February 12, 2015 (Denver, CO) – The 2015 SIA Snowshow took place in Denver, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, and SkiTrax was on site getting intel on the newest Nordic gear, skis and tech that we’ll be seeing soon on the snow. Check out what’s happening in 2015/16 with leading brands Rossignol, Swix, Bliz, Alpina, Bjørn Daehlie, Julbo and Craft.

Rossignol
At SIA Rossignol introduced their version of a mohair skin classic ski called the R-Skin. The R-Skin features a Nomex honeycomb core with cap construction. While the carbon laminate does add to the torsional rigidity of the ski, Rossignol was able to keep the tip of the R-Skin pliable so doesn’t jump out of the tracks in sharp corners. The mohair skin kick zone is durable, replaceable, and leaves the edge of the ski exposed to prevent drag while step turning. The R-Skin will be a great ski for tough waxing conditions or an after work training session when kick waxing is inconvenient.

Rossignol R-Skin and Air Force WCS Pole ©Conor Wallace

Rossignol will also release a new pole for next season called the Air Force WCS. Made of 100% Ultra High Modulus Carbon, the Air Force WCS pole has great swing weight and stiffness. In all of their ski poles, Rossignol puts the highest emphasis on quality, which depends highly on the consistency of the carbon throughout the entire shaft. Inconsistencies in carbon thickness create weak spots in the pole, which decrease durability and performance. All of Rossignol’s poles are tested and developed in-house and have very consistent carbon thickness making them strong and reliable.

Rossignol R-Skin and Air Force WCS ©Conor Wallace

Swix
An exciting new product addition from Swix is the T77 waxing iron. The completely redesigned iron offers a thick base plate to ensure stable heating, an ergonomic body, and a beveled edge for easy wax application. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the T77 is the price tag. At $50 this is a competitive iron at an unbeatable price.

Swix T77 ©Conor Wallace

Swix is also coming out with many new apparel options for next season. The CarbonX jacket, available for both men and women, is a go-to jacket for many of Swix’s elite skiers. The front of the jacket is constructed of a Pontetorto No Wind membrane while the Lycra back panel is stretchy and breathable. Stretch panels under the fitted sleeves add comfort, breathability, and unhindered movement. Reflective sections make this a great jacket for running as well. The wind resistance and moisture transport are what set this jacket apart, and it is incredibly light.

Swix CarbonX Jacket ©Conor Wallace

Swix Men's Romsdal Down Short ©Conor Wallace

Bliz Active Eyewear
With 25 Olympic medals won in Sochi by Bliz athletes, Bliz has proven that their eyewear is designed to perform on the top level. Next season, Bliz will introduce a brand-new frame called the Force (large face option) and the Rapid (small face option). The Rapid and Force are multisport frames designed with anti-fog activity as a priority. Ventilation is key in producing anti-fog properties, the different frame and lens sizes ensure proper spacing from the face for adequate airflow. Other features of the Rapid and Force frames are the attachable sweat bar, changeable lenses for different weather conditions, an attachable neck strap to keep the glasses in place, and adjustable temple tips and nose pads for fit customizability.

Bliz Rush and Force ©Conor Wallace

Another new addition to Bliz’s 15/16 line-up is the Rush shield. Similar in appearance to the popular Proflip shield, the Rush offers a sleeker, light-weight, non-flip frame for the skiers who don’t need the flip function.  The Rush offers an excellent field of view and is well ventilated for fog free skiing. The Friction Rubber nose pad makes for comfortable use during athletics and the adjustable neck strap keeps the shields in place. The Rush is also compatible with several different cycling helmets. Performance, personalization, and price were high priorities in constructing these glasses.

Alpina ESK 2.0 © Conor Wallace

Alpina
Alpina strives to find the balance between performance fit and comfort in all of their boots. Their goal is to produce a boot that is comfortable and performs right out of the box. With these goals in mind Alpina produced the ESK 2.0 and the ECL 2.0 skate and classic boots designed for the World Cup level racer. Both of these boots incorporate the use of Alpina’s unique Active Edge Carbon – a carbon fiber material that can be made progressively stiffer or more pliable to specifically meet the demands of each part of the boot. From bottom to top, the ESK 2.0 is based on a two-piece Xcelerator sole, which is integrated into the Active Edge Carbon chassis. The chassis connects to an active edge carbon cuff providing forward flexion and lateral support. EVA padding around the cuff provides comfort and prevents chafing on the leg and ankle. The 45° lacing system secures the ULTRADRY liner around the foot, and silicon spots in the heel pocket prevent movement and ensure efficient power transfer.

ESK 2.0 Sole ©Conor Wallace

The ECL 2.0 is also based on an active edge carbon chassis but uses a more flexible 1-piece NNN sole for its classic application. The active edge carbon eliminates the need for a midsole and many other plastic parts making the ESK 2.0 and the ECL 2.0 very lightweight and worth looking at for the competitive racer.

Bjørn Daehlie
Bjørn Daehlie has some big changes planned for the North American market. Bjørn Daehlie and its parent company Active Brands are working on establishing a headquarters in the Denver/Boulder Colorado area, which means better product distribution and price point reduction in North America.

Bjorn Daehlie Ventus Women ©Conor Wallace

Bjørn Daehlie’s collaboration with the Norwegian National Team, which began on May 3rd 2014, has increased product development resulting in some exciting new products for the 15/16 season. The Ventus jacket is a new training jacket with great features and nice color ways. Wind resistance, water resistance, and two-way stretch panels for comfort and freedom of movement make the Ventus a great option for many activities. The Ventus comes in the medium fit option called regular fit as apposed to the slim fit and loose fit options.

Bjørn Daehlie Ventus ©Conor Wallace

The new Champion Pant is a part of the product range designed specifically for the Norwegian National Team. The 3/4 zip feature allows for quick changing with boots on, the stretch panels ensure comfort and freedom of movement, and the breathability makes the Champion pant a great all around training and pre-race garment. Keep your eyes open for Bjørn Daehlie’s new poles and casual wear selections also coming out next season.

Bjørn Daehlie Champion Pant ©Conor Wallace

Julbo
After entering the Nordic skiing market just four years ago, Julbo has gained rapid popularity among the world’s best skiers in the sports of cross-country, biathlon, and Nordic combined, winning Olympic and world titles in all of these disciplines. At SIA Julbo introduced a new Zebra NXT photochromic lens that is designed to perform in all light conditions. The differences between the Zebra NXT and other photochromic lens technologies are the high speed in which the lens activates (from 22-28 seconds), its optical quality, and the lens’ reduced dependence on temperature so it performs the same in both hot and cold weather.

Julbo Sniper Shield and Venturi Photochromic ©Conor Wallace

The quality of the lenses was evident at the show. This new technology will be available in many of Julbo’s models including the popular Sniper shield, which is available this year in two different sizes depending on your head circumference. If you are more comfortable in traditional sunglasses, Julbo’s new Venturi frame is perfect. The Venturi offers a wide field of vision and superior ventilation for anti-fog qualities. The curved grip temples offer great hold so they don’t move during a ski, and the 3D Fit Nose makes this frame compatible with most faces.

After the success of the Romsdal women’s down skirt, Swix designed a men’s version called the Romsdal Men’s Quilted Short. The bulk free batting ensures comfort and insulation and the stretch panels offer uncompromised mobility. The two full side zips make it easy to change in and out of and also add extra mobility if needed. The Romsdal short is perfect for a cold ski or as a warm up garment.

Craft
At SIA Craft introduced their new line of baselayers called Active Comfort. The active comfort line was designed to be a casual-feeling, functional, versatile baselayer for many different activities. The Active Comfort line will be available in long sleeve, short sleeve, pant, and boxer options, in a host of different colors. Key technological aspects of the Active Comfort baselayer include a quick-drying polyester material that pulls moisture away from the skin towards the outer layer, a seamless torso with bodymapped mesh for optimal comfort, and soft touch materials for a cozy feel.

Craft Active Comfort Baselayer Red ©Conor Wallace

Craft will also be introducing their version of the insulation skirt next year. Thermal fabrics, elastic softshell panels, and an ergonomic design make the insulation skirt breathable, warm, and comfortable. The insulation skirt will be the perfect warm up or casual garment for a cold day.

Craft Keepwarm Baselayer ©Conor Wallace

Craft further refined their baselayer collection with the update of their Keep Warm baselayer. This year the Keep Warm line has a new honeycomb structure, which is strategically placed to create integrated climate zones for enhanced insulation. The collar has also been refined to be a mixure between a crew and mock neck. Craft’s 4 different baselayer lines ensure that you have the right undergarment for every activity and climate.