SIA (Snowsports Industry America) 2008 Report
Moderators: Head Monkey, kelvin, bigKam, skidesmond, chrismp
SIA (Snowsports Industry America) 2008 Report
I'm here at SIA 2008 in Las Vegas.
I put some pictures here, but the connection is a bit slow so I'll have to upload more and annotate later, but just wanted to get some pics up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 826283672/
If anyone wants more detailed pictures, let me know and I will try to get some more.
-kelvin
I put some pictures here, but the connection is a bit slow so I'll have to upload more and annotate later, but just wanted to get some pics up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 826283672/
If anyone wants more detailed pictures, let me know and I will try to get some more.
-kelvin
Last edited by kelvin on Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Yeah, I was wearing it. Moving booth this year.
I posted a few more pictures and put descriptions to what I could remember.
A few observations:
-Eco friendly is gaining momentum. The snowboard manufacturers seem to be leading the way.
-All companies have fat rockered/ semi-rockered skis.
-There are only 4-5 factories that make almost all the skis. (China, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria)
-Not much new technology, mostly new graphics. Atomic and Volkl has adjustable flex skis and Atomic also has adjustable sidecut skis. However, these seem really gimmicky and are targeted at recreational skiiers that ski Aspen once a year.
-All the high end skis are sandwich construction without any gimmicky stuff.
-Sorry I didn't get more snowboard pics. However, there didn't seem to be all that much new.
-I'm glad to be out of Vegas.
Here is a link to the photo set with descriptions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 72/detail/
-Kelvin
I posted a few more pictures and put descriptions to what I could remember.
A few observations:
-Eco friendly is gaining momentum. The snowboard manufacturers seem to be leading the way.
-All companies have fat rockered/ semi-rockered skis.
-There are only 4-5 factories that make almost all the skis. (China, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria)
-Not much new technology, mostly new graphics. Atomic and Volkl has adjustable flex skis and Atomic also has adjustable sidecut skis. However, these seem really gimmicky and are targeted at recreational skiiers that ski Aspen once a year.
-All the high end skis are sandwich construction without any gimmicky stuff.
-Sorry I didn't get more snowboard pics. However, there didn't seem to be all that much new.
-I'm glad to be out of Vegas.
Here is a link to the photo set with descriptions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 72/detail/
-Kelvin
what's the info on Black Diamond's new rockered ski? http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 8/sizes/l/
i also like these 2x4's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 1/sizes/l/
i also like these 2x4's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wuanzinger ... 1/sizes/l/
- Kam S Leang (aka Little Kam)
I was at ISPO, Munich and made some videos of rockered skis, sorry I only comment in norwegian, (though I don't say much smart anyway):
http://www.friflyt.no/index.php?pagenr= ... lenr=54635
http://www.friflyt.no/index.php?pagenr= ... lenr=54635
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- Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:56 am
Definitely a fun show, it took me most of the week to recover. As far as graphics go, transparent UHMW/ TPU seem to be opening up the door to visible cores, edges, sidewalls and a lot of new styling.
The show is set up around retailers including trying to increase their sales with seminars, etc so they can sell more product, which obviously works its way down the chain. Big issues in the market today is selling direct, bypassing retail altogether, Roxy is taking some heat for deciding to sell direct from web. Stats are saying that more and more people are browsing retail and purchasing online, as you can typically save 10% from co's like getboards.com.
But as Kelvin said, nothing earth shattering coming down the pipe. Atomic variable SC ski, is for entry level riders and has absolutely no lateral or torsional stiffness. The Volkl system I found has vary little difference in the tensioned setting vs not. I'm sure the numbers show it, but its a tough feel.
I gave some photos I took to Kelvin to add to his flickr account.
Cheers.
The show is set up around retailers including trying to increase their sales with seminars, etc so they can sell more product, which obviously works its way down the chain. Big issues in the market today is selling direct, bypassing retail altogether, Roxy is taking some heat for deciding to sell direct from web. Stats are saying that more and more people are browsing retail and purchasing online, as you can typically save 10% from co's like getboards.com.
But as Kelvin said, nothing earth shattering coming down the pipe. Atomic variable SC ski, is for entry level riders and has absolutely no lateral or torsional stiffness. The Volkl system I found has vary little difference in the tensioned setting vs not. I'm sure the numbers show it, but its a tough feel.
I gave some photos I took to Kelvin to add to his flickr account.
Cheers.
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- Posts: 17
- Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:56 am
Eh, Megawatts have really funny tips. Basically they have flat tips, like the Armada ARG, but the rocker is huge. The other companies make regular tips plus rocker, so the ski is bent twice.
There is something I foget to post, since months. They told me that Salomon, and few other small manufactures, press the skis flat, with no tips (just the camber). Moulds are easier to design and set in the press. Also base finishing is much faster.
Afterwards, the skis are put in a hot press, and the tip curvature is added.
The trick is that they put two thin layers of plastic (transparent one, I forgot the name) above and below the core. When heated up, the plastic gets soft and the glass layers can slide (or shear) with respect to the core. Just sanding around the tips and it is finished.
Appartently there are no problems.
It would maybe interesting to put this plastic over the whole ski, then it will be possible to change the camber just by heating up the ski and pressing again. Great for testing.
There is something I foget to post, since months. They told me that Salomon, and few other small manufactures, press the skis flat, with no tips (just the camber). Moulds are easier to design and set in the press. Also base finishing is much faster.
Afterwards, the skis are put in a hot press, and the tip curvature is added.
The trick is that they put two thin layers of plastic (transparent one, I forgot the name) above and below the core. When heated up, the plastic gets soft and the glass layers can slide (or shear) with respect to the core. Just sanding around the tips and it is finished.
Appartently there are no problems.
It would maybe interesting to put this plastic over the whole ski, then it will be possible to change the camber just by heating up the ski and pressing again. Great for testing.