Tag: ski

Made in America: TwentyTwo Designs Telemark Ski Bindings

Named after Wyoming Highway 22, which travels over the 8,431-foot Teton Pass a favorite spot for backcountry skiers, TwentyTwo Designs is dedicated to producing some of the best telemark ski bindings in the world. Started in 2004 by two mechanical engineers, Chris Valiante and Collins Pringle, TwentyTwo Designs inherited the HammerHead binding design from Rainey Designs and continued to improve upon it along with creating their own bindings.

Continue reading Made in America: TwentyTwo Designs Telemark Ski Bindings

SIA Preview: Boots That Fit Like a Glove, Only Better

While a lot of skiing is of course about the actual skis, the truth is that it is the boots that play a big role. Having ill fitting boots can result in bad form and accidents. But now Fisher Skis US is looking to make ski boots that fit like a glove.

The Fischer Vacuum Fit pretty much gives away how they accomplish this, setting a new standard in Alpine boots, making for the first ski footwear that has a 100 percent custom fit. The patented Fischer VACU-PLAST material provides for a completely anatomical fit of the entire boot. But yet it doesn’t take a massive amount of time or money to obtain this level of quality. Fittings can be in about 20 minutes, offering a reliable and stable result. The material inside can be reshaped up to five times ensuring that each customer gets a 100 percent perfect fit.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading SIA Preview: Boots That Fit Like a Glove, Only Better

Backcountry Access Offers Potential Lifesaving Avalanche Kits

While deep snow is reportedly good for business at ski resorts, there was a downside to it. The Kirkwood Mountain Resort reported the 500 inches of annual snowfall and high base elevation make for some of the deepest, driest powder conditions in the Sierra. This is good for skiing, but it can create a dangerous situation – namely avalanches.

This season the resort purchased a fleet of 42 Backcountry Access Float 30 avalanche airbags and Tracker 2 beacons for use by the ski patrol. These products actually improve the survival rates for those unfortunate enough to be caught in avalanche conditions. The technology is still in its infancy, and it is a physical, not electronic, weapon against the avalanche burials.

The concept of the Float 30 is simple: if caught in an avalanche, pull the t-grip and a 150-liter airbag deploys out of the backpack and essentially “floats” the skier, now with increased mass, to the top of the slough as smaller debris fills in underneath. This decreases odds of a full burial and response time of potential rescuers due to increased visibility. BCA reports that in 98% of the recorded Float 30 deployments, the avalanche victims survived. Continue reading Backcountry Access Offers Potential Lifesaving Avalanche Kits

Airbag for Ski Slopes

We’ve been hearing about a variety of new technologies that are meant to help athlete better survive crashes, and the latest is a wearable airbag from Dainese that has the approval of the International Ski Federation (FIS). This project is now in the early stages of testing, and it is based on similar technology that has been designed for motorcycle racing.

The system essentially combines an inflatable bag with multiple accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS technology with 2GB of internal memory. It is deployed automatically in just 45 milliseconds when crash conditions are detected – and that according to reports is the key to the system. It needs to be able to tell the difference between a normal ski run and a potentially injury-inducing fall. Any sort of spill on the slopes could result in a land that is as soft as powdery snow.

Dainese Official Website

SIA: Snow Sports Looks to Another Good Year

While much of the country is again trying to dig out from a major winter storm, the white stuff probably has the snow sport industry smiling. After all, if it is going to snow you might as well enjoy it. This week the shift has moved from the show floor halls at Snowsports Industries of America to the outdoor demo days, but we look back at the word from the show.

The buzz is that the slopes will feature skiers and riders clad in “svelte” high-tech gear of all sorts, including down sweaters, as well as faux fur and tight fitting outfits with bold colors. On the board there will likely be more rocking, as the major trend continues to be the rocker shapes, as well as a greater emphasis on all-terrain freestyle boards.

Snowboarding and skiing will likely take a cue from cycling, with helmets becoming a greater emphasis for safety. According to numbers from the show, the numbers of people wearing helmets has increased to a record high 57 percent. And as with other sports, the helmets are evoking a new sense of style, becoming fashion accessories rather than just protective gear. Continue reading SIA: Snow Sports Looks to Another Good Year

SIA: Bluetooth Comes to Googles

If you’re having a working vacation on the slopes, or just think you can do serious multitasking, the Recon ski goggles with Bluetooth might be for you. The company has added the wireless technology to its latest line of Transcend GPS-powered alpine goggles, and these can connect with a smartphone to access playlists, caller ID or even to read text messages.

The new goggles, which were shown last week at the SIA (Snowsports Industries of America) trade show in Denver, can also connect to a video camera, with the LCD screen within the eyewear lens acting as a viewfinder. These Transcend goggles further feature a navigation system with buddy-tracking and even integrated trail maps.

Pricing and availability haven’t been announced, but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for these.

Recon Official Website

Ski Helmets Help Reduce Injuries, But Advanced Skiers Still Most Likely to Face Serious Injury

Ski helmets are finally catching on, but like cycling helmets it is only slowly gaining momentum. No doubt many people feel that the white stuff is fluffy and soft and thus not so bad in a fall. The truth is that hard packed snow can be deadly, as can rocks, trees and other obstacles. All this makes a “brain bucket” all the more important to wear.

However, common sense – as in using what’s inside the helmet – can be a key to staying safe. This week The Wall Street Journal noted that shorter skis and helmets have reduced ski injuries, but added that the average number of people who die on the slopes in America has remained about the same. The other disturbing fact is those who are more likely to die are intermediate or advanced skiers, who are often wearing a helmet. Continue reading Ski Helmets Help Reduce Injuries, But Advanced Skiers Still Most Likely to Face Serious Injury

Snow Won’t Stop the Bond Bike

While mountain bikes can handle reasonable amounts the white stuff, usually deep snow means it is time to hit the rollers or exercise bike instead. Two wheels and thick packed snow just don’t mix. But the British Environmental Transport Association (ETA) might have an alternate solution with a special bike kit that utilizes a caterpillar track-driven snow bike.

BikeRadar.com reported that the bike, which was designed as a proof of concept device for the Cycle Show 2010 in London, actually found use following the recent snow fall in Britain last week. The concept converts any existing 26-inch mountain bike (hard tail or full suspension) into a snow bike by replacing the front wheel with a single ski and using a rubber track setup with the rear wheel. This solution allows the rider to retain the use of the gears and rear brake. Super villain and Bond girl not included.

[Via BikeRadar: Taking the ‘Bond bike’ for a spin in the snow]

Clever Socks From SmartWool

Winter means extra thick socks. These help keep the toes warm, but the right socks can also ensure that they stay dry and in place through athletic activity as well. SmartWool has new pairs of socks for the upcoming ski and winter sport season that are downright clever.

The SmartWool PhD Ski and Snowboard collection offers high performance socks (yes, there is such a thing these ays), which are keep feet warm, protected and dry throughout a day on the slopes. A mesh ventilation zone further helps the feet breathe to reduce sweaty feet – which in turn can mean cold feet as activity slows down. These feature a unique 4 Degree Fit System that ensures that socks stay in place and won’t bunch up or worse slip down. This not only makes for more comfortable socks, but also helps prevent friction and potential blisters.

The SmartWool PhD socks are made from high grade Merion wool, which is a natural insulator and can help regulate temperature to keep feet warm when it’s downright cold outside. Wool in itself is an antimicrobial that can further prevent odor causing bacteria from building up.

Additionally, the socks are nothing short of genius too, and can do much more than just piling on a second pair. These will actually provide cushion thanks to SmartWool’s WoW technology that includes high density impact zones with custom-fit feeling. There is even extra cushioning provided around the shin, heel and instep. This won’t exactly put springs in your step, but will help you feel like you’re walking on fluffy snow even if it is hardpacked.

SmartWool Official Website

Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

The Italians take fashion seriously; there is simply no denying that fact. And although it is also a well-established fact that the Italians really like to keep their hair well styled, they also are taking safety on the mountains quite seriously these days. But just because you need to protect your eyes and your noggin on the slopes doesn’t mean you can’t look good at the same time.

This is especially true with Carrera’s new line of ski products that include new helmets with eye-catching colors, fine details and exclusive graphic effects. Among the new products for the 2010/11 ski season are the Bullet Rosso Line of lightweight, but still durable fiberglass ski helmets that ensures users an excellent fit with an aerodynamic design. The helmets feature a special “dry wave” inner lining that will absorb moisture and provide better comfort – unfortunately it can’t promise unkempt looking hair after a day in the powder, but that’s probably why the Italians eat dinner so late. Continue reading Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

Share Your Epic Ski Experiences with New Smartphone App

Having a fantastic run on the ski slopes is something you’ll want to talk about with your friends, but Vail Resorts now has a new mobile smartphone app that will let you share your experience on the slopes before you even get back to the lodge. EpicMix is a new online and mobile application that allows skiers and riders a seamless way to digitally capture and share their mountain experiences. From either a computer or via free mobile app for the iPhone, Android or other smartphones, the EpicMix takes advantage of newly installed state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) scanners that are in place at 89 lifts across five mountain resorts. Continue reading Share Your Epic Ski Experiences with New Smartphone App

Brain Bucket for the Slopes

Salomon Patrol C.Air Mike Douglas Ski Helmet

A decade ago chances were you’d be more concerned with keeping your head warm while hitting the ski slope than with actually protecting it. But as helmets have come to be standard gear for biking, so too have the brain buckets have become part of the outfit for skiing. Getting a helmet to fit properly has never been easy – so when Saloman decided to introduce a new ski helmet they turned to Whistler-based pro skier Mike Douglas to help with the design.

To truly make a “one-size-fits-all” helmet, Salomon utilized a built-in inflatable pump. The same technology has been used in previous models, but the Mike Douglas pro-model features lightweight and breathable design that will be good for all sorts of weather conditions – because the last thing you want is a helmet that is hot or uncomfortable. If the helmet doesn’t fit right people simply won’t wear it. Continue reading Brain Bucket for the Slopes