PSIA-AASI

2.2.2012

SnowPro Update: SIA Snow Show Product Standouts

Judging from the number of PSIA Alpine Team and AASI Snowboard Team members who were present at the SIA Snow Show in Denver and the On Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park this past week, several instructors have already had their own first look at lots of next year’s top new products. For all of you who weren’t there, here are just three quick trends that you can expect to see expanding on the slopes.

Touring Bindings Blow-up
As more skiers look for products that are durable and versatile enough to ski in and out-of-bounds, more manufacturers are offering SUV-style skis, boots, and bindings that perform almost as well going up as they do going down. In bindings especially, next season will see Atomic introduce its new Tracker, Salomon its new Guardian, and Head/Tyrolia its new Adrenalin. All three are tourable bindings with releasable heel plates for climbing, adjustable hiking heights, ski-tour options that can be changed with a ski pole, and a beefy 16 DIN. Marker also updates its game-changing tourable Duke binding, with an upgraded model that features a wider baseplate for driving wider skis, as well as a 16 DIN.

The All-mountain Experience
Rocker has been the story in snowboards for the past few seasons, but next year’s boards fine-tune the design with more camber-rocker cocktails that look to create the perfect mix of float and arc. Burton, for example, introduces an entire new Family Tree line, with five new freeride models—including the new Spliff splitboard—all built with input from pro riders such as Terje Haakonsen. Never Summer introduces the all-terrain Cobra as part of its Carbonium Series, adding it as an alternative to the already popular all-terrain freestyle Proto CT. And Flow gets N.A.S.T.Y. (New Active Strap Technology) in its all-new NX2 SpeedEntry system, touting it as even easier use than the SpeedEntry currently on the mountain.

Luke, Come to the Frontside
This year’s weather conditions have certainly favored ripping precision carves on the hardpack, and—as if they knew the forecast in advance—ski manufacturers are introducing a veritable quiver of new frontside product. From Volkl’s new RTM 84 and Code (122/76/104), both featuring V-Werks technology, with a lighter core, iPT Hollow Tech binding, and titanal and carbon inlay for stiffness, to Rossignol’s Power Turn Rocker-infused Pursuit HP Ti (125/81/111), lift-serve is where it’s at. Blizzard brings its big mountain Flipcore technology into its all-mountain Magnum line, Nordica introduces the entirely new Transfire collection, with early rise tips and waist widths from 78 to 74mm, Elan extends its Amphibio technology with three new models, and Atomic puts a little bit of rocker into its World Cup-ready Redster Double Deck GS and Doubledeck SL Red. Want a powder ski? Dynastar’s Cham Series was garnering the early returns during the demo at Winter Park.

— Peter Kray