Over the past 20 years, there’s been no shortage of innovation within the ski industry. Hell, every year, virtually every company claims to have the “game changer” that will “change skiing forever.” For the most part, these revelations in technology fizzle, and designers are left to go back to the drawing board to come up with the next product that will undoubtedly change skiing forever. Every so often, however, a product comes along that does indeed change the direction of skiing. Whether they’re functional or safety products, these enigmas leave us scratching our heads, asking ourselves, “Why didn’t I think of that?” These are those products.
The ABS Air Bag Pack
The ABS pack is likely the most important product in terms of avalanche safety/rescue since the avalanche transceiver. The device, which essentially increases the surface area of the victim and ultimately increases the likelihood that he or she will “float,” has a survival rate of 97%. A small minority of critics argue that the air bag pack has increased risk taking amongst backcountry users because of the pack’s success rate. I assume that these same critics would argue that having a fire extinguisher increases the likelihood of fires.
The Salomon 1080
While the 1974 Olin Mark IV Comp can technically claim to be the first twin tip, the Salomon 1080 was the true game changer. As anybody that tried to land switch on a pair of K2 Fours can attest, the Salomon 1080 was the first product that empowered the newschool movement. While the newschool movement was being nurtured in small circles across the country, the 1080 proved that there was enough of a market for the greater ski industry to take note. The Salomon 1080’s success, in many ways, legitimized the newschool movement.
The Marker Duke Touring Binding
Before you immediately scroll to the comments section to rip me a new one, hear me out. Was the Marker Duke the first alpine/touring binding? No. Is it a good alpine/touring binding? Not particularly. The original Duke was heavy, not very user friendly, and had far too many moving parts. Where the Duke did succeed, however, was in its marketing. For the first time there was a mass-marketed alpine/touring binding that got an entire new generation of people thinking about the backcountry. Until the Duke, having an entirely separate backcountry setup wasn’t feasible for many weekend warriors. The Duke made the idea of touring into the backcountry a reality for Joey Bagodoughnuts….for better or worse.
The GoPro
The GoPro is not on this list because it finally gave your friends and family a way to relive your ski vacation- turn for turn. Rather, it’s included on this list for its roll in giving individual athletes a voice and presence they otherwise would never have had. For the first time ever, unknown, individual athletes could get their names out there for the whole world to see. It didn’t matter if you didn’t have the connections with the right photographers or film companies- fame seemed to be just an edit away. Plus, without these little bundles of joy countless hilarious crashes would have gone undocumented.
The Volant Spatula
Of all the gear on this list, the Volant Spatula, the brainchild of Shane McConkey, has likely had the biggest effect on the way we ski. Moreover, reverse camber hasn’t simply revolutionized powder skis; the technology has trickled down to virtually all aspects of skiing. Freakish when it hit the market, the Volant Spatula could easily have been dismissed as a gimmick. However, thanks to McConkey’s steadfast belief in its functionality, the Spatula wasn’t just another gimmick that became a footnote in skiing history, and it truly changed what was possible on skis. Thanks Shane.
#1 should be the snowboard. With out copying that you guys would still be swivel hipping thru the pow.
Pretty sure the snowboard was invented over 20 years ago….without you guys skiers would look a lot dumber.
Its items from the last 20 years, snowboards are older
The Air Bag Pack? Are you joking? This device is just as useful as a transceiver with no search mode, pure junk. It’s not going to save shit when you are swept over a cliff and tossed on to some trees. Suffocation is not the only killer in an avalanche. Contacting rocks and trees will kill you faster. What good is a bag when I splat on a rock pile?
That’ doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful or influential. I don’t know if it should be in this list, but is is a very important (increasingly so) development.
I would think that shaped skis would be on this list. Maybe people on this site are too young to remember the days of skiing 210′s with a waist of 66 mm.
Without wide skis that actually want to turn most of the “rippers” would suck bad. Not on the list? No one would use a go pro if they had the 210 long and 66 wide.
Have you ever used the pack, or any other air bag pack for that matter? To me the most visible / tangible benefit, having not yet totally subscribed to the actual flotation they offer since I have yet to put it into practive, is the head and neck protection. The fact that they envelop the head and neck so well (at least with some) would give a good amount of protection from exactly what you mention.
Having skied at Stevens Pass a lot growing up, and frequently doing car laps on the backside of Cowboy down to the freeway, I would venture a guess that Elyse’s pack saved her at least as much from blunt force trauma as it did suffocating.
Cumstain, so three out of five are from the last five years. Somebody needs to do a bit more research.
Like the digital transceiver? Like it didn’t change the search and rescue game one bit?
Well my timeline may be just as faded as I am. But a gopro? Really.
Salomon, GoPro, Marker, ABS, and (RIP) Volant sponsored this thread…
What the F?
Id say that GOGGLES, helmets, avalanche beacons, and snowboarding have done more than a god damn go-pro. Im surprised that the iPhone isn’t on here given the lack of research…
anyone on here notice it says the last 20 years?
tho i think shaped skis might have been after 92, and if so then that should def be on here
#2 biggest thing (after the spatulas) = weather forecasting models!
As much as you think the weather people suck or not, the availability of weather model data, satelite images, radar anamations, etc… really have influenced when people prep for storms and schedule time off work.
When the weather people start predicting storms coming in, that is when i get the most excited about skiing. The improved technology to predict and the availibility of the data to the average person has influenced when people ski, where people ski (storm chasing), and what people are packing!
Gopro? Although cool, i still dont have one and dont need one to enhance the snow-sliding experience.
‘The device, which essentially increases the surface area of the victim’ Not only does this not belong on this list, it sounds like you don’t understand how it works.
that is how it works, actually. it makes you bigger, because when you get pushed down the mountain,, all the bigger objects in the slide are on top, and the smaller objects are on the bottom. but i agree, i think they should put something like sidecut in that spot instead, it was definatley a bigger thing
So if I wore a really large suit made of lead I would be all good because all the bigger objects are on top? I think density might have something to do with it too.
I second forecasting. Good call.
Why the Gopro? you look like a fuc… teletubbie with that thing on your head..
Go Contour!
Despite the other meat heads making comments here, I tend to agree with the products listed here,
But you are from Vermont so nobody cares what you think.
You suck cock, so why should people listen to you?
Pocket Rockets?
Best selling ski of all time. Make good skiers out of less than good skiers
What about tall tees…Or maybe snowblades, or at least those bigfeet things… Seriously though, Fubar 1 and Fubar 2.
Six passenger lifts, mountain snowmobiles and hydroponic weed just to name a few
Dynafits???? opensnow.com????
Steve, you are a wonderful person.
– Joel, founder of OpenSnow.com
second cloning powerful weed and selling it at reasonable prices that a ski bum can access. that has upped my game, or made it seem bigger at least.
I think the avalung was an item that brought attention to sidecountry powder skiing, the airbag followed suit.
yeah, nice idea for a list, which is rare on unoff. but poorly executed. do some more research before you blow a wad on a good idea.
Right or wrong, congrats unofficial on having so many dipshits willing to read and comment with so much thoughtful passion on your posts! I hope your ad revenue is booming.
its ironic that GoPro doesnt have a video, but ABS does
Written in forty seconds, in no particular order…
Shaped Skis
Dynafit TLT Vertical Binding
Dynafit TLT 5 Boot
Marker Duke
Volant Splatula
Salomon 1080
Pocket Rockets
BCA Tracker