ISPO time is cat-out-of-the-bag time for the manufacturers. Here they show which products they hope to win the favor of buyers in the 2013/14 season. The PowderGuide crew was out and about for you at ISPO and took a look into the future. In several articles, we show you what news awaits you, especially in the areas of safety, skis, boots and bindings, but also take a look at the booming splitboards. In the third part, we present the new generation of skis for the coming season.
100% Rocker
This is one of the mottos at this year's ISPO. Nowadays, there's no getting around the early bending of the ski ends, which used to be viewed with such suspicion by the industry. All-terrain rocker, piste rocker, jib rocker, easy-carve rocker, early rise - one concept, one hundred names and areas of application. Virtually every ski seems to need rocker these days. So much so that many brands don't have a ski without rocker in their line-up.
The second big trend is carbon and lightweight construction. While this composite material made of resin and carbon fiber was initially reserved for touring skis, countless manufacturers now also have wide freeriders in lightweight construction in their range. Of course, anyone who likes a bit of climbing will appreciate this. But even with a normal skiing style, less weight on the feet saves a lot of energy for a long freeride day. The typical "Charger" skis with lots of metal and little waist seem to be going out of fashion, although you can still find some models in this segment.
We particularly noticed the following skis and brands:
Völkl
The traditional German ski manufacturer has expanded its relatively new premium line. High-end skis are offered under the V-Werks label. The V-Werks Katana should be a really interesting option for powder fans. The carbon version of the well-known freerider only has a core in the middle of the front and rear ski area, the edge is barely thicker than the base and top sheet combined. A few layers of carbon are all the ski construction has to offer in this area. The result is a good 1.8 kg per ski. A real statement for a ski of this width & length.
The company is also launching two playful freeriders and backcountry freestylers, One and Two, which will be available as mid-season releases in just a few weeks.
Elan
Rocker doesn't necessarily have to be two-dimensional. The TBT technology, in which the ski edges are raised in relation to the base center, is now also used in the Boomerang in the freeride segment, as well as in the Puzzle & Sling Shot in the freestyle segment. This technology is intended to reduce edge catching on the tip & tail, increase turnability and at the same time provide a little more stability in soft snow. In the all-mountain sector, Elan relies on the Amphibio construction. Here, the asymmetrical skis have a slight rocker on the outside, while normal camber predominates on the inside. This is also intended to increase turning pleasure and reduce edge catching, while maintaining good edge grip and good carving behavior.
Moment
The manufacturer with the angular ski tips is so convinced of the wavy camber profile, which is called the Dirty Mustache Rocker Profile, that it is now being used in several skis. Ghost Train, Death Wish and the park ski Vice are sure to be among them. In the park segment, the company continues to rely on steel edges that are missing under the binding. The edge is pulled up in this area and the base runs underneath it right up to the edge. Rails and boxes are thus freed from the fear of jamming.
Rossignol
The weight red pen has also been used here. The S7 series gets honeycomb tips and tails to save weight precisely at the ends where it oscillates the most and develops inertia.
DPS
DPS takes exactly the opposite approach. The WailerRPC has extra titanal in the spoon to prevent the spoon from fluttering and hitting the ground. But the real highlights are the Lotus 120 Spoon, Lotus 138 Spoon and The Spoon. All three skis have been given Spoon technology, where the shovel is shaped like a spoon. This means that the edges of the ski are higher than the center of the base. This 3D rocker is therefore also intended to increase surfability and slarveability.
