Despite the new digs, it was not a banner year for innovation and new trends, but, rather, a carryover of trends from last year. For example, Snowdecks and snowskates had a larger showing this year with several new models and some new manufacturers getting into the scene.
In skis and bindings, the news is still in systems. This year, Elan and K2 joined forces with Marker to go up against Salomon’s Pilot system. And, newcomer Armada arrived at the Vegas show amid much buzz and a constant band of groupies. Formed by top pros who left big contracts to form their own brand, Armada was debuting two skis for the upcoming season.
Some of the more innovative offerings came from the softgoods side. Burton went all the way to Mars to get its new Spaceloft line. The fabric, used in Space programs, is supposed to be 10 times warmer than conventional outerwear. On the fashion front, look for denim, puffy down jackets and waterproof leather jackets for the slopes.
Base layers continue to grow in popularity as more technically advanced products come onto the scene, such as welded garments (no thread at all) and fabrics that read body temperatures.
Rental saw some innovation from everyone—the hardgoods companies, accessories and software, which were all on display in Rental Alley, an area at the show devoted solely to the rental market. From Atomic’s new scratch-resistant top sheets and instant-mount PIQ Rental Disc Systems to new rental shop software from SportsRental, companies are responding to the burgeoning rental market with equipment that holds up and helps out.
