Carrying skis and snowboards isn’t exactly something people enjoy doing, but unfortunately these items have to go where the snow is and often times there is still a hike from the cabin or car. The Function Ultralight Ski & Snowboard Carry System weighs in at just 84 grams but provides Mil-spec Nylon webbing, with Hypalon edge protection to make carrying the winter gear a whole lot easier.
It can be used in backpack configuration for a snowboard or set up as a bandolier for skis. And when you’re actually on the slopes on the skis/board this pack is small enough that you won’t regret having it along for the run.
Function Ultralight Ski & Snowboard Carry Systems Official Website
The North Face has long been known for its quality outdoor products, and the company has built quite a name with its brand. However, as Skiing Business reports the company, which has seemed to stray from its core business, is launching its new Steep Series, which will only be sold in specialty stores as the brand looks to commit and reconnect with its core users. This means the new line of outdoor apparel will be in specialty retailers rather than chain stores. 
At the SIA Snowshow in Denver last week Giro introduced a new “soft-shell” helmet for the snowsport industry that can survive multiple impacts and still keep the wearer protected. The Combyn helmet can flex and bend under pressure and like “Stretch Armstrong” return to its original shape.
The Brain Injury Association of Canada is calling for new standards for helmets used in alpine sports, and that helmets imported and sold are not currently meeting safety standards set by the Canadian Standards Association. This comes following the tragic death of a 16-year old boy this past holiday weekend.
We continue to watch for innovative companies that solve a common problem – namely what to do with old or broken fitness equipment? Green Mountain Ski Furniture is one company that has found a use for old and broken skis by transforming the old skis into chairs, tables, benches and racks.
Last winter was a non-starter and while that meant a savings for communities in terms of snow removable, likely reduced delays in air travel and also made highways safer it wasn’t so good for the ski resorts. While it is still too early to tell if Mother Nature will return with a vengeance ski resorts aren’t taking chances. Manmade snow has been around for decades, but snow-making is reportedly going high tech.
Winter comes to Denmark, but unlike its Scandinavian neighbors the country lacks serious places to ski. But now the Northern European nation is looking to take a page from Dubai’s playbook by building an indoor ski part.
We’ve seen a number of snowboard helmets that speakers built in, and POC continues to dominate the slopes with its line of helmets. Now for this winter the POC Receptor BUG Communication helmet will deliver the tunes via integrated Beats by Dr. Dre headphones that are built in the neck roll. This could give new meaning to the concept of head banging, as it provides a bass-heavy speaker into a snug fitting brain bucket.
For the holidays season and even towards St. Patrick’s Day the Little Nutty Snow and Bike Winter Wonderland helmet will show the holiday and winter spirit. Riding with it in the summer will certainly seem nutty, but once spring springs put this themed brain bucket away until next season.
Last week we reported about a new start up in Los Angeles called Rareform, which turns old vinyl from billboards into surfboard bags. Perhaps Mat Dusting of Kingston St. Mary should give them a call as he’s started his own venture, where he takes discarded truck tarpaulins and makes rucksacks and holdalls for ski boots and skis. Dusting is even taking upcycled – the dujour term for recycled – seat beats to create the straps. He recently showed off his products at the British National Ski and Snowboard Show.
It is all too easy to think of soft fluffy snow, something that isn’t so bad to land on while skiing or snowboarding. But a new Johns Hopkins-led study, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the American College of Surgeons’ C. James Carrico Fellowship for the Study of Trauma and Critical Care, has founded that the use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders decreases the risk and severity of head injuries. It can also save lives.
Wrist guards have long been recommended for use with roller blades, but these can be useful in any sport where you can fall at high speeds. The catch is making sure that the wrist guards don’t interfere with the natural motion or restrict mobility. Hence, wrist guards aren’t really useful in cycling there these could impact ability to steer and maintain balance.