You asked: King’s new boots

You asked: King’s new boots

Gear News, Newsfeed
We get more questions about Johannes Klaebo's new boots than about all the other ski-related stuff combined. So we can't avoid the subject and decided to do a post about them. Or two. Or twenty two. Because looks matter - even in cross country skiing where many an industry captain would prefer to talk at le ngth about functionality whereas the rest of the world chooses jordans, yeezys and balenciaga not because they are hyper-functional but because they are fashionable - and also because some cool dude got them first. In this case - at least two cool dudes, as apart from Johannes , Lucas Chanavat was spotted wearing them brand-new Fischer boots too. We, frankly, don't know what makes them different from the previous interation of Speedmax boots apart…
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2020 – Year Of Carbon Fiber Rollerskis? More Great CF Models Than Ever But Not Everyone Is Convinced

2020 – Year Of Carbon Fiber Rollerskis? More Great CF Models Than Ever But Not Everyone Is Convinced

Gear News, Newsfeed
Fischer just unveiled the pair the Austrian company calls " world's lightest classic rollerskis" https://youtu.be/w-MmYzf0X6g Which means they are at least a little bit lighter than the Swix model that hit the market last year, somewhat ahead of the pack. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAnr8yzHhtO/?igshid=1bkrho69l59t8 "The pack" because never before was the market so saturated with the true carbon fiber monocoque rollerskis offers: Established players roll out their first CF models https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYpPAEJkDV/?igshid=fe2e361269n4 New players are entering the market - obviously, sensing some business opportunities. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA7_Gn9J6YV/?igshid=1fwcr5ehpedwc The end of metal alloy rollerskis is nay? Not so fast,says Morten Iversbakken, the marketing manager of IDT Sports. Everyone remembers, of course, that the Norwegian company sponsors by far the most top teams/ individual skiers in the world of xcskiing (but not biathlon - that's still largely the…
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ISPO As Reflection Of Where Industry Is Going. And Not Going

ISPO As Reflection Of Where Industry Is Going. And Not Going

Gear News, Leaders, Newsfeed
What do you want to hear first, good things or bad? Let's start with good: - There were some notable product unveilings e.g. Redline 3.0 by Madshus, Triac 4.0 by Swix and all-new SK Course boots & S1/2/3 skis by Rossignol. - Budding Russian label Spine brought its 3D foot scanner and had Petter Northug bare his extremities to demonstrate how Custom Fit technology works in practice. - Northug himself had a very lively stand featuring just his glasses so far, but ambitions to expand into textiles etc. are clearly there. - Kaestle is burgeoning on cash injection and market expertise of its new Czech owners. - KV+ had a large (but rather fortress-like designed i.e. lots of walls with one entrance) segment indicating company's robust health. ...But you know,…
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Ski Bosses R US – Industry Captains Descend On Davos

Ski Bosses R US – Industry Captains Descend On Davos

Leaders, Newsfeed
We are of opinion that putting a face to a name makes a huge difference. In this case, faces of people who play prominent role in cross country skiing industry. Aside from the world championships and the Olympics, there is no better place to catch them than the annual Davos Nordic stage of the World Cup in mid-December. It might be a Swiss air but we reckon it's more about a unique layout of the Davos skis stadium: there a place where athletes prepare and where equipment-making dignitaries congregate is one & same, creating a sort of "mixed zone" where athletes could casually talk to producers and suppliers immediately before or after the race. [caption id="attachment_14008" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie is not just one the most legendary names in…
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Clarification & Retraction: Fischer’s Air Core Is NOT Nomex

Clarification & Retraction: Fischer’s Air Core Is NOT Nomex

Gear News, Newsfeed
Our story about ski cores stated unequivocally that all the leading manufacturers except for Madshus use DuPont-made Nomex® honeycomb in their top-of-the-line racing models while using in-house made honeycomb in cheaper skis. That is factually wrong - and Fischer Nordic got in touch to object and to correct us. Says Tanja Winterhalder, Fischer Nordic's head of PR & marketing "Our Air Core is patented and made by Fischer. The Air Core is specially adjusted to our design and materials and as a result the power transmission is better". The Air Core ( together with carbon sheeting it's attached to officially known as Air Core HM Carbon) is underpinning Speedmax and , since a lion share of all ski competitions is being won on Speedmaxes, we have no reason to put…
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