Winter sports designers have been busy: exotic space-age materials are everywhere for winter 2003-04, making skis and snowboards “smarter”, snow apparel warmer yet lighter and sunglass lenses more protective. Never before have this many different products benefited from technology adapted from the aerospace business, according to SnowSports Industries America (SIA), the national, not-for-profit, member-owned trade association that represents snow and winter sports outdoor companies.

The latest snow gear, apparel and accessories promise to protect users against cold weather and the harsh elements found in the winter resort environment like extreme sun, wind and temperature fluctuations. Comfort is also improving, with companies like Grandoe using Tempur-Pedic Foam to offer a custom, form-fitting glove and boot companies Atomic, Dalbello and Tecnica creating solutions for cold feet. For instance, Tecnica introduces a heating system that can be plugged into your car to warm boots during the drive to the resort.


Space-Age Materials Create Innovative Skis Snowboards, Glasses, Apparel

Ski equipment makers have always been happy to adopt exotic materials from the aerospace business. Thus we have skis reinforced with light, springy titanium-aluminum alloys and carbon fiber, stuff originally developed for the Air Force and NASA.

The latest trend in skis belongs to this tradition. Smart materials—fibers that respond to energy inputs by growing stiffer—were originally designed to prevent flutter in the carbon-fiber rudders of the F/A-18 Tomcat navy fighter. Last winter, after trying the material in tennis racquets, Head became the first factory to adapt “Intellifibers” into ski construction. Intellifibers are piezoelectric—that is, they react to stress and vibration by generating an electrical voltage, and when a voltage is fed into them, they grow stiffer.

For the new winter, Head has introduced an amplifying chip into the system to boost this effect. The result is a group of skis with supple flex in soft snow, but which improves its edge bite on harder snow or when skied more aggressively. Head’s i.C 300 Chip System was chosen as one of Time Magazine’s “Coolest Inventions of 2002.”

More exotic space-age materials will find their way into ski and snowboard gear next year. Aerogels —the lightest solids ever created— were developed to help insulate the super-cold fuel tanks in NASA’s booster rockets. In a ten-year research program for the Johnson Space Flight Center, Aspen Systems Inc., of Marlborough, Mass. developed a flexible aerogel, called Spaceloft, for use in space suits and other clothing applications —the company says the material has three times the insulating value of the next best insulator. Now Burton Snowboards will use Spaceloft to provide superlight warmth at strategic locations in a parka. The material is said to be lighter than air.

One more Burton innovation uses a non-metallic electrically conductive fabric from SoftSwitch, a British electronics company. The Analog Clone Jacket contains a CD player, complete with earbuds. You don’t have to unzip the pocket to choose your tunes, or even take off your gloves, because the Sony is controlled by a SoftSwitch panel sewn to the left sleeve. Just poke your forearm to select a track or change the volume.

Meanwhile, Descente, the Japanese company, has introduced the first “psychoactive” skiwear. They’ve added powdered tourmaline—a semi-precious stone—to insulations and waterproof coatings. Tourmaline powder, the company says, generates negative ions, in much the way an ion generator does in hospitals. Ion-charged air is invigorating—the ions created by falling water are the reason you feel refreshed near a big waterfall, or in the shower. Descente says that the concentration of ions inside its treated garments is in the neighborhood of 4000 per cubic centimeter—similar to a healthy rural area (concentration on an LA freeway is said to be only 100 per cubic centimeter).

Another bioactive material—melanin—is used to block damaging ultraviolet radiation in Uvex sunglasses. The company name means “excludes ultraviolet,” and the engineers at Uvex point out that the natural melanin in our eyes—evolution’s way to protect against skin cancer and macular degeneration—dissipates as we grow older. So they put the natural pigment right into the lenses.


New Integrated Ski Binding Systems Create Wider Sweet Spot for Smoother Turns

The two-year-old trend toward building the binding directly into the ski has crested. About 75- percent of all high-performance skis will be sold pre-mounted with tracks to take a specific binding. As a result of this, a number of new binding brands have emerged: In addition to bindings from Atomic, Look, Marker, Rossignol, Salomon and Tyrolia, shoppers now will see new bindings from Fischer, Line and Nordica. Elan, K2 and Volkl have begun selling skis premounted to take specially built Marker bindings.

The advantage of designing the ski and the binding together, say the engineers, is that they can now achieve a predictably smooth arc from tip to tail when the ski is flexed into a turn. When you edge a ski equipped with its own “dedicated” binding, you can feel the entire edge cut smoothly into the snow. The ski feels less sensitive to errors in stance—most system skis have a wider “sweet spot” and are less likely to skid or slip if you stand too far forward or back. There’s another, very practical, advantage for ski shops and manufacturers: Mounting errors are greatly reduced. When the ski is predrilled and pre-mounted at the factory, there’s little chance a hurried ski shop mechanic will mount the binding incorrectly.


Safer Ski and Snowboard Bindings

New release technology comes from Line and Miller Sports. Standard bindings release sideways at the toe (to protect against twisting of the lower leg) and upward at the heel (to protect against bending of the tibia). The Line Pivogy binding uses a unique cam system to permit sideways release at heel, as well, so that the binding can release more easily when a skier sustains a backward twisting fall. According to designer David Dodge, backward twisting falls are a major source of serious knee sprains. Miller Sports is promoting its Z-system, a platform for snowboard and skiboard bindings, which can release in nearly any direction.


Soft Boots Proliferate
“Soft” ski boots, first introduced last winter, are growing in popularity. Soft boots are like convertible cars: The hard plastic top of the shell is replaced with soft flaps of waterproof synthetic leather or vinyl-like plastic. These flaps open easily, so the boot is easier to put on and take off; the flaps also conform smoothly to the instep and the front of the shin, so boots are more comfortable. Because they’re less restrictive of circulation, soft boots are often warmer than traditional hard-shell ski boots.

Soft boots to look for this winter include the Atomic e: series, Dalbello Visio, Dolomite Eclipse, Head E-Fit, Kneissl Rail, Lange SFT, Nordica Smartech and Litech, Rossignol Soft and Soft Light, Salomon Verse and Ellipse, and Tecnica 7 Senses and Entryx series.


New Heating Systems for Toasty Toes

Back in the early 1970s, the Aspen-based firm Comfort Products developed an efficient battery-powered electric boot heater to keep toes toasty on bitter days. That technology—with vastly improved rechargeable batteries—is now widely popular. Two brands sell most of the world’s electric boot heaters: Hotronic in Vermont, and the Austrian firm Therm-IC. Now Atomic and Dalbello supply certain models pre-wired for easy installation of the boot heater elements. Tecnica boots equipped with the Hot Form system (a heat-moldable inner boot) can be plugged into the 12- volt cigarette lighter in your car for comfy pre-heating en route to the lifts.


Innovative Ski Shapes Accelerate Learning
Two years ago, the National Ski Areas Association and Professional Ski Instructors of America began a project to develop better skis for learning. Now several large ski factories have begun shipping specially-shaped skis designed to make that first week on skis easier than ever. It’s a three step system: Adults start out learning to glide, stop and turn on short, soft-flexing 120-centimeter skis—skis with a flared tip (so they steer easily) but a narrow tail (for easy side slipping, skidding and braking). After a day or two, they move up to 130- or 140-centimeter skis, with a slightly wide tail to help steer the completion of the turn. By the end of the week, they can ski all easy groomed runs on soft-flexing 150- or 160-centimeter skis with a modern carving shape.

Skis designed to this progression are now available from Atomic (the e:TL Easy To Learn series), Elan (the XRS group), Rossignol (the Development Cut series in Stage I, Stage II and Stage III versions), and Salomon (the SES Salomon Escape Series, which includes specially designed boots and bindings). Dynastar’s Agyl group fits the bill from 140 centimeters and up.


Illegal Race Skis and Front-Side Carving Skis

At the other end of the ski performance spectrum, a group of “illegal” giant slalom race skis has emerged. The top racing factories had been developing deep-side cut, super-carving skis for use in World Cup giant slalom—when the International Ski Federation (FIS) ruled them illegal for racing. The FIS decided, a year ago, that giant slalom skis used in international competition had to have a minimum side cut radius (the shape of the ski’s edge) of 21 meters. The factories had to build a group of straighter skis for its top racers. That left them with molds for fast-gliding, quick-carving hot rod skis which were no good for the race course—but which would perform in spectacular fashion for hot experts who love speed, especially on hard and groomed snow. It’s comparable to playing golf with a “juiced” ball and a tournament-illegal oversized driver. Examples: The Atomic GS:9, Fischer World Cup RC, Head iXRC, Rossignol 9X Oversize, Stockli Laser SC and Volkl P60 GC.

At the same time, top factories have developed a generation of aggressive carving skis for use by experts on hard and groomed snow. Sometimes called “front side” skis (as opposed to wide “back bowl” powder skis), carvers are, in effect, short race skis, designed above all for edge hold and quick-turning agility. These skis are ideal, among other things, for use in skier-cross competition (shoulder-to-shoulder racing, motocross style). A few factories have gone so far as to create carving or skiercross boots—in effect, race boots color-matched to skier-cross skis. Popular front side carving skis in the coming winter will include the Atomic Carv series, the Blizzard CXP, Dynastar Ski Cross group, the Rossignol RPM skis, Salomon’s Crossmax group and Volkl’s SuperSport series.


Versatile Fashion for the Slopes

A very practical trend emerging on the fashion side of skiing and snowboarding is the super-versatile parka. It’s simply a highly-weatherproof technical parka which doubles as an around town coat for après ski. The advantages are straightforward: You travel lighter with a single parka, even wearing it onto the airplane—not a trivial issue in today’s security environment. And you don’t worry about leaving your car keys in the wrong jacket.

The Helly Hansen Collective group, for instance, features urban styling in subdued colors with waterproof-breathable stretch fabrics for maximum freedom of movement on the hill. Rossignol’s Adrenaline group uses Gore-Tex denim for a jeans-jacket look, and some models feature the Gore-Tex AirVantage liner, which can be inflated for better insulation on the hill and deflated for use around town. Rossignol’s Summit series features removable hoods and powder skirts: Zip ‘em on for powder days, and zip ‘em off for evening wear.


Accessories: Gloves, Goggles

Glovers keep upping the ante with new technology in the quest to keep hands warm, while providing dexterity and comfort. Grandoe’s new GCS Macro-Pedic glove offers wearers a triple whammy against the elements. The glove features three patented features: GCS, MC2 and Tempur-Pedic Foam. That translates into a fully insulated, waterproof/breathable shell—which remains so when the liners are removed—extra insulation at the fingertips and the new Tempur-Pedic Comfort Palm to provide a custom, form-fitting grip. Gates has designed a line of technical ski products using Smart Glove technology. With Outlast linings inside Triad waterproof/breathable outer shells, Technically Smart Gloves know when to keep you warm and how to keep you dry. Designed for demanding technical skiers, the Super Tech glove also features Primaloft lofted insulation backing, leather accents and a SuperFabric-reinforced palm for superior grip and abrasion resistance.

In goggles, anti-fogging systems continue to improve. Dragon introduces the Foil goggle, said to offer the latest in air flow/anti-fog technology with the comfort and durability for which Dragon is known. Among the Foil’s features is high-grade polyurethane that's flexible at all temperatures; a unidirectional air-flow system to prevent fogging; Dragon’s Compound Curve Corrected Lens technology; micro-fleece lined hypoallergenic contoured face foam; and a flexible spherical lens said to eliminate 100 percent of all harmful UV and blue light.


Base Layers: Wool Continues Its Comeback; Silver Linings; Muscle Fatigue Fighter

Due to its unbeatable warmth, wool is becoming more common in gloves, long underwear and socks. Wool gloves by SmartWool espouse the same cozy principal as SmartWool socks: they keep SmartWool next to the skin for effective temperature control and comfort. All styles are lined with SmartWool jersey or jersey fleece, whose superior vaporizing ability keeps hands comfortable whether at rest or play. Other brands using wool include Fox River socks and the Helly Hansen base layer collection.

Look for more products made with X-Static, which features silver particles that reflect body heat back to the body and fight odor-causing microbes, and other silver-based fabrics. Mountain Hardware, Medalist and Fox River use X-Static, while Hot Chillys uses BioSilver. Even Outlast finds its way into long underwear (in Kenyon’s styles), promising to absorb excess body heat and release it when the body cools down for maximum comfort. Anti-microbial properties are cropping up in other fabrics, as well, to meet increasing consumer demand for base layers that eliminate odor in addition to providing superior thermal regulation and moisture management.

Just when it seems base layers can’t possibly get more high-tech than they already are, manufacturers go back to the lab and return with new materials that take previous years’ offerings a step further. Notably, Medalist’s new MicroSkin compression Lycra stretch is designed to minimize muscle fatigue in addition to providing superior moisture-management and anti-bacterial properties.


Women: High-Performance Gear; Female-Specific Accessories; New Nordic Ski

The snowsports market for women is exploding with new offerings in several categories. Designed specifically to fit a woman’s hand and special features to keep women’s hands warmer, Hestra and Kombi introduce new collections. Fox River and Thorlo have socks designed for a female fit, with extra insulation. For women, little things count big. And, manufacturers are adding features that go a long way to make the mountain experience easier and more enjoyable for women. For instance, Mountain Hardware has the new EZP Tight, which has a split crotch to make bathroom breaks less complicated.

In gear, there are more high-performance skis and boots for women. Also look for more snowboard brands with female-specific models. The women’s market extends down to teens, now, too. Burton has bindings designed for girls and K2 has snowboard models for girls that are mini-versions of the women’s boards. K2 and Karhu have new telemark skis for women and snowshoe innovators Tubbs and Redfeather have once again created new, state-of-the-art models engineered just for women.

Perhaps most exciting development for winter 2003-04 is the first female-specific cross-country ski. Alpina Sports offers five new Nordic skis for women. After extensive research into what the female market wanted, Alpina introduces five new cross-country skis for women, three under the Madshus brand and two under Alpina. The skis feature a longer kick zone and a flex pattern designed specifically for women to make the ski easy to start, stop and turn.


Helmets: Better Fit for Adults; More Options for Juniors Under-Helmet Beanies

Look for new models of junior helmets due to increased awareness. More and more, resorts and parents want kids to wear helmets for safety benefits. In fact, during the winter of 2002-03, some resorts began requiring kids 12 and younger to wear helmets when they are in the resorts’ ski and snowboard instruction programs. Also, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has introduced “Lids on Kids,” a skier/snowboarder education and awareness campaign.

For juniors, helmet leader Boeri has a “room-to-grow” feature in its helmets. Giro introduces the new Ricochet for juniors; featuring Giro’s In-mold construction technology (which fuses the shell directly to the liner without hardware or adhesives) and an adjustable Acu Loc fit belt that adapts the helmet’s fit as a child grows and soft.

An emphasis on better venting and fit by all helmet manufacturers is one of the major trends in protective headgear. Helmet leader Boeri has a new fit system (called MPS) that allows the wearer to adjust fit pads anywhere and any time. “Microplast” pads, made of Lycra-backed foam, attach with an ultra-small hook-and-loop system similar to Velcro. The pads are strategically placed into recessed zones to create a snug fit, yet allow adjustments front-to-back or side-to-side. The pads can be removed, relocated and attached selectively.

There is also a growing demand for lightweight beanies and liners, designed to fit under helmets. Hatmaker Jyette increases its Lightweight Beanie collection; all models are lined with Microfleece.