The Daily - January 31, 2019 - 34

Ideas
B I G

T R E N D S

Capita Super DOA

Union Binding
Company
Expedition 2.0

K2 Party Platter

Snowboarding Steps It Up

Trends for 2019-20 include eco-friendly materials and manufacturing, new
splitboard tech, innovative shapes, and enhanced versatility. By Mike Horn
Don't worry, computer chip-controlled bindings and self-driving
snowboards are not the big stories
this year. Not yet at, least.
Brands are, however, continuing
the integration of environmentally
responsible materials and technological advances that reduce bulk
and enhance performance and
durability. The pursuit of pow continues to pump energy into the splitboard category. And we're seeing
outside-the-mold shapes and styles
as well as a continued emphasis on
products that can do it all.
And not just at the consumer
level. Capita's marketing manager
Mark Dangler sees many team
riders consolidating their quivers. "Lots of our team riders are
choosing to ride one board that
can handle all their needs," he says.
"Versatile boards like the Outerspace Living and Mercury allow
riders to find that sought-after
blend of all-mountain freestyle
performance." Dangler is most
stoked about the new Super DOA,
a pumped-up version of the brand's
popular DOA deck.

/ SNOW SHOW 2019

GO GREEN OR GO HOME
Capita's boards have a green
streak as well. The Capita Mothership manufacturing facility in
Austria runs on 100 percent hydropower and features an on-site
testing slope and terrain park.
Several companies exhibiting at
the Show are using mindful manufacturing with bio-resins in place
of petroleum-based epoxies, including Capita, DC Snowboards,
Niche Snowboards, and Jones
Snowboards. Jones is integrating
Super Sap Bio Resin-a renewable
epoxy made with plant-based
carbon-throughout its line. Jones
signature Flagship snowboard gets
a full overhaul with a new shape
and all-new materials, including a
Forest Stewardship Council-certified core and topsheet and Flax
and Basalt Power Stringers.
The highbacks on Jones' new
freeriding Apollo binding blend an
eco-friendly flax material with carbon fiber for maximum response
and support. By flip-flopping its
straps, the Apollo can be set up in
"surf mode" or "freeride" mode.

SHAPING UP
Fun is still very much in focus. K2
Snowboards marketing manager
Tom Johnson says that the trend
toward unique shaping is alive and
well, including the brand's redesigned Party Platter. "It's a short,
wide, do-anything go-anywhere
snowboard [for men and women]
that feels at home in powder, on
groomers, and in the park," he
says. For freeriders, K2's new Holgate boot is designed to be highly
responsive, rugged, and resilient.
The allure of untracked snow
and solitude continues to drive
design innovation in splitboards,
bindings, and blissed-out pow
sticks. K2 Snowboards introduces its all-new Marauder splitboard and the Far Out splitboard
binding, which was designed in
partnership with the backcountry
veterans at Voilé.
SPLITBOARDING PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY
Products from Venture Snowboards have always been revered
for their downhill chops and

durability, and the brand's efforts
to lighten up while enhancing performance continue into 2019-20.
"Trend-wise, weight continues to
be top of the list, so we are pushing the envelope there," says owner-operator Klem Branner. "We'll
be introducing a lighter core in all
our splitboard models, and we are
expanding our carbon offerings to
both the solid and split versions of
the Paragon and Storm."
From Union Binding Company's marketing manager George
Kleckner's perspective, snowboarders are riding harder and demanding more from their gear than ever.
"Weight, comfort, and durability
will never go out of style," he says.
"[Snowboarders] are expecting
products to be durable for multiple seasons and retain 'like new'
performance."
Union continues its foray into the
backcountry with its overhauled
Expedition 2.0 splitboard binding.
"We totally redesigned and refined
the system," Klecker says. "It's a
never-ending process, and we're
doing things our own way."

The Daily - January 31, 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Daily - January 31, 2019