Sunday Q&A: Kitson Catches the Carbon Fiber Wave

The surf culture knows that protecting the waves is necessary to ensuring that the waves will be there in the future. To this end Kitson Boards has changed the way boards are made. Instead of the usual foam and fiberglass, Kitson’s team is utilizing carbon fiber for boards that will last a lifetime.

Michael Kitson, the president of the company, along with engineer Travis Dodge told us why carbon fiber is the way to catch the wave. Continue reading Sunday Q&A: Kitson Catches the Carbon Fiber Wave

Is it the End for Wooden Hockey Sticks?

If you ever played floor hockey in school you probably used a cheap plastic stick. But the wooden sticks aren’t just missing in gym class; they’re pretty much gone from the big leagues too. According to a story from The Montreal Gazette last month the last of the holdouts of wooden sticks has switched to the composite variety last season.

This is an interesting turn of events, as just 20 years ago wood was all the rage and hardly anyone used composite materials. But as leather skates gave way to other materials, so wood has left the ice. This isn’t the only example where composite, or other so-called “space age” materials have replaced the tradition. Just 20 years ago steel was still widely used in high-end road bikes and now virtually every pro rides on carbon fiber, while golf clubs have gone from steel to titanium and other materials. Continue reading Is it the End for Wooden Hockey Sticks?

Basalt Core Offers Light Weight Nordic Skis That Are Environmentally Friendly

Fisher Skis has announced that its utilizing its new core technology with it natural basalt core. These promise to be considerably lighter than many standard materials including fiberglass, awhile the new core material should have a significant effect on the ski’s weight and performance. For the new season this natural basalt core will be available on four ski models.

The company has moved to replace the traditional manufactured laminate with that of the natural fibers made from volcanic rock, and this is part of the Fischer’s commitment to the environment. These efforts to use the basalt will eliminate the chemically-intense process that is involved in creating fiberglass, as well as its harmful byproducts.

To this end Fischer’s Air Core Basalight technology is produced in an environmentally friendly process, but it has the added benefit of reducing the weight of the skis to that of more expensive carbon fiber skis. This makes them up to 70 grams lighter than the fiberglass-core predecessor. These are now available on the new CRS Vasa Skate and Classic models as well as the Superlight Crown and Wax skis. Continue reading Basalt Core Offers Light Weight Nordic Skis That Are Environmentally Friendly