SIA Snow Show Kicks Off In Denver
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver is the focus of snow sports through the weekend. The SIA Show Show kicked off at the Colorado Convention Center Thursday with exhibitors showing off the latest in ski and snowboarding gear.
The next wave of ski products will focus on pure function.
"This ski is unlike anything that you will see in the ski industry today," said Guilhem de Brugiera with Solomon Skis.
Solomon is experimenting with what they call "V-shaped" skis. The design is inspired by surfboards and meant to be the only ski you'll ever need to own. The wide head works in powder, while the thin waist and tail are for hard-packed snow.
"This is definitely a solution for those people who can't afford a whole different set of skis," said de Brugiera.
More than a dozen companies are trying out radical new shapes. The way they bend wood stretches the limits of what skis are expected to look like.
"That's natural wood veneer. There's no coloring, no stain, it's just natural wood all cut and assembled together," said David Mazzarella with Ski Logik.
Breckenridge-based Ski Logik skis is one of the fastest-growing companies at SIA. They tiny start-up is quickly becoming a favorite with their awe-inspiring looks.
Small start-ups are doing well at the show with items that started from practical ideas. One company sells goggle protectors. They were created when Jenna McCrory's husband ruined his own gear.
The most innovative product at SIA may be an item no one ever hopes to use.
"This is kind of some of the first, there are 3 or 4 companies that are making these in the U.S. The results are awesome. 97 percent, either that the bag or victim is above the avalanche," said Ben Nobel with Mystery Ranch Backpacks.
Mystery Ranch Backpacks deploy an airbag, which serves as a flotation device in an avalanche. The technology may soon become an indispensable tool in backcountry safety.
