This has been a brutal winter for some, but for the snowsports industry it was a mixed affair. The long winter was able to get more people on the slopes but yet demand for products was reportedly down. Earlier this month Transworld Business released the first of its Winter 2014/15 Snowboard Product Previews & Trend Reports. It noted that “innovative shapes” could drive the design movement. Among the points touched upon were that camber could be making a comeback, while splitboards could continue to see growth.
It could be a whole new game next season – but for now, we’re just happy winter is finally winding down.
Transworld Business: Innovative Shapes Drive Design Movement
At the recent SIA Snow Show Light Bohrd showed off its lighted snowboard, but now comes word that the company is also introducing a lighted skateboard. This is a bright idea especially for skaters who look to hit the streets after the sun goes down. The Urban Commuter Longboard is made in Texas and will riders to make a statement while being seen.
No there isn’t an app yet (that we know of anyway) for avalanche rescue, but the iProbe isn’t an iPhone accessory. It is actually a sensor-equipped probe and transmitter.. The iProbe ONE from Pieps features a sensor in the tip that can emit an audible signal in the handle when it gets within two meters of a buried transponder. It operates on the EN300718 standard signal for emergencies.
We’ve seen a number of celebrity-inspired products – such as those John Denver Skis – but now Burton Snowboards and Lifebeat are looking to “Push It.” The snowboard maker has partnered with the national non-profit that uses music to raise awareness and funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and announced a partnership to release an exclusive line of women’s snowboards for 2014. 
We’ve seen many hydration systems for running and cycling, but Quiksilver now offers a wintertime hydration pack that puts the bladder in the jacket! The new jacket will be ready to hit the slopes – and let skiers and snowboarders have their drink in the jacket – next season.
It was three years ago at CES that KineticShift officially launched. In that time we’ve filled more than 220 pages of news, show reports, reviews and interviews. We’ve logged countless miles running, on bikes and on the slopes. We’ve tested several dozen products and hopefully have gotten healthier and fitter for it all.
The holiday season is far from over, but with the New Year less than a week away we begin to think about what it will bring. One thing for certain is a lot of products. January isn’t just the post-holiday season, it is also the season of winter trade shows. Next month these will keep us busy as KineticShift will be heading to the shows, including International CES (formerly the Consumer Electronics Show), SHOT Show, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market and the SIA Snow Show.
That annoying expression “talk to the hand” might get new life thanks to Swany’s g.cell ski gloves, which feature built-in Bluetooth technology that transforms the hand warming ski gloves into a mobile phone speaker and microphone. Basically this allows a phone to stay in one’s pocket, while the gloves can be used to make calls, including voice activated commands. The speaker and microphone are embedded in the thumb of the right glove, which also features the controls.
We missed Zeal Optics at the Outdoor Retailers Show but fortunately they caught our eye anyway with the iON Goggles, which the company is showing at this week’s SIA Snow Show. The Boulder-based companies is offering a look at the iON, which features an embed high-definition camera to capture video and photos.
People can have an eye for art and an ear for music, but at the SIA Snow Show in Denver Fuse Optics will introduce its new line of audio adaptable glasses. These are designed for those looking for stylish eyewear and a bit of music to accompany their workouts.