NASA-INSPIRED INSULATION, ELECTRONIC SKIS AND SUNGLASSES WITH MELANIN ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2003 SIA TRADE SHOW, LAS VEGAS, JAN. 27 – 30 SIA Trade Show Showcases Products That Will Change How People Play in Snow
by Anonymous
MCLEAN, Va. (December 11, 2002) – NASA-inspired insulation, electronic skis and melanin-enhanced sunglasses are among the 2003-04 winter sports trends on display at the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) trade show, Jan. 27 – 30, 2003 at the new Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The SIA Show previews the latest in high performance skis and snowboards, technical apparel and a wide range of accessories that promise to make winter sports recreation safer, more comfortable and fun for the 2003-04 winter season.
“Warmth, comfort and performance – that’s really the big news in skiing and snowboarding equipment and apparel this season,” said David Ingemie, president of SnowSports Industries America, which produces the SIA show. “Novice or expert, woman or man, winter sports companies continue to introduce products that make on- and off-snow experiences fun, exciting and memorable for everyone involved.”
NASA’s Space Suit Insulation Takes to Slopes
Continuing the trend of revolutionary strides in warmth and comfort, Burton Snowboards reached far outside the winter sports industry to develop the latest in insulation technology. Their new component insulation system is built with Spaceloft® which the company says is the lightest solid material known to man. A Burton jacket containing Spaceloft uses insulation lighter than air and 10 times warmer than typical insulation. Spaceloft is designed to deliver heat to specifically mapped areas of the body to ensure warmth, without adding excess bulk. www.burton.com.
Smart Skis do the Thinking for You
Head will introduce new skis that electronically detect and react to a change in speed or snow conditions instantaneously. Using a computer chip, the electrical charge that is generated through changing terrain and speeds is multiplied seven-fold and then returned back into the ski to allow it to adjust appropriately to the condition. The result is a softer, more controlled ride due to a ski that can “change its behavior”, www.head.com.
“Skis using electricity are just one of the examples of the hundreds of innovations in winter sports products that retailers will see for the first time when they come to Las Vegas in January,” said SIA’s David Ingemie.
Safety, Style and Technology Coincide: Benefits for Your Eyes
Goggles and sunglasses continue to benefit from the latest in technology. “Spherical lenses in a goggle, as opposed to thermal-formed lenses, allow for optically-correct, distortion-free vision, which is becoming more important to both racers and freestyle skiers and snowboarders that require full range of vision,” said Carl Helmetag, president of Uvex Sports.
Uvex is taking a lesson from Mother Nature with its use of melanin, nature’s sun block. Present in human skin and eyes, melanin decreases with age, causing potential eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Uvex has added melanin to sunglass lenses to reduce this risk, www.uvexsports.com.
Soft, Breathable and Virtually Waterproof Outerwear
Soft Shell is a term that will become more common in ’03-‘04 as several companies introduce a variety of jackets and pants in this category. As the name implies, soft shell garments are extremely breathable, soft, stretchy and comfortable, but are also water resistant and protect from wind and cold.
Examples of what’s to come: Marmot’s SoftShell collection includes 17 styles built on a matrix of the new “Marmot Mosaic.” These soft shells are constructed of up to six different fabrics, each performing a specific and different function. There’s also Mountain Hardwear’s Synchro jacket, which the company says is the first soft shell with its seams taped on the outside, making it virtually waterproof, www.marmot.com www.mountainhardwear.com
Women Designed, Tested and Approved
Apparel, skis, snowboards or footwear: winter sports products are increasingly being manufactured specifically for women and in many cases by women. Whether it’s Burton’s Lexa or Stiletto snowboard bindings tailored to women’s specific style or K2’s T:Nine series of skis designed only for women, developing products to meet women’s needs is a trend that has skyrocketed and will continue to a have a huge impact in the industry, www.burton.com, www.k2women.com.
Versatility and Comfort in Ski Boots
A continuing trend: Alpine ski boots offering a softer, comfortable, high-performance fit that works on and off the mountain. What’s the impact? Drive to the mountain in your ski boots, hike into the backcountry, and slip them on and off with ease. Examples include: Garmont’s Mega Ride, Head’s E-Fit, Rossignol’s Soft Light series, the Salomon Ellipse and Verse series and Tecnica’s 7 Senses, www.garmont.com, www.head.com, www.salomonsports.com, www.rossignol.com, www.tecnicausa.com.
Snowboards Become One-Size-Fits-All
Snowboarders with big feet have historically had to limit their selection to wider snowboards due to their “toes” and “heels” dragging in the snow while turning. Combating this limitation, Palmer Snowboards, has refined what they term the Power Link System, a plate interface between the binding and the board that has opened the sport to all riders, regardless of the size of their feet, www.palmerusa.com.
***SIA***
SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is the national, not-for-profit, member-owned trade association that represents snow and winter sports outdoor companies. SIA produces the SIA SnowSports Show, the largest trade show and gathering place for the snow sports industry. Proceeds from the SnowSports Show fund market development programs for all snow sport disciplines. SIA also annually produces more than a dozen industry research studies. For more information, check out www.snowlink.com. SnowSports Industries America, 8377-B Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102-3587. Phone: (703) 556-9020, Fax: (703) 821-8276, Email: siamail@snowsports.org.
This article courtesy of http://www.hitsunglasses.com