ISPO

The PowderGuide team arrived back home after two exciting and long days and have now had time to process their first impressions. The trend that has developed in the outdoor scene over the last few years continued this year. The absence of ski and snowboard manufacturers was apparent. Nevertheless, one or two were represented, which we naturally visited and were able to discover a few new products. In the outdoor textile sector, things looked a little different and virtually no brand missed the presentation at ISPO. As in previous years, there were three platforms on which the new products, trends and innovations were presented: ISPO Awards, ISPO Textrends and ISPO Brandnew.

PowderGuide will be at ISPO again this year and will be visiting the most important, most beautiful and most innovative new products of the season for you. The PowderGuide team will take a thorough look around the trade fair in Munich and of course ask you a few questions. SPECIAL: This year you also have the opportunity to put your questions directly to the manufacturers via us!

In 2022, the Ortovox Avabag LiTRIC system was one of the innovations at the ISPO fare. At just 1100 grams, it is lightweight, technically sophisticated and reliable and enables at least two releases with just one charge. Ortovox even won the ISPO Award and the Red Dot Design Award for it.

ISPO, an interesting but also very exhausting trade fair, has been moved from its usual date in January to the autumn. Nevertheless, we endeavour to provide an overview of market innovations at the usual time! As we were unable to scrutinise the material ourselves at ISPO, the information is based on press releases from the manufacturers, not all of which are sent out by any means. So: No guarantee for completeness!

This winter - and half of the last one - has been very special. But who am I telling? That's probably how the majority of our articles started. And yet I want to emphasize this once again. For whom has this strange situation not led to change? I can't imagine that there are many people around the world who haven't had to adapt at all as a result of the outbreak of this Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year was a bit special and unfortunately, for the first time in PG's history, we didn't have the opportunity to meet our partners directly at ISPO. Nevertheless, we caught up with our partners to get information on new products and highlights for the 2021/22 season and to give you a small and fine insight into the new products for the next powder season. The general trend towards sustainability is unbroken - please read the details!

In recent years, the area of ski touring bindings and boots has probably been one of the most innovative in the winter sports segment. The trend towards ski touring continues and so boots and bindings are constantly being developed further. There are no major innovations this year - the manufacturers are mainly practicing model maintenance, especially in the area of bindings.

As in previous years, there are two clear trends at ISPO again this year: firstly, the trade fair is increasingly losing exhibitors, especially in the winter sports segments we have observed, and secondly, the exhibitors represented are focusing more and more on the central theme of "sustainability". I think this trend is always particularly noticeable in the clothing segment.

As expected, there was little news presented at this year's online ISPO and at individual product presentations by manufacturers. Many retailers still have stock from 2020, which is why some model ranges are carry-overs for the coming season. This mainly affects the downhill-oriented models.

Most of the avalanche transceiver and airbag manufacturers were not represented at the virtual ISPO. Ortovox presented a talking avalanche transceiver at the same time as but not "at" ISPO. ABS announced a new release mechanism for airbags for 21/22 and Black Diamond presented an avalanche transceiver similar to the Pieps Micro in Black Diamond colors. There was little else new to report in this area of equipment.

Sustainability hasn't just been a trend since this year. Today, everything has to be green, sustainable or sustainable. But what does sustainability really mean? And who invented it?

Today, everything is green, sustainable and totally environmentally friendly. Stick a green label on it and everyone can join in. But why are actions no longer enough these days and why can sustainability actually be a trend? A call for more understatement.