2002 Gear Preview: Snowsport Factories Aim for Ease of Use: New Boots Promise Comfort, Warmth; Skis Get More Versatile; Bindings Safer

(Tuesday, February 5, 2002) - Ski boots have grown more inviting, skis more versatile and bindings safer. And "systems" - matched suites of boot, ski and binding - are now available for all skill levels. In a highly competitive market, wintersport factories are scrambling to make buying decisions easier.

One way is with ski-binding and ski-boot-binding systems, built to be sold together, rather like matched stereo components. Major brands like Atomic, Head/Tyrolia, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon and Volkl/Marker, have engineered entire suites of equipment to match in the ski shop and on the slopes. Find a boot that fits and flexes comfortably, and the matching ski and boot will work perfectly with it. That, at least, is the plan.

But the growing popularity of systems shouldn't obscure the fact that individual product categories have been improving on their own trajectories. For instance, boot designers have literally opened new doors for easy entry and fit.

Boots: Easier Fit

During the fall of 2001, skiers got their first look at an all-new ski boot concept: the soft boot. In effect, the soft boot cuts the top off the ski boot's stiff plastic shell, turning it into a convertible. Closure uses a couple of buckle straps closing over a comfortable "rag top." The concept was promoted by Rossignol, Salomon and Kneissl, and it was accepted almost instantly by casual or "leisure" skiers.

At least five more ski boot manufacturers have introduced easy-to-enter boots for winter 2002-03. Easy entry has always been a serious issue for boot makers, because those leisure skiers - who comprise the bulk of their market - often complain of discomfort while trying to squeeze a foot past the stiff flaps of a performance ski boot.

In the past, boot designers have resorted to rear-entry and mid-entry designs to make boot entry easier and more comfortable. Rear-entry boots are opened and closed in the back with a single buckle. They are used for beginners and young children, because they don't have the necessary support for more advanced skiers. Mid-entry boots incorporate both rear-entry and overlap (i.e. front buckle closure) technology. They use a combination of buckles in the back and front and are designed to be easy to get in and out of, but sometimes lack the high-performance of traditional overlap boots. But those designs compromised boot performance. They required a looser fit, impairing a skier's ability to control the skis with accuracy and power.

The new easy-on designs follow two main design paths: soft boots and traditional stiff high-performance shells with special hinged panels to open the overlap flaps wide.

Boot Highlights for Winter 2002-03

Kneissl: Kneissl's original soft boot, the Rail 22, used a whippy steel rod along the sides of the shell to control boot flex, and it was aimed at advanced intermediate skiers. For next season, Kneissl introduces three additional Rail models for the full range of skier abilities: the Scandium is for experts, the Titanium for intermediate skiers and the Chrome is for newcomers to the sport.

Rossignol: Rossignol made a huge splash last fall with its Soft 1 and Soft 2 boots, aimed at intermediate and beginner skiers. The Soft boots closed with very flexible leather-like flaps and were created with a focus on comfort for the instep and shin - traditional sore points for new skiers. For next year, the Soft 1 and Soft 2 are a bit stiffer in flex to meet the needs of more advanced skiers, and the series expands with the addition of the less expensive Soft 3. All three models now use a rubber sole for walking security.

Salomon: Salomon's entry into the soft boot category was the Verse, designed to close with a single pull on a slick speed-lace system - a technology adapted from the company's very successful line of hiking and cross-country ski boots. For next year, the Verse line expands with the addition of the Verse CF (for Custom Fit) - it uses a heat-moldable liner for an accurate, comfortable fit.

Atomic: Atomic's new Soft Tech boots look conventional, but use soft plastic flaps over theinstep and a very soft, textile-backed plastic in the cuff - all for easy entry and exit.

Dalbello: Dalbello introduces three easy-on systems. The Vision Lite is a soft boot aimed at casual skiers, who typically want a cushy, comfy, walking-shoe fit. For better skiers, who want a more precise fit, the Auto Instep system introduces a set of soft plastic flaps over the instep. With the buckles open, the skier can slip a foot between these soft flaps, hands free. It's found on the new NX-series models. Dalbello has also modified its high-performance V-series boots, aimed at experts and advanced skiers, with a new Ergo Entry system: the overlap flaps over the instep are built with soft-flexing gussets so the foot can enter and exit without pinching.

Dolomite: Dolomite's new Venture boots feature an "active entry" shell design - the instep opening extends all the way to the toe (most boots split only as far as the ball of the foot). The extended flaps open wide for easy step-in. Another new group from Dolomite is the Comfort Concept series, which uses an open-throat shell design. The shell is sealed by an external tongue that hinges forward for entry.

Head: Head created its EZ-On series last year, aimed at beginners. Now there's a group of firmer-flexing boots for intermediate skiers: The Extra Comfort Technology (ECT) boots are built with very soft plastic along the sides of the foot. To give the boot the needed structure to control the ski, a flexible plastic rib runs up the top of the foot to the shin.

Nordica: Nordica's new SmarTech boot is built on a super-rigid sole, with an arch-shaped aluminum brace attached to the heel to provide rearward support for the lower leg. The cuff is mounted to the brace - leaving the instep wrapped in a comfortable soft liner. To close and tighten the boot, just pull on a single handle mounted on the aluminum brace.

Tecnica: Tecnica has built its reputation largely on high-performance and race boots. Tecnica designers didn't want to compromise the flex and fit of their successful expert-level boots. So they simply built a mechanical hinge into the cuff flaps. The result: the Rapid Access system, with doors that open wide for pinch-free entry and exit.

Lange: Lange has no intention of diluting its reputation for high performance racing boots. About 70 percent of World Cup races are won in Lange boots, and in this Olympic year the company put most of its development effort into a new line of lighter, stiffer Competition models, designed by the same Pininfarina studio responsible for Ferrari's swoopy shapes. The unique RRS series of Rear Release System boots is designed to reduce the risk of knee injury. Lab tests by the Swiss TUV safety institute support Lange's claim that the RRL system cuts the injury rate to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by about 30 percent. The system is now available on three models.

Skis: More Versatile

Over the past decade, ski makers have experimented with a wild variety of shapes, from super-fat powder skis to ultra-radical slalom skis. Fat skis, which float easily on the surface of deep Western powder, typically measure about 90 millimeters (about 3.5 inches) across the waist (the narrowest part of the ski, under the foot) - but these skis feel heavy, awkward and tiring on hard Eastern snow. Skis designed to hold an aggressive edge on ice, and to turn with agility in moguls, are usually only about 65mm (2.5 inches) across the waist - and they sink straight to the bottom in any kind of deep snow.

A happy medium emerges next year, as most factories focus on very versatile all-terrain skis. The consensus: the skier who wants one pair of do-everything skis will be happy with a moderate 68- to 70mm waist width - about 2.75 inches wide. Nearly every ski factory will introduce new models at this width.

Ski Highlights for Winter 2002-03

Atomic: Atomic's Ride series R10, exactly 70mm at the waist, is billed as an all-mountain ski for advanced and expert skiers. At moderate prices, the factory introduces the new e:Zone group - the 70mm e:9 for good skiers, and the 72mm e:7 and e:5 for intermediate skiers and athletic beginners.

Blizzard: Blizzard's premium 70mm all-mountain ski is the Sigma K7.0, with its unique double-ribbed shape designed to apply pressure to the ski edges. But the entire series of Epic models, aimed at intermediate and advanced skiers, uses the same versatile 70mm shape, and the Sigma 6.8 - also for intermediates - is just a bit more svelte, at 68mm.

Dynastar: Dynastar builds moderate-width skis for all ability levels. For experts, the Intuitiv series offers a choice of 71, 69 and 68mm waists. For intermediates, the Cross 8 and Cross 9 are built on a 70mm platform. All these skis use the factory's unique Autodrive construction, marrying a torsionally forgiving "cap" forebody with a torsionally stiff sidewall tail. Price-conscious intermediate skiers should look at the Agyl group, most of which use a 68mm waist.

Elan: Elan's new Mantis all-mountain group is right on the money at 70mm (with the exception of a widebody Mantis 777 for powderhounds). And a new group of Whisper skis for women - lighter and softer in flex - come in at 71mm and 68mm.

Fischer: Fischer considers that its new Sceneo short all-mountain skis are the most versatile the company has ever built - and for experts down to beginners, they use waists of 68 to 71mm. Most of these skis are built on lightweight cores using air channels or superlight carbon fiber materials adopted from Fischer's aerospace division, which builds airframe parts for almost every major jet plane factory in the Western world.

Head: Head, which started the modern ski boom with its original black Standard, now builds an astonishing variety of innovative shapes. The skier looking for versatile all-snow performance should head for the new Monster group, and specifically for the M.70 70mm skis, aimed at advanced and expert skiers. A similar shape is available for intermediates with the Cyber C90 model.

K2: With the exception of a few fat powder skis, K2 uses the 68mm and 70mm widths almost throughout the line: on the Axis and Axis X for advanced and expert skiers, on the entire Escape series of all-mountain skis and on four of the five "Title Nine" or T:nine performance skis for women.

Kneissl: Kneissl's all-new Rail all-mountain skis are standardized on a 69mm waist, except for the experts-only Rail Scandium, at 72mm.

Nordica: Nordica makes it easy: almost all the ski model names contain the waist width. The most versatile skis in the line are the Beast 72 (for intermediates) , the W 70 (for advanced and expert skiers) and the W 71 (for beginners and intermediates).

Rossignol: Rossignol's popular Bandit X was a leader last year, and set the style for versatile 70mm waists. For next year, it's joined by a group of all-mountain Carving series skis: the Cobra (for men and women) and Saphir Snow (for women) measure 68mm. For aggressive young experts, the versatile ride will be the RPM 17000, at 70mm. Newer skiers, learning to carve their turns, should look at the 69mm Axium and Axium L.

Salomon: Salomon's best selling skis, the X-Scream series, happen to weigh in at 68mm. A new Scream 10 Pilot - designed to work only with Salomon's Pilot bindings - rides a bit higher in the snow at 70mm. All the Verse models, aimed at newer skiers, are 71mm or 72mm across the waist, for easier
balancing.

Volant: Volant's steel skis are best known for handling easily in heavy, wet and broken snow - the difficult conditions experienced skiers call "crud." Five models seem customized for the skier who plans to migrate in and out of crud: the Genesis, at 69mm, the Gravity 71 and Gravity 68; and, for women, the Vertex 71 and Vertex 68.

Volkl: Volkl's most versatile all mountain models fall in the Vertigo group, aimed at intermediate to expert skiers who expect one pair of skis to handle all kinds of snow. All the Vertigos - except the G4 powder ski - use 70mm or 71mm waists. The Vertigo Motion (sold with a Marker Motion binding) and Vertigo G3 are for advanced and expert skiers; the G2 is for intermediate and advanced skiers; and the G1 is aimed at intermediates.

Binding Highlights for Winter 2002-03: New Brands with New Safety Features

For the past decade, the ski binding business has been dominated by six standard brands: Salomon, Marker, Tyrolia, Look, Rossignol and the newcomer Atomic. Skiers have come to rely on these factories for a very high standard of reliable performance. Over the past couple of winters, competition has focused mainly on improving the way skis flex underneath the binding, usually by mounting the binding on a flexible plate. The new entry in this category is Tyrolia's RailFlex, a three-piece articulated platform designed to flex with the ski. Toe and heel units are mounted on a flexible rail that slides into the base plate. The rail is fixed with a single screw at the center, and its ends move freely with the ski.

For winter 2002-03, skiers will see three new brands represented in ski shops. Fischer and Nordica now sell bindings under their own labels. And the specialized Vermont-based Line Ski Company has introduced a unique new design.

Fischer: Fischer bindings will look comfortably familiar to knowledgeable skiers: they're based on Salomon designs.

Nordica: Nordica has created its own binding factory in Italy and designed an all-new group of Syn-X bindings. The new design uses a twin-spring control system in the toe, with separate springs controlling lateral release and upward release. Another innovation is "dynamic intelligent release" (DIR), an anti-friction mechanism free to move fore-and-aft as well as laterally, to help the boot toe move through the toe's release arc. The heel is built of a lightweight glass-reinforced plastic, with an extra-long operating lever of light alloy.

Line: Line's all-new binding features "shift pivot technology" which can automatically move the release pivot axis anywhere between the tibia and the metatarsal in order to reduce torque on the knee. The mechanism permits low-friction lateral release at the heel as well as at the toe, using a slick cam system to regulate lateral heel release. Engineering consultant David Dodge, a former NCAA ski champ who has worked as an engineer for Rossignol, Lange and Burton, designed the system. The binding is manufactured in Montreal.

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