The annual Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) trade show took place this week in Denver, Colo. This is where all the ski and snowboard manufacturers unveil their latest gear, which will hit store shelves next fall. Here are some of our favorite new products from the show, including Oakley's Gretchen Bleiler signature series goggles. [Out next fall; oakley.com]
The new Factor boot from Black Diamond is stiffer and lighter than previous Factors. It has 70 percent more torsional rigidity, 40 degrees range of motion in the walk mode, and it comes mounted with alpine soles, with the AT soles included. [Out next fall; blackdiamondequipment.com]
The Sick Day series of powder and big-mountain skis from Line were designed with help from Line athletes Andrew Whiteford, Colter Hinchliffe, and Max Hammer. They come in waist widths of 125 mm, 110 mm, and 95 mm. [Out next fall; lineskis.com]
"The really important thing with all this backcountry safety gear is proper decision-making," Jeremy Jones said, on his decision to make his 2013-2014 Jones Snowboards splitboard packs airbag-ready. "The airbag's there because you can never mitigate all the hazards in the mountains, but if you have to use it then you've already made some huge mistakes," Jones says. [$299; Snowpulse Removable Airbag System sold separately by Mammut]. Also pictured: Aviator by Jones Snowboards, new for 2013-2014; $529; jonessnowboards.com.
iONs newest POV camera, the 4.9-ounce waterproof Air Pro 2 has an easy file management and sharing system that can be controlled from a smartphone. It has a 180-degree, 14-megapixel CMOS sensor and the ability to shoot in multiple video resolutions up to 1080 pixel as well as capture photos. iONs trademarked WiFi enabling PODZ system links the camera to your smartphone and a built-in share function makes it easy to upload files to any social media site. [$299, available March 2013, ioncamera.com]
"One of the biggest things about avalanche education is communication," says Bruce Edgerly, co-founder of Backcountry Access (BCA). Next fall, BCA will debut their new BC Link, a two-way radio designed for backcountry skiing and riding. It has more battery power and more range than your average two-way radio and it hooks conveniently to your backpack strap to make communicating with your partners in the backcountry even easier. [Out next fall; backcountryaccess.com]
Independent ski maker DPS will soon be manufacturing all of their skis at a factory in Utah. The new Spoon, which debuted last season, gets a face-lift this year. Its massive width of 148 mm underfoot combined with a convex 3-D shovel and a single-radius underfoot rocker make it the dream powder ski. Early-production runs of the ski sold out within a few days. [Out now; dpsskis.com]
After sponsoring the 2011 and 2012 films "Ransack Rebellion" and "Mind the Video Man" -- as well as the forthcoming 10th anniversary film "Think Thank is Brain Dead and Having a Heart Attack" -- Arnette is honoring the ongoing partnership with a special color of the new over-sized Skylight goggle. One of the coolest collabs we saw on the SIA show floor. [$140 with one lens, $170 with two lenses; available next season from Arnette.com]
Minimalism makes for maximum comfort in the 2013-2014 upgrade to Burton's popular Genesis binding, thanks to a full-suspension Kickback Hammock Hi-Back and new Hammockstrap top strap. Burton also reinvented its strap and buckle system with a new twist for the Genesis, turning the strap's ratchet ridges 15 degrees on the bias to provide additional points of contact with the new Double Take Buckles. [$299; available next season from burton.com]
Triple cork pioneer Sebastien Toutant's new signature jacket from O'Neill Snow throws a triple cork of its own, combining the fashion-forward styling the 2013 World Snowboard Tour Big Air champ demands in a nylon canvas ripstop fabric shell with technical features and 15K/10K waterproof/breathability ratios borrowed from teammate Jeremy Jones' big-mountain outerwear. [$350; due out next season at oneill.com]
Candide Thovex signed with Verbier, Switzerland-based Faction Skis one year ago. Next fall, Faction will debut a new lightweight pro model line from Thovex. The skis are made with a balsa flex fiber core, which makes them lightweight enough for touring, and flat camber underfoot with tip and tail rocker. The Candide 4.0, at left, is 122 mm underfoot. [Out next fall; factionskis.com]
Sebastien Toutant's new pro model board from Ride is called the Buck Up. He helped design it and he tested the board all last winter. The artwork was done by skate/surf artist Stevie Gee. [Out next fall; ridesnowboards.com]
Scott's new LCG (Lens Changing Goggle) goes by "El Swapo" within the company. You can easily change out the lenses based on the light and conditions with one easy move. This version, due out next fall, is the Tom Wallisch pro model. [Out next fall; scott-sports.com]
Most ski poles are glorified sticks but the guys at Char Poles have taken glorification to a new level. Forgot to spin your DINs up at home? The color-customizable Tool Box grips feature built-in Phillips and flat head screwdrivers that unscrew for on-mountain adjustments, as well as a universal camera mount. Plus, the baskets have a bottle opener. [110/120/130cm, $99.99 (Bare Bones handle) $129.99 (Tool Box handle), available next fall, charpoles.com]
The new Giro Edit helmet has a built-in mount for your GoPro camera to capture steady point-of-view shots without looking like a Telletubby with the camera on top of your head. [Out next fall; giro.com]
Ski manufacturer K2 will start selling ski boots for the first time next fall. Their high-performance Pinnacle 130 is a freeride boot with a walk mode that flexes forward more efficiently than competing boots for the uphill, but is made for true downhill performance. [Out next fall; k2skis.com]
K2 Snowboarding will debut their new Kwicker splitboarding system next fall. It's a step-in binding system created in partnership with Voile that includes board, boot, and binding for a lightweight touring option for snowboarders. [Out next fall; k2snowboarding.com]
The Hugger is Norway-based Douchebag's latest ski-bag travel innovation. The bag can be used as a duffle or a backpack, and comes in a 3.7lb, 60L unit or a carry-on 2.6lb, 35L, and compacts down in the same way as the original ski bag for storage. Best of all, with the daisy chain-like system on the bags, metal hooks can secure the Hugger to the ski bag -- hence the name -- creating one unit for easy transit. [Out next fall; mydouchebag.com]
Torah Bright will likely be outfitted in a Team Australia uniform next year to defend her 2010 Olympic halfpipe gold, but in the meantime she'll be rocking this signature jacket, a do-it-all piece to match Bright's ride-it-all approach. She's calling her new snowboard philosophy "totally boarding" and says she's also hoping to compete in the Olympic debut of slopestyle in Sochi as well as filming both big mountain lines and urban jib missions in the coming year. [Out next fall; roxy.com]
Hate wearing a backpack? If that's the only thing keeping you from riding with the basics when you head out for a brief backcountry excursion, this low-profile vest -- with room enough to stash a shovel, probe, radio, hydration bladder, climbing skins, and other essentials -- is a sleek solution. Vertical snowboard carry straps and a retractable cable ski carry system complete the package. [$130, due out next season at Dakine.com]
This new I/D helmet from Smith was designed with help from Smith athlete, freeskier Bobby Brown, who picked the graphics with inspiration from a subway map. [Out next fall; smithoptics.com]
Salomon's new women's Quest line features the Stella, at 103 mm underfoot, a perfect women's powder ski that's lightweight enough for touring. It's got a rockered tip and a flat tail. [out next fall; salomon.com]
Rossignol's new Soul 7 ski is 106 mm underfoot and has a honeycomb tip, which makes it lightweight and eliminates chatter at high speeds. [out next fall; rossignol.com]
Due out next fall, the Kastle FX climbing skins are 70 percent mohair, 30 percent synthetic. They use what Kastle calls Octopus Skin glueless adhesion technology consisting of microscopic suction cups that stick to ski bases. Unlike other glueless technology out there which relies on chemical adhesion, the FXs are mechanical. Got them dirty? Rinse them off with water or rub them with the microfiber cloth provided as part of the skin bag. For the moment this technology is only for the Kastle FX line of skis. [$249 - 289, depending on ski width, kaestle-ski.com].
The Moment Franken ski features a countersunk steel edge in the ski's center sidewall to prevent edge blowouts, with a regular edge at the tip and tail. The Franken Ski is a shapely 114-92-114 in 168 and 178 cm. Add Moments Dirty Mustache Rocker profile and their standard UHMW sidewalls, bamboo core, and a fiberglass/carbon fiber layup, and you've got a rail crushing urban ski to rule them all. [$575, out next fall, momentskis.com]
After over five years of work, Garrett Reynolds and the Deadline crew finish their video
A group of skiers notches first descents via sailboat in Norway
Colorado's Woodward Copper reopens after large-scale renovation to its Barn
View the gallery again.
i
The annual Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) trade show took place this week in Denver, Colo. This is where all the ski and snowboard manufacturers unveil their latest gear, which will hit store shelves next fall. Here are some of our favorite new products from the show, including Oakley's Gretchen Bleiler signature series goggles. [Out next fall; oakley.com]
The new Factor boot from Black Diamond is stiffer and lighter than previous Factors. It has 70 percent more torsional rigidity, 40 degrees range of motion in the walk mode, and it comes mounted with alpine soles, with the AT soles included. [Out next fall; blackdiamondequipment.com]
The Sick Day series of powder and big-mountain skis from Line were designed with help from Line athletes Andrew Whiteford, Colter Hinchliffe, and Max Hammer. They come in waist widths of 125 mm, 110 mm, and 95 mm. [Out next fall; lineskis.com]
"The really important thing with all this backcountry safety gear is proper decision-making," Jeremy Jones said, on his decision to make his 2013-2014 Jones Snowboards splitboard packs airbag-ready. "The airbag's there because you can never mitigate all the hazards in the mountains, but if you have to use it then you've already made some huge mistakes," Jones says. [$299; Snowpulse Removable Airbag System sold separately by Mammut]. Also pictured: Aviator by Jones Snowboards, new for 2013-2014; $529; jonessnowboards.com.
iONs newest POV camera, the 4.9-ounce waterproof Air Pro 2 has an easy file management and sharing system that can be controlled from a smartphone. It has a 180-degree, 14-megapixel CMOS sensor and the ability to shoot in multiple video resolutions up to 1080 pixel as well as capture photos. iONs trademarked WiFi enabling PODZ system links the camera to your smartphone and a built-in share function makes it easy to upload files to any social media site. [$299, available March 2013, ioncamera.com]
"One of the biggest things about avalanche education is communication," says Bruce Edgerly, co-founder of Backcountry Access (BCA). Next fall, BCA will debut their new BC Link, a two-way radio designed for backcountry skiing and riding. It has more battery power and more range than your average two-way radio and it hooks conveniently to your backpack strap to make communicating with your partners in the backcountry even easier. [Out next fall; backcountryaccess.com]
Independent ski maker DPS will soon be manufacturing all of their skis at a factory in Utah. The new Spoon, which debuted last season, gets a face-lift this year. Its massive width of 148 mm underfoot combined with a convex 3-D shovel and a single-radius underfoot rocker make it the dream powder ski. Early-production runs of the ski sold out within a few days. [Out now; dpsskis.com]
After sponsoring the 2011 and 2012 films "Ransack Rebellion" and "Mind the Video Man" -- as well as the forthcoming 10th anniversary film "Think Thank is Brain Dead and Having a Heart Attack" -- Arnette is honoring the ongoing partnership with a special color of the new over-sized Skylight goggle. One of the coolest collabs we saw on the SIA show floor. [$140 with one lens, $170 with two lenses; available next season from Arnette.com]
Minimalism makes for maximum comfort in the 2013-2014 upgrade to Burton's popular Genesis binding, thanks to a full-suspension Kickback Hammock Hi-Back and new Hammockstrap top strap. Burton also reinvented its strap and buckle system with a new twist for the Genesis, turning the strap's ratchet ridges 15 degrees on the bias to provide additional points of contact with the new Double Take Buckles. [$299; available next season from burton.com]
Triple cork pioneer Sebastien Toutant's new signature jacket from O'Neill Snow throws a triple cork of its own, combining the fashion-forward styling the 2013 World Snowboard Tour Big Air champ demands in a nylon canvas ripstop fabric shell with technical features and 15K/10K waterproof/breathability ratios borrowed from teammate Jeremy Jones' big-mountain outerwear. [$350; due out next season at oneill.com]
Candide Thovex signed with Verbier, Switzerland-based Faction Skis one year ago. Next fall, Faction will debut a new lightweight pro model line from Thovex. The skis are made with a balsa flex fiber core, which makes them lightweight enough for touring, and flat camber underfoot with tip and tail rocker. The Candide 4.0, at left, is 122 mm underfoot. [Out next fall; factionskis.com]
Sebastien Toutant's new pro model board from Ride is called the Buck Up. He helped design it and he tested the board all last winter. The artwork was done by skate/surf artist Stevie Gee. [Out next fall; ridesnowboards.com]
Scott's new LCG (Lens Changing Goggle) goes by "El Swapo" within the company. You can easily change out the lenses based on the light and conditions with one easy move. This version, due out next fall, is the Tom Wallisch pro model. [Out next fall; scott-sports.com]
Most ski poles are glorified sticks but the guys at Char Poles have taken glorification to a new level. Forgot to spin your DINs up at home? The color-customizable Tool Box grips feature built-in Phillips and flat head screwdrivers that unscrew for on-mountain adjustments, as well as a universal camera mount. Plus, the baskets have a bottle opener. [110/120/130cm, $99.99 (Bare Bones handle) $129.99 (Tool Box handle), available next fall, charpoles.com]
The new Giro Edit helmet has a built-in mount for your GoPro camera to capture steady point-of-view shots without looking like a Telletubby with the camera on top of your head. [Out next fall; giro.com]
Ski manufacturer K2 will start selling ski boots for the first time next fall. Their high-performance Pinnacle 130 is a freeride boot with a walk mode that flexes forward more efficiently than competing boots for the uphill, but is made for true downhill performance. [Out next fall; k2skis.com]
K2 Snowboarding will debut their new Kwicker splitboarding system next fall. It's a step-in binding system created in partnership with Voile that includes board, boot, and binding for a lightweight touring option for snowboarders. [Out next fall; k2snowboarding.com]
The Hugger is Norway-based Douchebag's latest ski-bag travel innovation. The bag can be used as a duffle or a backpack, and comes in a 3.7lb, 60L unit or a carry-on 2.6lb, 35L, and compacts down in the same way as the original ski bag for storage. Best of all, with the daisy chain-like system on the bags, metal hooks can secure the Hugger to the ski bag -- hence the name -- creating one unit for easy transit. [Out next fall; mydouchebag.com]
Torah Bright will likely be outfitted in a Team Australia uniform next year to defend her 2010 Olympic halfpipe gold, but in the meantime she'll be rocking this signature jacket, a do-it-all piece to match Bright's ride-it-all approach. She's calling her new snowboard philosophy "totally boarding" and says she's also hoping to compete in the Olympic debut of slopestyle in Sochi as well as filming both big mountain lines and urban jib missions in the coming year. [Out next fall; roxy.com]
Hate wearing a backpack? If that's the only thing keeping you from riding with the basics when you head out for a brief backcountry excursion, this low-profile vest -- with room enough to stash a shovel, probe, radio, hydration bladder, climbing skins, and other essentials -- is a sleek solution. Vertical snowboard carry straps and a retractable cable ski carry system complete the package. [$130, due out next season at Dakine.com]
This new I/D helmet from Smith was designed with help from Smith athlete, freeskier Bobby Brown, who picked the graphics with inspiration from a subway map. [Out next fall; smithoptics.com]
Salomon's new women's Quest line features the Stella, at 103 mm underfoot, a perfect women's powder ski that's lightweight enough for touring. It's got a rockered tip and a flat tail. [out next fall; salomon.com]
Rossignol's new Soul 7 ski is 106 mm underfoot and has a honeycomb tip, which makes it lightweight and eliminates chatter at high speeds. [out next fall; rossignol.com]
Due out next fall, the Kastle FX climbing skins are 70 percent mohair, 30 percent synthetic. They use what Kastle calls Octopus Skin glueless adhesion technology consisting of microscopic suction cups that stick to ski bases. Unlike other glueless technology out there which relies on chemical adhesion, the FXs are mechanical. Got them dirty? Rinse them off with water or rub them with the microfiber cloth provided as part of the skin bag. For the moment this technology is only for the Kastle FX line of skis. [$249 - 289, depending on ski width, kaestle-ski.com].
The Moment Franken ski features a countersunk steel edge in the ski's center sidewall to prevent edge blowouts, with a regular edge at the tip and tail. The Franken Ski is a shapely 114-92-114 in 168 and 178 cm. Add Moments Dirty Mustache Rocker profile and their standard UHMW sidewalls, bamboo core, and a fiberglass/carbon fiber layup, and you've got a rail crushing urban ski to rule them all. [$575, out next fall, momentskis.com]
