Technology and new materials help amplify the sensations skiers love about being on snow.
In an effort to closely connect to the bulk of the skiing population—passionate resort skiers who use the mountain as their winter playground—Salomon got back to basics. With more than six decades of alpine ski equipment experience under its belt, the French Alps-based company decided it was time
to take the temperature of skiers by asking them exactly what they love about the sport. The answer was simpler than you might think: Skiers just love the adrenaline rush that comes with sliding on snow.
The R&D team at Salomon’s Annecy Design Center (ADC) tasked with the job of building Salomon’s frontside collection—from skis, boots and bindings to helmets, googles and apparel—took that simple feedback and used a variety of highly technological advances to deliver all-mountain toys that amplify the rush we all get sliding downhill, no matter what level of skier we are.
The All-Mountain Frontside category is specifically about creating equipment with the versatility to enable skiers to meet the challenge of playing on any terrain at the resort. To do so, product designers lean on Salomon’s expertise in fit, the use of innovative materials and technologies in skis, and even borrow from backcountry touring concepts to make equipment lighter for the everyday skier.
In addition to a new range of products, Salomon’s efforts to build a more connected community of all-mountain frontside skiers also includes a service-oriented website designed to help skiers get the most from their skiing experience. The site will serve as a meeting place to post and view advice from fellow skiers on everything from equipment tricks (like how to de-fog your goggles) to experiencing a resort like a local (secret stashes, the best burger or prime parking).
Like the tips campaign, Salomon’s All-Mountain frontside collection is designed to allow skiers to maximize their play time on the slopes. From the Motion Shield System in the Driver Helmet to the combined wood/titanium core of the new XDR 84 Ti Skis.
The XDR 84 Ti ski (84 mm waist) is the go-to frontside model designed to tackle a variety of conditions, whether the day requires floating through powder, blasting through crud or carving up groomers. Featuring a progressive rockered tip, the XDR sports superior dampening abilities for terrain adaptation and easy flotation in mixed and soft snow. On firm, fast groomers, the XDR’s wood core melds with titanium for maximum control when arcing turns. Salomon engineers also optimized construction in the ski’s extremities, making it light, playful and an easy-to-maneuver in any conditions the mountain throws your way. The key to that versatility is the use of Salomon’s patented C/FX technology, which utilizes the all-natural flax material to deliver superior dampening properties while still being strong and stable.
“The intent of the XDR collection was to put the ‘all-mountain’ back in all-mountain. What we see in the all-mountain category on the market today are wider versions of on-piste skis, which work on hard groomed slopes but truly don’t allow you to explore the full resort,” notes Scott Lumsden, Salomon Product Marketing Manager, Alpine Skis & Bindings. “We took our patented
C/FX technology to a new level to provide the power that you need for groomed slopes and the dampening needed when skiing in mixed snow. By having a true all-mountain ski, our goal is to amplify the sensations you get from skiing and let skiers have more fun on the mountain.”
Ski helmets are a little like your car seat belt: they are there to protect you when you really need it. The new Salomon Driver+ Helmet features a number of integrated technologies that protect your brain, and are also high on the cool factor. Salomon’s patented EPS 4D molding solution protects your head more efficiently than other helmets by dispersing and absorbing oblique and vertical shocks. The Driver also features a Salomon-exclusive tool-free lens changing system. Since seeing is the most important part of the game, the Salomon Motion Shield System is a true over-the-glass (OTG) system that lets you keep your glasses on as you watch for the spaces, and not the places.
Looking good and feeling good go hand in hand with Salomon’s Whitezone Jacket. Let’s start with feeling good: The Whitezone features Salomon’s Flowtech system, consisting of channels and chambers that circulate air throughout, removing moisture to keep your core at a consistent temperature whether ripping turns, sitting on the chair or relaxing with an après beer. In fact, studies have shown that Flowtech results in a 12 percent increase in consistent body temperature by reducing body-produced humidity levels. Yes, we sweat when we ski. Now for the looking good part. The Whitezone was designed with clean lines, luxurious fabrics, and a variety of color options to turn head in the lift line, on the chair or on the barstool.
