The Daily - January 30, 2020 - 32

Ideas
B I G

T R E N D S

From top: Rossignol X-IUM
Premium R-Skin Ski, Atomic
Redster C9 Carbon, Kari Traa
Perle, Leki Thermo Shark Lobster, Swix Pure Marathon Wax.

Nordic Goes Metro

The sport strives to attract more skiers by making it user-friendly,
whether you're a newbie or a World Cup competitor. By Berne Broudy
ALL ACCESS

Skiers put off by lift ticket prices
are returning to Nordic for its
affordability, accessibility, and gear
innovations. Nordic skiing is easier
to get into than ever before.
"The evolution of gear is lowering the barrier for entry," says Steve
Reeder, Fischer Skis U.S. sales
director. "So it's easier for someone to try Nordic skiing and less
time investment to feel proficient."
Fischer's Twin Skin Cruiser is a
more manageable dual skin ski
with an integrated flex plate Turnamic binding that can be moved
forward for more grip from the
skins or back for more glide.
In recent years, Salomon has
seen growth in its Nordic race
products, but the brand is now
focused on growing the sport of
cross-country skiing in the U.S.
"With our new backcountry and
Nordic collections, we provide
products that increase access to
the sport and that let skiers explore
nature with enhanced stability,
security, and comfort," says Robert
Lazzaroni, Salomon Americas Nordic regional commercial manager.
Salomon's Escape 64 OutPath XC
Ski is lightweight with robust metal
edges for use in- and off-track.
According to Greg Wozer, VP
of Leki USA, more nonracers are
using trigger glove-pole combinations. New for F20, the touchscreen-friendly Thermo Shark
Lobster Glove features softshell
and suede palm, PrimaLoft insulation, and Windstopper liner, and
it's compatible with Leki's Trigger
Shark Grip Nordic poles.

32

CROSS DRESSING

"Cross-country skiing is evolving.
Our customers are looking for
more versatility in how they approach skiing," says Steve Poulin,
president of Swix Sport USA.
For the first time, Swix is making
active lifestyle products like the
Tavern Stretch denim pant. Made
from a four-way stretch, water-resistant blend of cotton, poly, and
spandex with a bonded brush
lining and articulated knees, these
jeans were made for skiing.
Cross-country skiers are looking for a balance of function and
fashion in outerwear, with technical pieces that are street smart. At
the Show, look for the Craft Storm
Insulated Sweater with two-layer
stretch fabric, lightly insulated
front panel, armpit-to-hip zips, and
offset collar zipper for style points.
And the Kari Traa Perle half-zip
mixes a traditional Norwegian pattern with an '80s urban streetwear
look. The top blends acrylic, modal,
and wool for a moisture-wicking
fabric with next-to-skin comfort.

RACE PACE

"The trend at the top of racing
is cutthroat innovation, and [it]
continues to drive product development," says Swix's Poulin. The Triac
4.0 pole is a Formula 1 level project
with more research and development behind it than any other pole
on the market, he says. To make the
$800 pole, Swix reshaped its World
Cup pole into a drag-reduced
aerofoil design and increased its
stiffness and swing weight.
The big news in wax is that the

/ OUTDOOR + SNOW SHOW 2020

E.U. banned fluorinated waxes
starting in July 2020, and FIS
banned them in competition going
into the 2020-21 season. The new
Swix Pure Marathon Wax is the
environmentally friendly evolution
of fluorocarbon wax and the most
durable, eco-friendly wax available
today, according to the brand.

SHOW SOME SKIN

"Classical skiing is bringing skin
technology back to the Nordic
world," says Rossignol's Nordic
category manager, Jeff Courter.
"We're seeing more skiers who
want a do-it-all ski that requires
little maintenance." For F20,
Rossignol revamped its X-IUM
Premium R-Skin Ski to address
the market demand for a raceable
classic ski that doesn't require
constantly changing wax. "We
built the ski around the skin,
adding a carbon layer for a strong
camber profile that holds the skin
off the snow for excellent glide and
efficient kick."
Kevin Johnson, Nordic commercial manager for Atomic
also sees a growing demand for
low-maintenance gear. "A resurgence in classic skiing is being
driven by skin skis replacing
waxless skis," Johnson says. "The
generation that jumped on the
skating bandwagon in the '90s is
aging...and turning to high-end
classic skiing gear." Atomic's lightest race boot yet, the Redster C9
Carbon uses a single integrated
carbon frame around the heel and
sole for unbeatable power transfer
and acceleration.
The Daily - January 30, 2020

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