Utah Skier Online

Pre-Sale Begins for Limited Edition U.S. Snowboard Team Vancouver Pant

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Worn by the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team in this year's 2010 Winter Olympics, Burton is offering pre-sales of the very limited Burton Vancouver Pant.

Give a patriotic nod to snowboarding's great Olympians like Shaun White and Hannah Teter. Supplies are limited.

All pre-orders will ship in October 2010.

• GORE-TEX® Performance Shell [2-Layer]
• Fully Taped Seams with GORE-SEAM® Tape [13MM] 
• POLY PLAINWEAVE FABRIC W/ DENIM PRINT
• SATIN LINING
• MID FIT
• BURTON PANT STANDARD FEATURES PACKAGE

Snow Goggle with Integrated Digital Video Camera Unveiled at Snow Show

DENVER, CO - Adventure Eye Video Systems introduced the world's first snow goggle with an integrated digital camera at the Snow Show in Denver today.  The Snow Show is an annual trade exhibition for the snowsports industry.

The Liquid Image Summit Series goggle contains a wide angle lens to capture all the action while skiing, boarding, sledding or snowmobiling. The hands free unit has a 5.0 MP (2560 x 1920) camera mode and a video mode that records D1 video (720x480) at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle is easy to operate, according to company. There is a button for On/Off/Mode and another button for the shutter. To record a photo or a video, simply turn on the camera, choose the mode, then press the shutter button. LED lights inside the goggle indicate the mode to the user. Large side buttons along the right side of the frame allow for greater dexterity while wearing gloves.

The internal memory has 16 MB NAND Flash. The memory is easily expanded to record thousands of photos or hours of videos by adding a Micro SD/SDHC Card up to 16 GB. Files may be downloaded to a computer through the High Speed USB cable provided, or through a Micro SD/SDHC card. The camera operates on an internal rechargeable Lithium Battery. Estimated battery performance is 2200 still images or 2:20 hrs of video.

The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle model 335 is estimated to ship late summer 2010 with a US retail price of $149.

ACR Electronics Unveils New Personal Locator Beacon with a Digital Display

 
SALT LAKE CITY, UT– ACR Electronics introduced a new Personal Locator Beacon at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt City that adds a new level of assurance and instant information for backcountry enthusiasts.

The FCC-approved SARLink View provides three levels of integrated emergency signal technology—GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz satellite detectable signal and 121.5 MHz homing capability.

The View adds a unique digital display that provides the user with a variety of important information both during operation and self-test. When activated, the digital display provides the user with reassuring tips on optimizing the use of the beacon and provides the following functionality during activation:

• It informs the user that the beacon is working
• It informs the user of his/her GPS coordinates
• It informs the user of remaining battery power
• It reinforces to the user the correct deployment of an activated beacon with messages such as “Leave beacon on until ResQ” and “Do not hold antenna.”

According to ACR Electronics, the digital display is housed inside the unit and cannot be touched, bumped, pierced or otherwise damaged by an external force unless the entire PLB is destroyed.

Zeal Optics Announces Snow Goggles with Head Mounted Display Technology

 

BOULDER, CO - Zeal Optics announced today that the company is introducing a snow goggle featuring advanced optics and Head Mounted Display technology, integrated inside the goggle itself.

According to Zeal, the Transcend goggle (available Fall 2010), features GPS & vertical odometer technologies, and provides real-time access to performance statistics including speed, altitude, temperature, and time much like the heads up display in a fighter jet. In addition, data tracking software will also be available allowing users to record statistics & share information with others.

The goggle is the result of a partnership between Zeal Optics and Recon Instruments, a leader in direct-to-eye communication technology in the action sports industry.

The Transcend, described by Zeal as the most technologically advanced goggle in the world, is helmet compatible and will be available in two high-performance lens options, including Zeal’s SPPX Polarized & Photochromic all-in-one lens, and Zeal’s original SPX Polarized lens.

The MSRP of the Transcend goggle is $350-$450.

Gear Review: Giro Seam Helmet

 
By Jeff Hemmel

I have to admit, I’ve never been a huge helmet fan. The reason is pure vanity. I just like how a beanie and goggles look. Following a string of tragedies last year, however, I’ve begun to rethink my stance. I also began to discover I didn’t have a good answer when my 8-year-old pointed out that I made her wear a helmet to protect her melon, so why wasn’t I following my own sage advice.

Long story short, toward the end of last season I secured a test model from Giro, the Seam.

The first thing you’ll notice about the seam is the style. This is a helmet with just a hint of a visor, really no more than an extended flare at the front edge. Mine came wrapped in a black leather finish (Giro dubs it the Black Leather Limo TX), and featured a venting system that could be opened or closed with the simple slide of a top-mounted slider.

Utah Skier’s 2009 Holiday Wish List: Wagner Custom Skis

 

By Bob Gonsalves

Strategically speaking, it’s probably not a good idea to start your Christmas wish list with the most expensive item, but time is short and we’re talking about custom skis.

Wagner Custom is the brainchild of former golf equipment engineer Pete Wagner, who founded the Placerville, Colorado company in 2006. Wagner Custom skis are the ultimate “one ski quiver” solution that can improve balance, comfort and control because each pair is "fitted" to the skier.

Every pair of Wagner Custom skis is unique because every skier is unique.

Wagner and his crew design and optimize every set according to length, sidecut radius, tail-waist-shovel width, camber, tip-tail shapes, flare angles and flex profile -- all to suite the skier’s goals, weight, body type, strength, ability, agility, and preferred terrain.

The heart of each Wagner ski is a hardwood core, laminated from straight-grain, aged and cured maple or ash. The structural layers are made of aerospace-grade fibers, and the bases are made from the finest Ptex with high-strength carbon steel edges. Aluminum reinforcement can be added when glide speed and crud-busting stability is important.

U.S. Ski Team To Wear “Slippery” Race Suit in Vancouver

BOULDER, CO - Ski apparel company Spyder announced today the debut of a completely re-engineered speed suit for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to be worn by the U.S. and Canadian teams.

The new race suit system incorporates three key innovations that will improve the suit’s aerodynamics and result in significant time savings for North American athletes. It will be available for consumer purchase in 2011.

“The focus of Spyder’s research during the last few years has been about how we can make our speed suits more slippery against air,” says Spyder Product Director Phil Shettig, “Our goal is to manipulate airflow properties to make all of our suits faster against the competition.”

Gregory Targhee backcountry pack wins Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Award

 
SACRAMENTO, CA - Competing in a field of more than 20 winter- and ski-specific backpacks, Gregory Mountain Products’ Targhee backcountry ski and snowboard pack was chosen by the editors of Outside Magazine for a 2009/2010 Gear of the Year Award.  

The Gear of the Year Award is announced in the Fall/Winter 2009/2010 Outside Buyer’s Guide, which is out this month and remains available for the duration of the fall/winter season.

"This is one of the toughest, most versatile winter packs we've seen," said Buyer's Guide editor Sam Moulton. "With a 2,100-cubic- inch volume, slick design, and various ski and board carrying options, it proved ideal for everything from quick dawn patrols to all-day tours."

Oakley Introduces Pro Rider Series Outerwear

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA - Oakley is introducing a new line of premium performance apparel for skiers and riders.

According to Oakley, the company relied on the expertise of top skiers and snowboarders from around the globe to develop its new Pro Rider Series and test new designs that incorporate some of the best technologies in technical outerwear, along with refinements in fit, convenience features and aesthetic cues inspired by today's pros.

Primary features vary between garments and may include such technologies as the waterproof and breathable laminate known as eVENT®, the lightweight and highly efficient insulation from 3M® called "Thinsulate®," and the avalanche rescue reflector system developed by RECCO®.

Oakley Releases New "Splice" Snow Goggle

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA - Oakley, Inc. announced the release of a new premium snow goggle called Splice, a reinvention of goggle architecture and a showcase for the company's finest technologies in optical performance and protection, according to the company.

The Splice snow goggle (MSRP $190.00 for Polarized Splice Snow) was developed with structural engineering that maximizes comfort. The O Matter frame remains flexible even in extreme cold, and a new skeletal support system spans the nasal area to reduce pressure on the nose while increasing airflow. Combined with moisture wicking triple-layer fleece foam and strap outriggers that evenly balance pressure, the new support system is designed to make the Splice goggle one of the most comfortable goggles ever created for winter sports.

New Lens Care Product Promises to Keep Your Ski Goggles Fog Free

VALLEY VIEW, OH - Lens care products manufacturer Nanofilm has launched Clarity Defog It anti-fog liquid and towelettes designed for ski goggles and sunglasses.

According to Nanofilm, Clarity Defog It outperforms five leading anti-fog brands. In the first test, each of six identical optical lenses was treated with a different anti-fog, then held over constant hot steam. After 60 minutes, no fog formed on the Defog It lens. The others failed in as little as 5 minutes.

First Look: Rossignol Avenger 82 Carbon Ski

The Rossignol Avenger 82 Carbon ski is a new all-mountain ski designed for expert skiers that want to downsize to a one ski quiver. The Avenger 82 Carbon is made with two layers of carbon sandwiched around a wood core with vertical sidewalls. Featuring and all-mountain tip and wide waist, the Avenger 82 Carbon is built to rail on bullet-proof snow and muscle through thick powder. 

By the numbers:

• 70% Frontside / 30% Backside
• Includes: Axium 120 Binding
• Sizes : 162, 170, 177, 182
• Sidecut : 128/82/112
• Radius : 17.8m (177)
  

Rossignol Explains the Avenger 82 Carbon Ski Construction

The Avenger 82 Carbon combines two ski construction ideas: carving skis with large sidecut, and wide-waisted freeride skis. Oversize takes the benefits of both shapes and crosses them, allowing for strong performance with ease of control. The aggressive oversized tip & tail dimensions of the carving ski produce precision, strong edging, and power. The wide waist dimension of the freeride ski increases stability and helps tame the strong sidecut. This ski offers extreme manageability and comfortable control from turn to turn.

Kästle Skis to Release Freeski Mountaineering Line

Austrian ski maker introduces ultra-light FX74 and FX84 mountaineering ski

Freeski mountaineering combines the physical challenge of backcountry skiing with the technical ability required for high alpine accents. This evolving sport requires tremendous experience and skill as well as lightweight, high performance gear for efficient climbing and fast ski descents.

Austrian ski brand, Kästle Ltd., is releasing two new models this fall designed especially for this growing discipline. According to Kästle, their FX74 and FX84 skis feature the company's proprietary dual Hollowtech technology, a lightweight sandwich sidewall construction consisting of two fine titanal laminates and an ash / silver-fir / poplar wood core. Dual Hollowtech technology reduces the mass of both the tip and tail of the ski dampening vibration, allowing faster edge transition and providing better tracking.

Here's what Kästle has to say about the FX74 and FX84:

With a 112 mm tip, a 74 mm waist and a 100 mm tail, the Kästle FX74 prefers short to medium radius turns ideal for tight couloirs to open tree skiing. The lightweight construction (6.7Ibs / pair) makes for effortless hikes without sacrificing the performance of the ski whether in difficult off and on-piste conditions. The MSRP is $980.

Review: Thule Crossroad Multi-Purpose Roof Rack/Echelon Bike Carrier

By Jeff Hemmel

Getting your skis and boards to the mountain is a challenge if your mode of transportation is tight on interior space. Putting your gear on the roof makes sense, but many of today’s (and yesterday’s) cars come standard with only a set of lengthwise factory rails. That leaves it up to the owner to assemble the rest of the system. But whether you plan to ski, board, bike, or canoe, the first component of that system is always the same — a set of widthwise load bars upon which you can install your carrier of choice.

The catch, of course, is that factory rails come in such a wide variety of styles. The load bars that fit one man’s Audi A4 won’t always work on another’s Jeep Grand Cherokee. Rack manufacturers, however, have done their best to produce systems to fit the widest range of cars. One of the best I’ve tested to date is the versatile Thule 450 Crossroad.

K2 Skis to Release Shane McConkey Tribute Ski

SEATTLE, WA –  Ski legend Shane McConkey died on March 26, 2009 in a ski BASE jumping accident in the Italian Dolomites. McConkey was a member of the K2 Skis team and a ski design innovator. His Pontoon rockered powder ski, introduced in 2004, was one of the most profound innovations in ski design in decades. His concept was soon after adopted by the snowboard market thus making the sports more fun for millions of enthusiasts.

To celebrate McConkey's life, K2 Skis will release a limited edition Shane McConkey Ski, built on the Pontoon chassis, in winter 2009.

Graphically inspired by McConkey’s personality, ability, and many contributions to the sport, the ski will be available at participating authorized K2 dealers and K2skis.com beginning in October. Approximately 500 pair of the unique, individually numbered, commemorative skis will be produced. All net proceeds generated by sales of the Shane McConkey Tribute ski, suggested retail $699, will be donated to Shane’s family.

Science of Cycling: Retül 3-D Bike Fitting System

By Jeff Hemmel

Bike fitting is part art, part science. Traditional fitting involves static measurements and some basic tools, like a plumb bob and ruler. My local shop sized me for my bike; later, another shop graciously fine-tuned things like cleat and seat position. Still, I never felt completely dialed in. Some of my issues may have been due to past injuries, including an ACL reconstruction and herniated disc. Others, however, were just my obsessive-compulsive wonderings, like why I never felt comfortable riding in the drops, or why my left leg often brushed the top tube. Eventually I went looking for an advanced bike fit. After all, even the priciest bike is no good if the owner doesn’t feel comfortable riding it.

ACR Introduces New Personal Locator Beacons For Backcountry Enthusiasts

SALT LAKE CITY - ACR Electronics introduced their next generations of  Personal Locator Beacons to outdoor retailers this week and the new devices are smaller. lighter and affordable.

The SARLink™ features a new strobe light function and multi-use GPS acquisition testing.  According to ACR, the SARLink represents one of the smallest, lightest 406 GPS PLBs in the world. 

SARLink features include:

• Built-in, super bright LED strobe light increases visibility to Search and Rescue.
• Onboard 66-channel parallel GPS acquires then transmits LAT/LON when the unit is activated, dramatically saving valuable time for the distress message to reach local rescue centers, and provide rescue agencies with exact position to within 110 yards (100 meters). 
• In addition to full functional self testing of internal circuitry, battery voltage and power, the SARLink allows for an increased number of long GPS acquisition tests—up to 12 times per life of battery. 
• More efficient design uses less power, making it smaller and lighter.

The suggested MSRP for the SARLink™ is $650.00.

Preview of 2010 Sunglasses

A good pair of sunglasses is essential gear for anyone that spends time outdoors. For 2010, the leading eyewear manufacturers continue to innovate both in the quality of their lenses and the styles of their frames. 

Transworld Business offers a glimpse of the new styles that consumers will see soon. To see the video below in better detail, open in full screen.