Ski Press World Inc. - Index

Ski Press World Inc. - SIA Day 4 - Index

top trends/backcountry
AT AND TELEMARK GEAR GETS BETTER,
STRONGER, FASTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE
It wasn’t that long ago that the backcountry was where
dudes with beards and women who knitted their own hats
toured with their dogs on skinny skis. Now, it’s the proving
ground for the most high-performance freeriding.
“We have seen this radically increasing mentality relative
to bigger, stronger, more athletic lines and approaches to
backcountry skiing,” says Black Diamond’s Chris Grover.
“Part of how this group of people defi nes themselves is as
skiers who take it that seriously and are looking for some
sort of performance or challenge element. Backcountry
has moved away from an environmental experience-based
activity to an athletic one. The backcountry is the cutting
edge for an athletic approach.”
Backcountry hard goods caught up to that trend, altering
the category. Two major changes in the telemark and AT
category refl ect a move to more athletic skiing. But don’t
be fooled, this higher performance gear makes the sport
easier to access for newcomers as well.
The first change is old news. Telemarking has moved
inbounds. Once barely discernable from Nordic, tele has
undergone revolutions in boots and skis that allow for
more aggressive inbounds skiing. AT has somewhat gone
the other direction. The gear has gotten lighter for better
touring, but, like tele, many AT boots have become more
aggressive so they can take on double duty.
In the latest incarnation of backcountry, many manufacturers
have been incorporating alpine boots and bindings into
backcountry lines.
BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS/ROTTEFELLA
BCA buzzed last year with the introduction of Rotefella’s
NTN (New Telemark Norm), a powerful, easy-to-tour binding
system that requires no cables. This season it will expand
the system down to size 24.5 mondo from Scarpa and Crispi
(and Garmont next year). BCA will also introduce its Rottefella
Naxo nx22. A higher-performing version of its popular
Naxo AT bindings that adds two additional “feet” under the
heel piece and 10 mm more width for more power.
KARHU
Karhu made the move to freeride 30 years ago, when it
introduced the XCD, a cross-county downhill ski. Recently,
the brand has been on the cutting edge of backcountry attitude
as well, hiring a team of edgy young riders and introducing
super-fat pow skis. Karhu’s new Storm (128-96-117)
features a metal chassis combined with a durable, strong
maple/aspen Macroblock Core 3D-milled to exaggerate the
forked tip and pintail shape of the new metal. And Karhu is
still going strong with its XCD series, bringing a line of skis,
boots and poles made for athletic, edgy Nordic skiing.
28 SNOWPRESS DAY 4 skipressworld.com/snowpress
Black Diamond Factor
BLACK DIAMOND
Salt Lake City-based Black Diamond was one of the fi rst to
rethink the concept of backcountry, marketing to a wide
range of alpine, AT, and tele skiers who share a love for
aggressive backcountry lines. BD also rethought its line of
skis, taking control of production and crafting a sensitive,
supple ski with what it calls Formula One Technology and
a CNC wood core. New for this season, the super-light
Megawatt puts the same technology into a soft snow ski
with a long rocker tip. It also features zero camber so it will
edge on the hard stuff. But the big new story for BD is a
line of backcountry boots, which have been anticipated for
several years. Of greatest interest to snow-sports retailers
will be the Factor, a versatile freeride alpine boot that uses
a BOA closure system.
SCARPA
Long known as a telemark brand, Scarpa has been muscling
into the AT market with freeride boots that were built
for high-performance on dicey backcountry lines, yet
also switch easily into touring mode. The Typhoon and
women’s Domina are built with four buckles and a power
strap and offer an easy-to-access walk mode for touring.
Best of all, they feature the only DIN-standard rubberized
sole that can be skied in either alpine or AT bindings.
GARMONT
Garmont hired longtime telemark and backcounty guru
Paul Parker to design its new line of anatomic overlap skimountaineering
boots — the Radium, Argon and Helium.
Stepping up to the challenge, Parker designed a shell that
works with the anatomy of the foot and leg. “The overlap
shell follows the anatomy of the foot and lower leg for crisp,
precise downhill performance,” he says. “At the same time,
the design eliminates the restrictive tongue to allow more
independent movement between the cuff and lower shell.
In the touring mode, the instep and foot are nestled comfortably
and securely so the boot and foot stay in contact.”
And Garmont’s Axon is the highest-performing Dynafi t
boot that will be on display at the show. Garmont also will
join Rotefella’s NTN system. — DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN
Garmont Radium
Black Diamond Megawatt
Karhu Storm
Scarpa Typhoon
VOLVO — OFFICIAL CAR OF
Garmont Helium