Ski Press World Inc. - Index

Ski Press World Inc. - SIA Day 3 - Index

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trend +/snowboard
WIDTH MATTERS
This year’s Burton line offers riders with bigger boots more options than ever. The Vapor,
T6, Custom X, Custom, Operator, new Mayhem, new Deuce, Blunt, and Bullet all offer
their signature rides in wider platforms that are redesigned with the larger-footed shredder
in mind. Burton is launching a new midwide shape called the Farm for its crew of
up-and-comers.
Burton’s not alone in this trend. “We’ve got more wider boards in the Lib Tech and Gnu
lines for sure,” said Mervin’s Hughes. “Not only are riders interested in a little wider boards,
average boot sizes are up. It seems like 10.5 to 11 is what’s regular now.
GREEN MEANS GO
For Salomon Snowboards, sustainability is a huge part of its story this coming
year. The company is launching its G.I.F.T. (Green Initiative For Tomorrow)
Project, a new construction process patented by Salomon that features groundbreaking
technology designed for a better ride and a better planet. It focuses
on minimizing the impact on the environment — but maximizing its impact
on riding.
The Sick Stick and Answer are two models at the heart of Salomon’s G.I.F.T. Project, and
they feature a 20-percent reduction of petroleum-based materials content, 25-percent
reduction of non-renewable materials, and 10-percent reduced board weight. So what’s
making all of this happen?
The patented construction process replaces layers of fi berglass and resin involved in traditional
board production with structural bamboo veneers. Less resin-fi lled glass saves
weight, reduces waste and is better for the environment. To wrap the perfect eco board,
ABS sidewalls are replaced with durable, waterproof bamboo rods.
Salomon isn’t the only company looking at the environment. Mervin has never made
manufacturing changes because they are marketable, said Hughes, but the company has
been doing good things for years. “We’ve never used toxic epoxies and solvents,” he said.
“We don’t use toxic printing and curtain coating either. We use some bamboo tops, and less
toxic Basalt fi bers where we can instead of fi berglass. We have soy-based elastomer sidewalls
and non-petroleum-based bio plastics made from castor beans. The list goes on and on.”
Flow is also supporting the environment and other social causes with some of its boards.
The Quantum will have a portion of the proceeds donated to Action Sports Environmental
Coalition (ASEC) to help support global warming awareness. The graphic features
a colorful image of a nuclear waste dump that Scotty Lago grew up near in Seabrook,
New Hampshire. Flow’s award-winning ladies freestyle series, the Myriad, will have a
portion of its proceeds go toward supporting well-known Boarding for Breast Cancer
Foundation (B4BC). — JOHN STOUFFER
Salomon Answer
Burton Custom
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