New Snowgrooming Gear Producer Might Seriously Change Things Around – To Better

New Snowgrooming Gear Producer Might Seriously Change Things Around – To Better

Gear News, Newsfeed
In the last couple of decades a quiet, slow revolution has taken place in cross-country skiing. The revolution in snow grooming. Well prepared trails are not just appreciated - they are totally expected by both pros and enthusiasts wherever they go. Archive videos from the Olympics past prompt almost an indignation: They run on THAT snow mess? didn't they have groomers?! Well, there is one huge problem: snowgrooming machines for cross country skiing are very much a niche product within ( a niche product itself) snowgroomers: No secret that a lion share of those designed & sold is aimed at downhill skiing slopes. Niche products tend to be expensive. A current golden standard of xcskiing trail making, famed PistenBully 100 retails for up to 400.000 euros when new! Somebody took…
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New Polar Watch: Almost There? Meanwhile, Who Is Using What Among Elite Skiers

New Polar Watch: Almost There? Meanwhile, Who Is Using What Among Elite Skiers

Gear News, Newsfeed
They say it's finally nearly, almost there - this time for real There is no need to tell you what the name Polar means for cross country skiing. Worn & used by the best, for decades it was synonymous with elite level training and performance. However, the Kempele, Finland based company was late, incredibly late with a replacement for its storied, still highly functional - but unforgivably old ( 4 years since its launch!) V800. And the competitors caught up. Now the market is divided between Polar ( still selling V800) , Garmin and Suunto that came up with wrist computers capable not only measuring vital data, but also working as an external smartphone terminal of sorts. And making fashion statement at the same time - whatever that fashion is.…
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Man Who Made Helmet Cool. Part 2

Man Who Made Helmet Cool. Part 2

Gear News, Newsfeed
In Part 1 we have tried to relay our fascination ( and appreciation) with what Olav Hagen, a retired Norwegian policeman, did and still is doing to the world of skiing: making it wear helmets. Because helmets are not just useful - they are cool. Actually, make it super cool. Klaebo-level cool! [caption id="attachment_8498" align="aligncenter" width="1152"] Hagen posing in front of Catlike promo poster with Klaebo. Do you need any - any - other reason to buy one? [/caption] Now we give stage to Olav himself to explain in his own words - The Aramid roll cage of Catlike Mixino is one of the keys to a safe and very light helmets. This is basically Kevlar that is as strong as steel and is used in ballistic vests, aerospace construction…
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Updated. Innovations That Will Shake  Skiing World Next Season. Or Not

Updated. Innovations That Will Shake Skiing World Next Season. Or Not

Gear News, Newsfeed
About a year ago we highlighted some of the interesting, innovative products that were/are supposed make to skiers' lives a tiny bit better. Let's see what came out of it. Updates are in bold Rottefella Xcelerator Electric The future of cross-country is electric!! Thus declared legacy Norwegian firm Rottefella and presented the ski bindings that can be moved along the ski for better grip/glide, using tiny motors controlled via Bluetooth from a remote control on the poles. “Our extensive experience of product development in cross-country skiing and ski bindings combined with Semcon’s technical expertise has made it possible to create a groundbreaking new product,” said Øyvar Svendsen, R&D manager at Rottefella. Rottefella aims to produce the world's very first electric bindings in Norway and bring them to the market in…
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Morten Iversbakken : First IDT  Rollerskis We Made 6 Years Ago Were Weak Products – Now We Look Back At Them And Laugh.

Morten Iversbakken : First IDT Rollerskis We Made 6 Years Ago Were Weak Products – Now We Look Back At Them And Laugh.

Gear News, Newsfeed
This is Part 2 of our profile of one the most talked about brands of this year: IDT or IDT Sports, a Norwegian producer of hi-end rollerskis In Part 1 we shared some trivia about the company and added a few thoughts on our own. Today we give the stage to the man responsible for establishing the Norwegian brand on already highly competitive rollerski market: Meet & greet Morten Iversbakken Marketing Manager of IDT Solutions AS [caption id="attachment_8326" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Morten Iversbakken talks to his crew at Blink Skifest[/caption] - IDT skis are seen being used more and more often, so far primarily by elite skiers - first Norwegians, now Russians and so on, they get high marks in comparos   What makes them so special? What is that that sets…
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