Thredbo which is set to be a hot test ground this year for new 360 degree cameras and new ski attach cameras cut the deal in the off season.
Thredbo 365 pass holders will now receive 50% off day passes across NZSki’s resorts of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables in Queenstown, plus Mt Hutt out of Christchurch – in addition to the 50% off they currently receive at all other Mountain Collective resorts.
Owners can access 30 days of skiing or boarding at 15 iconic destinations around the world on one pass. The pass includes two days at each of the Mountain Collective resorts, plus 50% off the cost of any additional day passes.
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The Mountain Collective Pass 16/17, which is now on sale, allows pass holders to ski around the world on one pass across Canada, USA, Europe, Japan, South America, Australia and now New Zealand.
Owners can access 30 days of skiing or boarding at 15 iconic destinations around the world on one pass. The pass includes two days at each of the Mountain Collective resorts, plus 50% off the cost of any additional day passes.
Skiing and boarding which is popular with technology lovers is also witnessing an explosion in new ski and boarding technology due to the use of 3D printing, CAD/CAM technology and Go Pro camera use. Information gleaned by using technology attached to ski’s has seen the development of new ski’s for women and significant improvement in boards.
What’s coming this season.
Atomic: naturally flexing skis for women
Women-specific skis in Atomic’s range now benefit from the brand’s ARC technology, introduced on men’s skis last season. “Rather than being rigid under the bindings, skis have a hollowed out area fitted with our ARC binding plate, giving a natural, even flex along their full length,” says Atomic’s Russ O’Neill. “The version on the women’s skis is not quite as stiff as the men’s.” Top end looks come courtesy of a new perforated topsheet embedded with metal.
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Head: Graphene gives women’s range the edge
The new women’s Joy skis from Head feature a material called Graphene. “It’s the strongest, lightest metal known to mankind,” says Head’s Matt Humphreys. “And we’re the only sporting brand using it.”
Rossignol: easier turning all-mountain skis
Rossignol’s redesigned Experience and Temptation all-mountain skis now feature its lightweight Air Tips – hold the skis up to the light and an air-filled honeycomb structure in the tips is clearly visible. “As Air Tip was a success in the freeride and big mountain models last year, making them easier to manoeuvre, we’ve put it in the all-mountain skis,” says Rossignol’s Chris Best. “It’s not so much about cutting weight, but about redistributing it and improving swing weight for easy turn initiation. The structure retains spring and torsional rigidity, and strength is concentrated underfoot for grip.”
Scott: boosts on-piste performance
Last season Scott launched The Ski, an all-round model with retro graphics that nods to skis produced by freestyle pioneer Bobbie Burns in the Seventies. He and Scott share a home resort – Sun Valley, Idaho. The Ski is back for 2014/15, and Scott has also developed a more piste-orientated version, Black Majic. “It has the same elliptical sandwich construction as The Ski to boost edge control and precision on piste, which means the topsheet curves upwards, but we’ve added an extra layer of titanal,” says Scott’s Daniel Tanzer.
V?lkl: less vibration, more edge control
“The Code range has dramatically changed,” says V?lkl’s Dave Sawyer-Parker. The two models at the top end – Code Speedwall S and Code Speedwall L in the piste expert tests – are completely redesigned, and all four models now come with V?lkl’s judder-absorbing UVO (Ultimate Vibration Object). “Most anti vibration systems only work up and down, but this works through 360 degrees, also reducing twisting vibrations,” says Dave.
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“It massively improves edge grip while allowing the ski to be more supple.” The skis also have the new iMotion2 bindings from V?lkl’s sister company Marker. “A slow release piston mechanism in the heel piece means better energy absorption of quick hits – an ice cookie for example – which helps with ski control,” says Dave. Although the Codes are in the piste tests they still have some freeride spirit, he adds. “They’re wider than our race skis, and have tip and tail rocker, which also makes them super-easy to manoeuvre.”
K2: redesigned women’s range
Many of the skis in K2’s latest women’s range have been renamed Potion, and sport smokey alchemical graphics.
“Across the entire range there are also new tip shapes for more smoothness into the turn,” says K2’s Simon Smith. The piste skis have a blunt, round tip with a short, abrupt rise, while the all-mountain and freeride models have a slightly longer tip and rise for added versatility off piste. “A lower profile means they require less aggression to turn,” says Simon. Skis have also been made lighter by a revamp of K2’s RoX anti-vibration technology, visible as a raised X on the topsheet of many in the range. “It used to be carbon,” says Simon, “Now it’s fibreglass with aluminium powder – testing proved this worked better on the women’s skis.” Expert level skis have RoX combined with a layer of titanal in the core for even more power.
Salomon: replaces popular Enduro range
“We’ve taken a punt,” says Salomon’s Pete Waghorn. The company has replaced its successful all-mountain frontside – that is, more piste than off piste – Enduro skis, with a new range called X-Drive. The X-Drive 8.8 FSs are best on test in the all-mountain expert category, so the punt has paid off. “They’re built inside out,” says Pete. “The X-Chassis – two crosses that you can see on top of the skis – is the engine at their heart. It’s half carbon and half Polyamid [nylon] fibres, diagonally and horizontally laid over each other, for more power underfoot without adding weight.”
The X-Chassis of the top models in the range – including the 8.8 FSs – incorporates a rubbery material to absorb shock.
“We’ve also evolved the rocker,” says Pete. “RKS – carbon inserts near the tip and tail, also visible – tackles vibration, and results in improved stability.”
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The X-Drives are also lighter than the Enduros, thanks to Salomon’s Honeycomb tips and a low density full wood core that weighs 15 per cent less than that of the Enduro. Plus, the upgraded X-Track binding attachment system brings boots nearer to the skis for added feel, and is wider to increase control.
Salomon: designs fresh from the lab
“It’s real prestige performance, almost a prototype,” says Salomon’s Pete Waghorn of the new big mountain freeride Q-Lab addition to the Q-Line range. The clue’s in the name – with its superior full wood core developed for Salomon race skis to give maximum grip, stability and precision, this is hot off the lab bench. Not quite ready for the ?600 price tag? Fret not says Pete; the tech will drift down the range in seasons to come.
Salomon has also dropped a slightly narrower model into the Q line-up – Q-85. “It’s really playful, fun and easy to turn,” says Pete. “A real door opener for someone to have more fun on the mountain.” The rest of the Q range is unchanged, save for a snazzy graphics update.
“As we’ve noticed a resurgence in piste skiing we introduced the new tech excitement in on piste skis last year,” says Pete. “The X-Race skis have World Cup ready technology – such as a superior, lab level wood core – and our Progressive Radius Sizing. Skiers can choose which of the five lengths to buy according to their preferred turn size – tight slalom or high-speed GS for example. It’s a new approach that makes race-level piste performance more accessible to regular skiers who don’t need skis that conform to racing regulations about radius.”
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