Ski Press World Inc. - Index

Ski Press World Inc. - SIA Day 1 - Index

top trends/skis
As fat skis stormed the mainstream, even the most
devoted zealots sacrifi ced performance on hardpack in
favor of the Christ-like ability to fl oat over frozen water.
Fat ski disciples have proven their loyalty after years of
wobbly slides for life across crowded groomers and the ski
gods have rewarded them with a slew of plump, rockered,
twintip boards shaped with multiple sidecut radii that grip
on hardpack almost as well as they fl oat through pow.
Boards also get lighter and stronger for the backcountry,
in recognition of the pilgrimages that riders are making
back to their roots.
Having moved to Park City, Utah, ROSSIGNOL’S new skis
refl ect the increased opportunities to rip wild powder. Part
of the Seven Artistic Sins (SAS) series, which melds urban
art with innovative technology, the S7 Caballero (145-115-
123) represents gluttony — the kind where you relentlessly
stuff yourself with acres of unmarred backcountry.
With graphics by Steve Caballero and direction from Sage
Cattabriga-Alosa, it’s a twintip with reverse camber, reverse
sidecut and traditional sidecut underfoot for cat tracks.
Fibers in the core are aligned with the sidecut, so the ski is
most dense underfoot.
This year, DYNASTAR’S Legend Pro XXL (132-109-122)
comes in a 187 cm model, making it more accessible than
when it was only at 194 cm. The wood core now uses a strip
of light Rohacell metal for more liveliness and less weight.
The top sheet has less material at the tip and tail for additional
weight savings. The Pro Rider models get new shape,
construction and sizing. Built like World Cup race skis, with
vertical side walls, wood core and two metal layers, they are
3 mm wider throughout for more fl otation and stability.
ELAN’S new partnership with Dalbello Skiboots has helped
rocket their skis into the fall-line. Intense athlete involvement
and a new WaveFlex ribbed top profi le, which isolates
torsional and longitudinal fl ex, have also helped propel
the company. The Fusion Integrated binding sheds 25%
of its weight. Staying true to the Old School, Elan’s fatter
freeride skis, the 1111, 999, 888 and 777, are directional.
Its four-model, twintip, freestyle line now fattens up with
the new Pogo Holmes (136-107-126) for freestyle moves
in big-mountain power.
SALOMON expands its freeski line with three new
powerful fi gures, the Lord (128-87-115 in 177 cm), the
Lady (128/86/114 in 169 cm) and the Czar (128-108-118
in 174 cm). The Czar combines rocker and a high twintip
with a lightweight wood core, edge reinforcement and
a huge waist width for fl otation. The Lord and its female
counterpart, the Lady, are big-mountain skis with a smaller
profi le for better grip on groomers.
A targeted park ski, ATOMIC’S Urban Punx (108-84-108) is
completely redesigned. For durability, it features a rail slide
reinforcement edge and ceramic base inserts underfoot.
A special fl ex profi le is designed for buttering and sketchy
drop-ins. The Big Daddy (145-125-129) gets rocker in the
tip and the Snoop Daddy (125-88-111) gets a turned-up tail
and a beefi er waist width to make it a true all-around tool.
K2’S Factory Team line has fi ve new, athlete-inspired twintips
with unique taper angles to maximize backward performance.
Vertical sidewalls make them impact- resistant,
and some have a layer of Urethane underfoot for shock
absorption. They have 3.5 mm edges (about 1 mm thicker
than most) to prolong their lives. The amount and type of
rocker (upward bend in the tip or tail to improve floatation
in powder) varies. The new ObSethed (138-105-125)