While much of the country is again trying to dig out from a major winter storm, the white stuff probably has the snow sport industry smiling. After all, if it is going to snow you might as well enjoy it. This week the shift has moved from the show floor halls at Snowsports Industries of America to the outdoor demo days, but we look back at the word from the show.
The buzz is that the slopes will feature skiers and riders clad in “svelte” high-tech gear of all sorts, including down sweaters, as well as faux fur and tight fitting outfits with bold colors. On the board there will likely be more rocking, as the major trend continues to be the rocker shapes, as well as a greater emphasis on all-terrain freestyle boards.
Snowboarding and skiing will likely take a cue from cycling, with helmets becoming a greater emphasis for safety. According to numbers from the show, the numbers of people wearing helmets has increased to a record high 57 percent. And as with other sports, the helmets are evoking a new sense of style, becoming fashion accessories rather than just protective gear.
And as with other sports, snowboarding will likely be more eco-friendly, going green on the white stuff. This will be seen in the boards themselves, as well as in the boots and the bindings. It will be interesting to see if the snowboarding crowd takes a cue from cycling and other sports, offering up a bamboo board? That might be as interesting as polar bear on a tropical island!
For skiers the trend seems to be moving towards “sidecountry,” with the rocker model following from snowboarding.
And tech is also becoming part of the scene, as goggles are getting LCD screens built in, for GPS and even reading e-mail.