The Daily - February 1, 2019 - 34

Ideas
B I G

T R E N D S

From left to right: Sweet Protection MIPS Blaster II, Black
Diamond JetForce Pro, Scarpa
Maestrale XT, Blizzard Zero G 95

Lighten Up

From skis to boots to backpacks, gear for the backcountry continues
to trim down-and smarten up. By Eugene Buchanan
GRAMS KEEP GOING DOWN
FOR GOING UP
At the Show, manufacturers continue to make lightweight the cornerstone of their backcountry offerings. Case in point: Blizzard's
new 95mm touring ski, the Zero
G 95 features a 3D, unidirectional, carbon-fiber frame overlaid
with bi-directional carbon fiber for
über torsional strength. "It offers
the highest downhill performance
for the weight," says Blizzard
spokesperson Maro LeBlance.
COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE
Beyond air bags, beacons, and
AvaLungs, better communication is critical for safe backcountry travel. "Human factors and
communication are the buzzwords
of avalanche safety these days,
replacing snow-stability tests and
temperature profiles in many
avalanche course outlines," says
Bruce Edgerly, co-founder of
Backcountry Access. BCA's new
BC Link 2.0 radios take advantage
of the FCC's recent increase in the
allowable transmit power for recreational radios, doubling the power
of the brand's original BC Link

/ SNOW SHOW 2019

radios. They also feature the same
remote Smart Mic, nearly handsfree operation, and cold-resistant
rechargeable battery.
Communicating with rescuers
is also important. The new Obex
BC SPIN helmet from POC has
an integrated, battery-free, NFC
(near field communication) chip
that stores your medical profile,
which first responders can access
during emergencies through an
app. "Backcountry safety isn't a
new trend, but the way electronics
and technology are improving it
is," says POC's Patrick King.
YOUTH ON TOUR
With the growing trend of youth
"skimo" events and kids touring in
the backcountry, brands are now
making products specifically for
that demographic, from short last
boots and smaller skis to touring
bindings capped at DIN 7. "As a
guide, I was always hesitant about
taking kids in the backcountry,
but the reality is kids are gravitating toward fitness skinning," says
Eric Henderson of Dynafit, whose
ST Rotation 7 kids' tech binding
weighs 613 grams and comes with

a DIN range of 2.5-7. Accessory
companies like Sweet Protection
are also on board, with snazzy
models like its MIPS Blaster II
kids-specific helmet.
BOOTS: TECH, POWER,
PALTRY WEIGHT
In alpine touring, tech inserts have
become standard on toepieces
across the board. "Tech bindings
are viewed by many consumers
and retailers as the 'SUV' solution," says Scarpa CEO Kim Miller. Look for the company's new
130-flex Maestrale XT, a powerful
boot with tech inserts, a progressive forward flex, and a new
ski-walk mechanism that provides
a 56-degree range of motion.
HONEY, I SHRUNK
THE AIRBAG
Manufacturers are improving
everything from weight to storage. Black Diamond's revamped
10-liter, rechargeable JetForce Pro,
which won an Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award at Winter
Market, is smaller and lighter and
features Bluetooth updates. It's
also modular, letting you attach a

25- or 35-liter booster pack, and
comes with a tuck-away diagonal
ski carry that allows the airbag
to deploy while skis are attached.
Backcountry Access, meanwhile,
has rolled out its new Float 2.0
inflation system into its airbags,
coming in 30 percent smaller and
15 percent lighter than the original.
SCALES AND SKINS
Backcountry skis are getting
reptilian by adding scales. Voilé's
new lightweight, carbon-wrapped,
paulownia-core Hyper Vector BC
and Hyper V6 BC skis come with
a scaled traction pattern underfoot that lets you keep your skins
in your pack on quick, lower-angle climbs. Designed with wider
dimensions, bigger sidecut, and
single camber, Rossignol's new
waxless Positrack BC 120 offers
grip in lower-angle terrain. Even
Indie brands like Colorado's
Harvest Skis are hopping on
the wagon, with a scaly version
of its Pow Cow and Homegrown
models. "They're great for rolling
sidecountry terrain," says Peter
Van de Carr of Colorado retailer
Backdoor Sports.

The Daily - February 1, 2019

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