at an event in New York City.

These custom uniforms were developed by The North Face, and include laser-cut stars on the jacket cuffs and unlike the debacle with the summer uniforms (which we remember were made in China), these will be produced at a Bay Area factory! Continue reading Uniform Look

Airwave Hello to Winter

Winter is on the way and for those who love the snow sports the Oakley Airwave 1.5 might be the way to wave hello to another season on the slopes. These snow sport goggles don’t just block the wind and snow, but features a heads-up display with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS integration. It can allow wearers to monitor speed and distance, note temperature and even control the music.

Say hello to winter with an Airwave!

Oakley Airwave 1.5 Official Website

Every Third Thursday: Beer Bong Board

Fall is in the air and the guys at Signal Snowboards clearly were enjoying Oktoberfest a bit too much. Their latest creation: Oktobeerfest Beer Bong Snowboard! While we were tempted to file this one under Kinetic(Mis)Shift it is Oktoberfest after all! Video after the jump

POC Opens the Lid

POC Sports will have you looking like the Poc-man this winter, as the company has introduced is new Lid super-wide vision frameless goggle for the slopes. These feature a double lens that is made of optical grade PC/CP and offers the best anti-fog and anti-scratch treatment out there. These goggles provide unobstructed view, which lets wearers react faster to hazards in the peripheral vision.

POC Lid Official Website

It’s Snow Time in Washington

The snow sports industry has seen some ups and downs the last couple of years, and last month board members from SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the snow sports industry’s member-owned trade association, along with National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) board members, joined forces in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to grow participation and to lobby around regulatory and trade issues currently affecting the snow sports industry.

While the meeting looked at efforts to expand snow sport participation programs, including Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and Bring a Friend Challenge, some other important issues were discussed.

SIA and NSAA spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of Congress and their key staff members focusing on five main issues – Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, Miscellaneous Tarriff Bill, TSA Policy for Avalanche Air Bag Canisters, Water Rights for Land Resorts and Immigration and Visas. Continue reading It’s Snow Time in Washington

Except No Substitute

Adidas has created the Cadillac of boots – no make that the Ferrari of boots. OK, third times the charm, the shoemaker has worked with Porsche Design Sport to come up with the Porsche of winter books. The Easy Winter Boots are designed to be a style alternative to traditional boots and feature PrimaLoft insulation, premium nubuck leather upper and protective TPU shell to help feet dry and the weather out. The rugged outsole will even help provide traction on wet surfaces.

You might not want to take that Porsche out of the garage in the winter, but you’d be glad to have these Porsche designed boots on your feet.

Adidas Easy Winter Boots Official Website

CHIPS it On

There are helmets with built in speakers, but the Outdoor Tech audio CHIPS make bringing some tunes with existing helmets a little easier. This wireless drop-in audio system works universally in all helmets with audio ready liners. Users can listen to music or take a quick call free of cords.

The speakers are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices with one-touch pairing, while two button control system allows users to adjust volume, change tracks, play/pause music and answer calls from outside your helmet knit without the need remove the gloves. This one features a rugged, minimal design fits into virtually any helmet designed to take audio drop-ins, and is IPX4 sweat and water resistant. It runs via a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that offers 10 hours of playtime and has a range of up to 30 feet.

Outdoor Tech CHIPS

Nike Boots (almost) Ready for Lunar Landing

The new Nike Lunarterra Arktos books look truly out of this world. The modular books appear to be ready for a cold hostile environment, and while that might not be the moon these will get through the upcoming winter. These feature a Lunarlon midsole that means lighter weight, but with improved comfort and movement of the foot; while the Vac Tec molding helps create a serious seal – it might not endure the vacuum of space but it will keep rain, snow and slush out. Ideal for hiking or just shoveling the driveway these boots will offer stability and keep the feet warm.

Nike also reminds us that “arktos” is ancient Greek for “bear” and is where the term “Arctic” is derived. In other words these arctic ready boots will be good cold weather – and they’ll arrive just in time.

Nike LunarTerra Arkt

Tough Glove

With the calendar telling us that it is October we can’t deny much longer that colder weather is on the way for parts of the country, but the Hestra gloves will keep the digits warm and even provide some extra dexterity.

The Hestra Ergo Grip OutDry Long Gloves, which are arriving in stores this month, are designed for those who need to use a tool or other equipment in cold weather. These aren’t ideal for extreme cold, but for those times when some cover on the fingers is enough these will do the job and more. These feature a waterproof yet breathable OutDry construction along with a thin fleece lining. The palm and fingers of the gloves are designed with a slight inward curve to provide a natural fit out of the box.

The exterior is made of “army goat leather” that has been reinforced with abrasion and heat resistant kangaroo leather. This material means a very tough glove that are up to most tasks.

Hestra Gloves Official Websites

Weekend Reading List (09.28.2013): Big Descent, Race Nerves, Go to Google, Newbie Boards

Big Descent

From GearJunkie: Ski Descent Of Fourth Tallest Mountain On Earth
A three-man Italian team will attempt the first complete ski descent of a coveted line high in the Himalayas this fall. Skiers Edmond Joyeusaz and Federico Colli plan to climb and ski down Lhotse, the fourth tallest mountain in the world at 27,940 feet, with videographer Carlo Limonta in the Lhotse Ski Challenge Expedition. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (09.28.2013): Big Descent, Race Nerves, Go to Google, Newbie Boards