SIA The Intelligent Partner - Winter 2008 - (Page 22) | S I A . 0 8 S NOWS P OR T S TRA D E SHOW | TREN D S | BY J E N N W E E D E What’s On Deck A few brave designers let Jenn Weede peek up their sleeves at what they’re unveiling at SIA for Winter ‘08-09. She found a slew of feel-good gear, whether it’s feeling good about reducing environmental impact, staying warm thanks to new heated outerwear, learning a new sport or sticking your landings. Next season’s snow sports advancements feel just right. ECO WARRIORS Having an eco angle is as essential as having a Web site. Whether in materials, construction or production, reducing the impact of consumption on the planet is one trend worth making standard issue. Many companies have discovered that better for the planet makes better product, period. To that end, K2’s 0 (Zero) snowboard uses minimal materials to significantly reduce enviro-impacts, including eliminating all ABS plastic and UV coatings, reducing fiberglass needed and manufacturing it with noxious emissions reduced up to 90 percent, and opting for Aspen and bamboo woods that regenerate without destroying their ecosystems. Helly Hansen’s Ekolab project eliminates harmful PTFE from the waterproof breathable membranes, introduces fluorocarbon-free DWR coatings, incorporates recycled fabrics and pursues minimalist design practices that reduce the need for excess resources. Lib tech expands non-petroleum-based organic Poly Castor Bean (PCB) topsheet material and fast-growing renewable farmed core materials, and factory waxes all boards using soy-based wax. Rossignol’s new touring boot soles shave away eco-enemy plastic and end up with better grip on the ice and snow and a more stable skiing platform. Sustainable ear warmers, hats, gloves, bandanas, neck gaiters and seamless Cocona underwear make their debut at 180s. Bula blends 100 percent renewable bamboo and wool hats into its mix. Chaos grows its organic bio-based line to include recycled fleece liners, organic wool and chemical-free, low-impact dyes. PrimaLoft Eco adds more feel-good benefits to Obermeyer’s KFO Down and Déjà vu jackets. Spyder goes green with soy-based yarn and bamboo fibers. use-specific planimetrics that boost performance. For example, the Scoop Techa exaggerated spoon-shaped nose on Burton’s new Se7en has edges turned up at tip and tail contact points to ride away from sketch take-offs and landings. K2 redesigned the Apache Outlaw with a 92mm waist, a Coomba-inspired powder tip combined with a 16/14 progressive sidecut to float like a raft in a sea of snow, fresh or tracked-out chunky crud. Atomic infused the Big Daddy with rocker for deep days. Backpack-compatible 3-D origamiinspired articulation, RECCO detector, an ear-splitting U.S. Coast Guard-certified whistle and a SOS safety lining wrapped in Goretex Pro-Shell make Spyder’s Heli jacket guide-worthy. THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF SKIING The quest to defy gravity continues, and skiers and riders scores serious points with this season’s super-light developments. Black Diamond’s Guru ski and companion Alias AvaLung pack are light enough to levitate. Elan’s Fusion Integrated binding system drops a hefty 25 percent of its baggage. Ride’s ContraBand binding ditches 20 percent of binding weight while Membrain urethane topsheets eradicate 100 grams from boards. Neve’s silk and Merino wool collection is wispy as baby’s breath. POW mixes diet Tonic in its waterproof gloves by the same name to lighten your burden. RED’s Buzzcap uses lightweight in-mold helmet technology so you’re more lightheaded than ever. SO YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION? Snowboarders have always gone against the grain, so it’s no surprise that radical new ideas in snowboard design have caught on. Chief among them: rocker. Contrary to granny’s porch version, snowboard rocker is all about big and fast. Variable, wavy and reinforced edges challenge mainstream notions of how to shred. New board-to-binding interfaces break the round peg mold. The revolution continues. Lib-tech reverse-camber Banana technology reaches Jamie Lynn’s power freestyle Banana series, The Dark Series, Skunk Apes, the MC Kink freestyle series and the 145 Box Scratcher. Gnu licensed Banana technology for men’s, women’s and kids’ boards throughout its line. K2 integrates full rocker on the Gyrator for max powder float and reduced rocker on the Turbodream for all-terrain versatility. S-Rocker multi-directional camber on Burton’s new Fish features reverses camber between the bindings and puts low camber at the tip and tail for powder and ollies that pop. And Burton’s limitless, on-the-fly adjustability of Infinite Channel System, which works with any Burton binding, extends to four EST boards including the Custom ICS and Custom wide. TECHY NEWBIES Pimped out rides are no longer just for pros. Designers are downloading dope technology into beginner and kids gear to hook newbies first try. Gnu sweetens kids’ boards with banana technology and magna traction. Burton upgrades entry level and intermediate boards with Cruise Control progression-tuned platform technology. Meanwhile the Blender snowboard and traction pads on 90cm and 100cm lengths make kids instant superheroes. The quintessential beginner snow sport, snowshoeing is more accessible than ever with the new Trail Walking category. Tubbs debuts price-conscious Trail Walking collection for families. Atlas injects Elektra 8 Series snowshoes with new no-fuss, no-hassle Strapp binding, Twin-Trac toe crampon, and spring-loaded suspension at affordable price points, as well as offers a Trail Walking group. SHAPE SHIFTERS Seems a few snow-sports engineers actually paid attention in geometry class. How do we know? New planks break the mold with 22 | SIA | T.I.P. | WINTER 2008
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