Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Has ski gear hit a plateau?

profile picture
Good_Deed
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 1,321
Checking out all the new gear in the SIA forums and nothing is jumping out at me, and I think the ski industry knows it too. That is why Atmoic is hyping up the new bent so much, but thing is it isn't new other companies have been doing it soon as rocker came out. The cam gogs are kind of cool but way to much money and you can only use them for skiing. It really looks like new tech and new shapes is slowing down.
Jan 31 2014 10:22PM
270 75
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
I really want a ski with a plastic piece on the inside of each tail because that's where the top sheet gets hella chipped from the other tail.
Feb 9 2014 7:30PM
1 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
I could also see hardcore durable skis-- like, a ski company actually warrantying rail damage and shit. Then that would become the new industry standard.

Competition. Capitalism. Merica
Feb 9 2014 7:33PM
3 4
profile picture
Tent
Posts: 1082 - Karma: 682
I think its hit a plateau for sure... Sure skis can get lighter and have more durability, but at the end of the day there aren't going to be any drastic changes... It is still just a ski. Its come a long way with all the different constructions and materials used but I don't think Ill ever be like "wow that is something i have never seen before!" Anyone feel me? What else could they even do to skis? There is some equipment that can evolve still such as safer helmets and better bindings etc... But overall I dont think we'll ever see any new huge advancements in the equipment that we use. Graphics will keep getting better though. boom
Feb 9 2014 8:12PM
0 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
*everyone thinks this*
*one guy doesn't*
*becomes millionare*
*youre all salty*

No one thinks of things before they're invented, or else, they'd be invented.
Feb 9 2014 8:14PM
1 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
Plus like I said, my 2 ideas up there. Bam.

If you could come up to a legit answer to this thread, you wouldn't be posting, you'd be putting bank in your pocket.
Feb 9 2014 8:15PM
1 3
profile picture
yangumane
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 3,347
I can't speak on technology because I don't know very much about it, but in the graphics department the 13/14 Full Tilt TWs are the best looking boot I've seen (with the 13/14 Drop Kick and Level 1 collab taking 2nd and 3rd). ON3P and Moment kill graphics too
Feb 9 2014 11:01PM
0 0
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
I'm not really into the park scene anymore but are they building a park ski that has the edges attached to each other underfoot in some sort of fashion, like a stringer between them of some sorts and maybe ridiculous huge edges???
Feb 9 2014 11:09PM
0 0
profile picture
Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
Also I was holding a pair if Soul 7's the other day. Those are fucking sick skis. The core (or at least the visible part) seems pretty legit. If only the mountain I worked at demo'ed them longer than a 180something
Feb 9 2014 11:29PM
1 1
profile picture
NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Salomon edge armor ties each edge together with thin metal wire. The same idea has also been tried with carbon tow by a few ski builders. Pretty cool idea.

I'm also pretty big on changing edge design up drastically:

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/756906/

One day we will get something that works really damn good.
Feb 9 2014 11:46PM
0 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,161
Bindings are really shitty right now. Binding designers need to step up their fricken game, just broke my binding after 2 days on it, just because I landed switch and the brake hitting the snow tore the binding apart.
Feb 9 2014 11:50PM
3 1
profile picture
Static
Posts: 8552 - Karma: 4,078
yea bro 215s or bust fuckin' a
Feb 10 2014 11:01AM
0 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
warranty?
Feb 10 2014 1:41PM
1 0
profile picture
k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
the biggest problem is advancing technology without raising the prices ridiculously. everything is already too expensive, $900 skis, $500 boots, $200 bindings, $300 goggles, $600 suits, $100 gloves, etc. (probably average for freeskiers, feel free to correct me though). add to the that the constantly rising price of lift tickets/passes and i have a hard time thinking of any other sport that costs this much. and then the skis and bindings are frankly, pretty unreliable, break way too easily and warranties are what, a year tops? it would basically be a miracle to make this sport any more advanced while still keeping it even remotely affordable. you can ask for better tech but you better be prepared to empty your wallet.
Feb 10 2014 1:49PM
1 0
profile picture
Montana_Hoodrat
Posts: 1953 - Karma: 1,481
Yes, but the point is that they could be built to withstand that. Companies lose money if they have to warranty everyone's bindings for the same failure, so I predict we can still look forward to improvements in bindings durability and cost. Composites are getting cheaper to manufacture, so I'm sure we'll see some fiberglass or carbon fiber bindings that are twice as strong as the shitty plastic and metal ones on the market eventually.
Feb 10 2014 2:14PM
1 0
profile picture
John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,161
Yes, getting a refund so I can get bindings that weren't made by untrained gorillas.
Feb 10 2014 2:20PM
3 1
profile picture
Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
That used to happen to me a lot. I started getting better and not falling switch and now It rarely happens (no fucking kidding). It usually only fucked up the base plate and the brake and the plate is usually repairable, If I remember correctly they aren't too expensive. buy a couple in the off season, it will eventually get better.
Feb 10 2014 4:17PM
1 0
profile picture
Montana_Hoodrat
Posts: 1953 - Karma: 1,481
haha why not just ride pieces of sheet metal?

Ptex is the cheap stick of plastic you repair your bases with. not the base material.
Sintered UHMW slides nicely on snow, ice, plastic and steel, is easy to repair, and flexes with the ski without breaking. Feel free to study the chemistry of composites and come up with a better material though! It certainly would be nice to have something burlier under your skis.
Feb 10 2014 5:00PM
3 2
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
Replaceable bases.
Feb 11 2014 10:19PM
1 0
profile picture
123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
It has far from plateaued. Skis tend to go in this cycle: 1) Create New Shape 2) Refine New Shape 3) Improve Construction with new Materials to reduce Weight or increase durability 5) Find new shape with those materials 6) Refine New Shape 7) Improve Construction with New Materials to reduce Weight or increase durability 6) Find New Shape with those materials and on and on and on
Feb 11 2014 10:42PM
0 0
profile picture
Montana_Hoodrat
Posts: 1953 - Karma: 1,481
Damn good idea. Lets think of more of those.

How many spares would you ship with a new pair of park skis?

I don't know about technology, but this is the new way to sell more ski gear on that critical brand new retail upsell. Especially if the bases were interchangeable for warm or cold conditions. Beneficial for park rats that destroy bases, and tech weenies that swap I/O lenses and have a quiver skis for every snow condition.

Locating replacements for 6 year old skis would suck. like finding car parts for a classic that you really want to drive again.

But think of trashing your base first run on a rock, then going to the lodge at the bottom and buying a spare base strip at the mountain shop, slapping it on yourself, and only missing one run...
Feb 11 2014 11:00PM
0 0
profile picture
DIPED_IN_SAUCE
Posts: 858 - Karma: 2,256
I don't think it would be that hard, basically using a touring skin that slides. On a side though, you could use a slippery touring skin type deal as a sort of ski condom for spring days when the rocks are out in full force.
Feb 11 2014 11:13PM
0 0
profile picture
cheaaaaaa
Posts: 830 - Karma: 630
BPA?? rigid, cheap, easy to make complex structures/stringers with

zero idea about the coefficient of friction
Feb 11 2014 11:25PM
0 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
yes dude, all valid points. It just seems like some coreshots could ruin a whole ski, when every other part is fine.
Feb 12 2014 3:44AM
0 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
Also i could FORSURE see skis with adjustable flex / butter zones in the future.
Feb 12 2014 3:45AM
2 1
profile picture
cheaaaaaa
Posts: 830 - Karma: 630
its already ben done. I don't know the products off had, but it ended up just being gimiky and expensive
Feb 12 2014 12:20PM
0 0
profile picture
NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
The Fischer Hybrid 10.0's had adjustable rocker. Not sure how that all panned out but yah, seemed more gimmicky more than anything.
Feb 12 2014 1:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Montana_Hoodrat
Posts: 1953 - Karma: 1,481
adjustable flex could be cool. It would be fun to have a true charging ski for slaying crud turn into a soft jib pow ski on good days.
Feb 12 2014 2:19PM
0 0
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5372 - Karma: 22,047
You are a complete moron. Not sure how bindings are in a bad place just because you landed switch badly.
Feb 12 2014 4:25PM
1 0
profile picture
phyz
Posts: 573 - Karma: 937
someone's on their period...

Feb 16 2014 2:14AM
2 1
profile picture
phyz
Posts: 573 - Karma: 937

btw, “P-tex” is not “UHMW”, it is a name that refers to a bunch of polyethylene plastics used in base material.

“Extruded” generally refers to HDPE (high density polyethylene) that is made in an extrusion process that involves heating polyethylene pellets and forcing them through a die which squirts (bad adjective) out finished plastic in a desired shape.

“Sintered”, on the other hand, generally refers to UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) that is made through a different type of extrusion process. This process involves feeding powdered polyethylene into a machine that heats and compresses the powder before forcing the plastic through a die which also squirts out finished plastic in desired shape X.

Sintered UHMWPE bases are higher quality, higher density, and have a higher ratio of amorphous particles to crystalline particles in their composition than extruded HDPE bases. This translates into why they wax better and are more suited to die cut graphic applications. Also, because sintered UHMWPE is manufactured from a powder form, other materials, like graphite and carbon, can be added to it to improve the speed of bases. Both sintered and extruded varieties come in large ranges of hardness and quality, so durability comparisons are pretty complicated.

As to the word “P-tex” itself, from what I gather, P-tex used to be a trademark owned by a Swiss thermoplastics company that is no longer. It seems that P-tex® now belongs to “Creative Plastic Solutions”, a German company that makes both HDPE and UHMWPE base material. In north america though, the word “P-tex” is just a loose blanket term.


Fun fact - UHMWPE is safe to eat…….or at least non toxic….

Feb 16 2014 2:34AM
0 0
profile picture
WaffleMaster
Posts: 661 - Karma: 5,565
working off the "replaceable bases" idea, what if you could add layers of material when you want a stiffer ski?
Feb 17 2014 8:31PM
0 0
profile picture
NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Oh, also:


Feb 17 2014 10:15PM
0 0
profile picture
Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
#tallpeopleproblems
Feb 21 2014 10:42PM
0 4
All times are Eastern (-5)