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| Advances in Snow Sports Equipment & Apparel Winter sports equipment designers don't like to rest on their laurels. Every season, they come up with innovative designs and inventions that make snow sports easier to learn and more fun to do. Gear designers use state-of-the-art, space-age materials and concepts to make skis and snowboards turn easier, yet feel light on the feet. Snowshoe manufacturers use lighter metals to make snowshoes feel nearly as weightless as an athletic shoe. Boot makers find ways to make boots stiff enough to perform well, yet be soft enough to be comfortable. Apparel designers use technical fabrics that serve as a warm, dry cocoon during a cold, wet snowfall, yet allow the wearer freedom to move. Accessories makers find ways to keep fingers and toes warm, eyes protected from intense winter sunlight and heads warm and protected from injury. The women's and children's markets are where many of the most significant changes have taken place during the past half-decade. Both groups have gear and clothing designed especially for them, with manufacturers using the philosophy that women "are not little men" and kids "are not little adults." EQUIPMENT
Line and Miller Sports: Develops the safer "Pivogy" binding that permits sideways release at the heel. Rossignol: Introduces "Rossignol Soft," a soft-shell boot that is warmer and easier to put on and take off than the traditional hard shell, yet is stiff enough to deliver performance while on the hill. Alpina Sports: Is offering five new models of female-specific Nordic skis. Dolomite: Has a boot that comes with a Hotronic liner for extra warmth. Tubbs: Introduces two new women's snowshoe models featuring lightweight frames and sized to optimize a woman's narrower stride. APPAREL
Specific Examples: W.L. Gore & Associates: Develops AirVantage, insulation technology that inflates and deflates according to the wearer's preference Coalision/Orage: Using waterproof/breathable denim to make "jeans" specially designed for winter sports. Spyder: Introduces a value-oriented collection which utilizes technical features like taped seams and high-tech lightweight insulation. Descente: Has technology in which negative ions will be imbedded in the fabric to help relax the wearer. ACCESSORIES Accessories are becoming more functional and efficient, providing a greater degree of protection and comfort, especially helmets, bootwarmers, eyewear and gloves. Specific Examples: Thorlo: Socks are designed to fit women's feet and offer extra insulation. Grandoe: Developed the GCS Macro-Pedic glove with three patented features, one of which is the use of Tempur-Pedic Foam (the same material used in mattresses and pillows) to provide a custom, form-fitting grip. Hotfingers: Because different parts of the hand need different levels of warmth, this company's new "Zone System" gloves use three types of Thinsulate insulation for optimum warmth and flexibility. Boeri: Has a new helmet fit system that allows wearers to adjust fit pads whenever they want. Pads are strategically placed into recessed zones to create a snug fit, yet allow adjustments front to back or side to side. Dragon: Introduces the Foil goggle, which offers the latest in air-flow/anti-fog technology. Uvex: Incorporates the bioactive material melanin directly into the lens to block damaging ultraviolet radiation. Melanin, called "nature's sunblock," is present in skin and eyes, and declines as people age, which can result in eye problems such as cataracts. Uvex adds melanin to its lens to counteract these effects. |
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