November 14, 2008 – Following the industry trade shows earlier this year, SIA in Las Vegas, Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City and the NSIA Show in Montreal, SkiTrax published an extensive feature on what’s new for 2008/09 in our Spring 2008 edition. Here’s Part 1 of that article – look for Part 2 early next week. Our Gear Test Report is now available in SkiTrax Annual Buyer’s Guide 2008/09 just released.

If the Nordic ski world had a symbol each year as the Chinese do, then 2008/09 would be the Year of the Boot. Most major suppliers have brought out amazingly light, comfortable boots for the upcoming season. The other trend that we noticed was a “do-it-all” concept embraced by most major manufacturers. That means that you can get skis, boots, poles, bindings, hats, gloves, jackets and pants all from one company. Here is a review of some of the “cool” new gear you’ll see in your favourite ski shop in the fall of 2008.

Alpina
Alpina has always been at the forefront of Nordic boot design. Last year’s skate and classic boots (TCS & TCL) were no strangers to Olympic and World Cup podiums. These popular boots remain in the line with new cosmetics. But the big news is Alpina’s new Elite Skate and Elite Classic boots. After three years of development, these boots are finally ready for market. Sleek, light and with a glove-like fit, these red-and-gold race machines are likely to give Alpina even more podium time.

Another big story at Alpina is its new partnership with Peltonen skis and Exel poles. Decades ago on this continent, Peltonen was a well-respected brand and while the company continued to produce great products, its distribution in the U.S. went through some disruptive periods. Now it’s back with high-tech, light, fast, stable skis. The Infra X Hybtonite uses nano technology to lighten up the individual resin molecules, making the ski lighter and stronger. Alpina will now distribute Exel poles, another well-known high-quality brand that’s been looking to make a comeback in North America.

Another exciting venture for Alpina is the Bjorn Daehlie line of clothing. The smart-looking line of technical clothing by the most recognized name in Nordic skiing is also the official clothing line of the US Ski Team.

Off-track skiing goes retro and makes tribute to SkiTrax’s own Bob Woodward with the “Woody” line. The Woody ski looks retro but is really high-tech, with a wood core, full cap construction and metal edges. The non-wax Posi-grip base combined with a 68/60/65 profile should make climbing easy and turning fun. Looking like wood, the matching poles are made from 7075 aluminum tubing and feature a leather grip and strap. Use Alpina’s Stetind, a hand-made all-leather boot with a Gore-tex lining, to
complete the package.

Auclair
The flashy new palms on Auclair’s gloves for next season are more than just fun graphics. Traditionally, leather has been used for glove palms. Special chemical treatments and the tanning process made the leather palms good at gripping poles. But now, Paris/Auclair offers new, stronger gripping palms made of silicone on Amara. According to Aulair, “Amara itself is a very durable material for use on palms. We use Amara on all our expedition gloves. But now we have added silicone for extra-strong grip.”

Fischer
With 18 new and improved models, almost the entire line of Fischer boots is new and under Fisher’s exacting manufacturing process. Leading off is the new RCS Carbonlite skate boot. This ultralight boot avoids bothersome stitched seams by a special bonding process that molds and glues the boot together. The boot has a carbon-fibre shell, a carbon-fibre cuff and a “snake” lacing system all allowing for a quick, exact fit. The cuff can be canted (tipped right or left), so those of us without perfectly straight legs (that’s most of us) can adjust the boots for proper ski alignment. The RCS Carbonlite classic boot is one of the lightest on the planet, weighing in at only 370 grams.

Fischer showed its new Silent Spider – an in- or out-of-track ski with a partial metal edge. But the edge is on the tip and tail, with a ceramic-edge underfoot. This eliminates the metal-edge/waxless-base compatibility problem since the ceramic edge can be imprinted with the waxless pattern.

Leki
Leki’s Shark 3 grip takes the popular quick-release grip-and-strap system to a whole new level. The new elegant system uses a Kevlar-bound cord to attach the strap to the handle, eliminating any lumpy feeling from the attachment point. This system, available with straps or integral gloves, releases from the pole with a simple push of a button. Biathlon skiers will like the quick release and re-attachment. Leki offers a number of shaft options that all come as kits so skiers can get a precise custom fit. Of course, different glove model styles all compatible with the Shark 3 are available.

Louis Garneau
The all-new Louis Garneau Sports collection for next winter combines highly technical garments with urban style. The SS Premium is a laminated softshell that is stretchable, non-creasing as well as water repellent and wind resistant. The new Helium is a fabric that is extremely lightweight and flexible, compressible, wind resistant and water repellent. A more abrasion-resistant fabric with a distinctive pattern is the new Next Wave – a lightweight microfibre fabric with a polyurethane lamination said to provide protection against wind and rain while allowing breathability.

Rossignol
Rossignol’s popular Delta skate and Max classic models have both been redesigned and now sharethe same dimensions as Rossi’s top-of-the-line Xiums. A new wood core made of African wood, dried to get excess water out, makes the new Delta and Max skis even lighter and more responsive.

Rossi has also been working on its tele skis and have redesigned the Chupacabra, Powderbird and Ripchick – all have a new wood core. The Ripchick and Powderbird, both all-mountain skis, feature a light metal laminate, while the wider Chupacabra, designed for higher-speed skiing, has a slightly heavier metal laminate. For carving skis, the Yama and the Namaste (the women’s version) have a very shapely 121/72/100 sidecut.

Most of this season’s in-track boots (skate and classic) feature the new NNN outsole, designed for better flex control while allowing for some pretty cool graphics on the sole.

Rossignol has partnered with One Way and now offers world-class carbon-fibre poles such as the Diamond Storm 10 max, a 100% carbon pole with a titanium-coated insert for more stiffness.

Salomon
Three new skis and three new boots make up Salomon’s X-Adventure line designed for mostly off-track touring. Metal edges, a healthy sidecut and a positive waxless base are the hallmarks of the X-ADV 89 (89/60/78) and the X-ADV 69 (69/56/63). Both skis promise good grip for ascending and easy turning for descending. The X-ADV 59, narrow enough to fit in groomed tracks, has a metal edge on the tip and tail and no metal underfoot to make sure that the G2 waxless pattern gets uninterrupted grip. This should be a great ski for hilly, hard-packed or icy trail systems.

The X-ADV boots 5, 6 and 8 have all been redesigned and feature a new aggressive natural-rubber outsole. The 6 and 8 also borrow some of Salomon’s skate-boot technology and come with a hinged plastic cuff.

For in-track skiing, there are new women’s classic and skate Vitane skis. Salomon has also introduced two neat new backcountry skis with cool graphics and with positive waxless bases. And for children, Salomon is now making junior Pilot classic and skate boots and bindings.

Sporthill
One of Sporthill’s all-time favourite jackets is back – this time in full colour. Jackets made from Sporthill’s 3SP material were great performers in a wide temperature range. But until now, the 3SP material was like the Model T automobile – it only came in black. For Fall 2008, four men’s and four women’s colours are available in 3SP on the Hood River jacket, the
Hood River vest, the Zip Top and the Summit Top.

Swix
The big news at Swix is the introduction of Super Cera F Powder. This is a wide-range superfast powder that is not for the faint of heart – or pocketbook. The wax is fast in temperatures ranging from 1° to 10°C (34° to 14°F) and can be applied over Swix HF 4, 6, 7 or 8. But the melting point is very high. Swix recommends an iron setting of 165°C and warns consumers that Super Cera should be applied only by experienced waxers to avoid burning ski bases.

To make up for the high level of skill required to apply Super Cera, Swix is also introducing Cera F Rocket Spray. Just spray, cork, polish and go with this 100%-fluorinated product.

Look for Part 2 of Nordic Gear early next week – and check out SkiTrax Annual Buyer’s Guide 2008/09 on sale now with US and Canadian pricing and our Gear Test Report .