2012-13 Ski Preview: Scott

2012-13 Ski Preview: Scott

Punisher & W's Luna

www.scott-sports.com

Punisher
Ski dimensions: 142/110/132
Lengths: 163,173,183,189
Target Market: All-Mountain/Backcountry Freeski


Two-sentence description: Newly remodeled for the 2012, the Punisher features the most rocker in SCOTT’s line.  From hitting backcountry booters to ripping all-mountain pow and crud, this ski can do it all.


W’s Luna
Ski Dimensions: 126/85/117
Lengths: 156,166
Target Market: All-Mountain women’s specific.


Two-sentence description: A ski that offers versatility and forgiveness, the Luna is the perfect all-conditions tool with great turn initiation in the soft stuff and edge grip on groomers.
What’s on the horizon for next year’s skis?
You’ll see many of the new skis utilizing SCOTT’s 3Dimension Sidecut technology (tip radius/straight line under-foot/tail radius) as well rocker to different degrees, depending on the model.  Not too mention all new graphics, it’s a good-looking line-up!


What are three of the biggest forces shaping the changes and developments you’ve made?
- Consumer interest in having different levels of rocker in the line.
- Utilizing our different technologies (3Dimension, Venturi shape, Rocker) to create skis that can offer high performance in different terrain types and allow for easier turn initiation without sacrificing stability.
- Building skis that we want to ski.


Any completely new models (including pro models)?
Punisher
Luna
Pure
Reverse
Fly’Air
Jib TW
Jib


Any disappearing?
Mission
Explor’Air
Layla


What will be your best selling ski? Why?
The Venture, as the evolution of our bestselling Mission, offers a updated shape as well as tip rocker to make a stable, fun ski that’s quick edge to edge for the intermediate to advanced skier.


Any new materials or construction technologies?
We are using a new Paulownia wood core for our Fly ‘Air ski.


How much emphasis are you putting on rocker?
We are continuing to put efforts into offering different sizes of rocker throughout the line.

Thanks to Ryan Dionne at Skiing Business

2012-13 Ski Preview: K2

2012-13 Ski Preview: K2

M's Bolt w/ MX 14.0 Binding , $1,380 & W's SuperGlide w/ ERS 11.0 TC Binding, $1,000

www.k2skis.com


Men’s Bolt
Ski dimensions: 125/72/99
Available length of skis: 172, 179, 186


Target market with the featured skis: Expert level skiers who crave the most speed possible on the firmest and steepest runs at the resort.


Two-sentence description of featured skis:
K2 is proud to introduce the highest performance hard snow ski to date, forever changing hard snow ski design. As the flagship model for K2’s new ROX Technology, the Bolt is the ultimate carving instrument available for medium to long radios GS turns with rock solid stability and hold at mach speed.


Women’s SuperGlide
Ski dimensions: 127/80/109
Available length of skis: 146, 153, 160, 167


Target market with the featured skis: Expert level women skiers who split their time between firm snow and soft at the resort.


Two-sentence description of featured skis:
An all-new model in the women’s collection, the SuperGlide has been developed for expert skiers who split their time between firm snow and soft. The ski’s versatility stems from its All-Terrain Rocker profile and a lightweight yet responsive design mixed with an optimum waist width for a wide variety of conditions and pitches.


What’s on the horizon for next year’s skis?
For 12-13, K2 will introduce an all-new hard-snow specific technology for skiers who demand the utmost performance and precision in a carving instrument. K2 will also unveil two brand new pro model skis for athletes Seth Morrison and Sean Pettit, along with 11 other new constructions throughout the men’s, women’s and children’s collections. All of this, in conjunction with K2’s 50th Anniversary and a full line of commemorative 50-year retro products adds up to a very exciting and fun time to be on K2 skis.

Andrew Thomas

What are three of the biggest forces shaping the changes and developments you’ve made?
K2 continues to apply Baseline Technology, a blend of camber with varying amounts of rocker, to its entire 12-13 collection of skis. This technology has allowed K2 to develop skis for every condition and skier, from first timer to seasoned pro. K2 is also stoked to celebrate 50 years of serious fun with a collection of products give a nod to the brand’s unexpected origins and unconventional culture.


Any completely new models (including pro models)?
The Bolt, Velocity, SideSeth (Seth Morrison Pro Model), BackDrop, Pettitor (Sean Pettit Pro Model), Iron Maiden are all new on the men’s side. The women’s side will see the SuperGlide, Empress, and a new 179cm length in the MissDirected. Kids will enjoy the all-new Bolt Jr.


Any disappearing?
Obsethed.


Any new materials or construction technologies?
ROX Technology:  Until RoX, high performance hard snow skis were designed stiff and robust for unshakable hold on the firmest snow conditions. Consequently, the additional stiffness results in a ski that is unforgiving and difficult to initiate into a turn. By focusing specifically on the advantages of K2’s Speed Rocker in combination with a specific MOD shape and Carbon Web placement, K2 has developed RoX Technology, a new standard for hard snow ski design, creating skis with unshakable hold on the firmest conditions with the added benefit of effortless turn initiation.


How much emphasis are you putting on rocker?
K2 will once again incorporate Rocker into every ski in its collection.


What about sidecountry/backcountry?
K2 will continue to focus on exploring the side and backcountry with efficiency and multi-functionality incorporated into all of its Backside skis, skins and tools for adventure.

Thanks to  Ryan Dionne at Skiing Business

K2 Skis Announces New Additions to Factory Team

 K2 Skis Announces New Additions to Factory Team Roster and Launch of K2Skeeze.com

K2 Unveils New Athletes to Team Roster on Media-Driven Destination Website

By:Powder Magazine 

K2 Skis announces plans today to expand its world-class Factory Team lineup that represents the cutting edge of freeskiing. This news comes hand-in-hand with the announcement of a new destination website called K2Skeeze.com, an evolution of K2’s ‘Skeeze’ tradition following the K2 Skeeze magazines and Skeeze team DVD offerings from previous seasons.

K2SKEEZE.COM
Launching at the end of July, K2Skeeze.com features an all-new team page in addition to Skeeze-exclusive webisode series and content. Visitors to the site will be able to view every existing video of K2 athletes and their crews in one easy-to-browse location, along with all the latest athlete news and updates throughout the season. Furthermore, be on the lookout for weekly giveaways, contests, exclusive K2Skeeze athlete profiles and more as the site takes off.

“K2 is dedicated to leading the charge when it comes to team-generated media,” says K2 Team Manager, Andrew Thomas. “In conjunction with K2’s Factory Team expansion and more talent than ever, the website will provide visitors with all the latest news and first-hand perspectives from the top skiers in the industry, while retaining the K2 flavor of fun and irreverence.”

FACTORY TEAM
K2’s original collection of hotdoggers started the “team” movement of skiing when they formed the K2 Demonstration Team and starred in Dick Barrymore’s groundbreaking 1971 movie titled The Performers. They took the ski world by storm in the 1970s with their zany maneuvers and antics, both on and off the hill. A strict diet of skiing, traveling while living out of an RV, and partying set the tone for the next 40+ years of freestyle ski-bums-to-be.

Their unforeseen approach to skiing and life paved the way for the future of freestyle skiing, as well as K2’s development agenda as the company became truly athlete-driven, from ski design to marketing and beyond. Roughly 25 years after the Performers opened the doors of freestyle, K2 brought together the original Factory Team and introduced the concept of team marketing to the ski industry.

Since the Factory Team was founded in 1997, it has comprised the most progressive and stylish skiers in the sport. Fifteen years later the same holds true, as K2 is proud to support the most premier freestyle powder, park, pipe and urban athletes in the world. As the following athletes join the ranks of Seth Morrison, Sean Pettit, Pep Fujas, Andy Mahre and PK Hunder, they reach a special status in skiing as they cement themselves in the K2 family and its rich history of skiers.

Clayton Vila
Sean Jordan
Cam Riley
Shea Flynn
Collin Collins
Aleksander Aurdal
Brita Sigourney
Anna Segal

Hit The Road

Our friends over at local Morzine magazine- Yodel- take us through the thoughts of one of their early season road rides...

It’s a funny thing, pulling on the lycra and setting out with my housemates for the first road ride of the season. We’re not in a hurry but something inside sets the body ready for a race. It is a very personal challenge and there is nowhere to hide.

Route: From Morzine, up Route d’Avoriaz, down Col de la Joux Verte, returning to Morzine through Montriond.
28.3km 790m vertical climb
We ride off out of Morzine chatting merrily, with the gentle early summer sunshine on our backs. We are worlds apart from the professional race circuit with all its fanfare, tv helicopters  and cheering crowds. Yet one cannot fail to acknowledge a mysterious kinship with the heroes of history that have climbed, shoulder to shoulder, along this very stretch of road.
The route is a good challenge for early season and not too long. Ascending Route d’Avoriaz we cannot get stranded in a far-flung valley and the descent of Col de la Joux Verte through Les Lindarets down to Lac Montriond is spectacular. I’m riding one of our new Boardman hire bikes with an 11/32 cassette, an exceptionally low gear ratio which is ideal for getting up these big Alpine climbs… especially after too many Mutzigs during the winter.

As the gradient begins to rise, my senses sharpen and pulse quickens, my breathing becomes heavy and focused. I know that no matter how hard it gets, there is no turning back now. The top is the only option. I am in my own world. This is my pace, my race, and that is all there is.

Nineteen hairpins and over an hour later, the road sign marking the end of the pain appears as a lucid mirage over the curved horizon. Spurred on by the broadening panorama I make a final little push and then I stop.
Exhausted. Exhilarated. Unequivocally human.

If the ascent is about fitness and raw determination, then the descent is about big hairy balls… it’s a runaway roller coaster with no rails and zero margin for error. On the drop handlebars the resistance is nothing and gravity fires me like a bullet down the tarmac oblivion. My breathing slows to a meditative pace as the bike senses every tiny bump. I tingle.

Squeezing the hyper-sensitive brakes into the first corner, careful to avoid any blemishes and white lines painted on the road, the bike holds through the turn and eases gingerly into the next straight.  With far from perfect technique, each corner and every straight is a tight-rope balance between fear and control. Not to mention the car that appears out of nowhere round a blind hairpin up towards me.

By the end I am cruising, pedalling slowly. The air is warmer down here, and I experience a bizarre sense of re-entering a familiar yet foreign civilization. I feel different. I catch a sideways smile from my housemate Chris and I know that he feels it too. Thank you, mountains, for reminding me that I am alive.