Fresh Gear from SLC

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

By Henry Sweets

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The Outdoor Retailer Convention in Salt Lake City last week brought thousands of gear heads together to showcase new products and overanalyze their features.

Although most of our Jackson contingent moved on to Las Vegas for another show after SLC’s Outdoor Retailer Convention, I caught up with a few locals to see what gear they were excited about at the show.

Andy Olpin, the Owner of Wilson Backcountry Sports, called the new Black Diamond Megawatt ski “Frickin’ awesome.” He admitted to “having too much fun to bring it in” to let others have a go with it until noon on convention day. He described it as 125 mm underfoot with “a long rocker tip so it floats like a dream over broken snow and powder,” allowing you to “feel like a hero.”

Tiffany Simpson, a manager at Teton Mountaineering, was “super psyched” about the new Black Diamond touring boots. Currently, she said, the “market is split right down the middle between Garmont and Scarpa” and Black Diamond is set to “wedge right in.” For those people whose foot shape didn’t do well in Garmont or Scarpa, keep an eye on Black Diamond, who is “doing some pretty innovative things with fit.”

Phil Leeds, co-owner of Skinny Skis, was excited to see “a lot of companies pay more attention to clothing for performance skate-skiing than in the past.” One company to look out for, he said, is Bjorn Daehlie, started by its namesake, a national hero in his home country of Norway and holder of nine world championships and eight gold medals. His company’s clothes will be distributed in the United States and, according to Leeds, “their lineup looks very sharp.” Check out some of their gear at www.bjorn-daehlie.com.
  
 Janet Monroe from Hoback Sports reported that a new boot from Dynafit, the
 Zero-Four, is the first “downhill oriented women’s specific touring boot.” This boot is the first women’s boot to be compatible with any alpine style binding, as well as Dynafit touring bindings, because of its interchangeable sole pieces.

I saw one piece of Gear that I have to mention. The “Lippi Selk bag” is a sleeping bag in the shape of a snowsuit, named after a rugged Andean people. This should make various backcountry tasks easier by increasing womb mobility. The clever founder has not only developed a way to make peeing easier from a tent, but bars could rent these out at a few bucks less than a cab ride. That way drunk skids and drunk yuppies alike can pass out harmoniously on the walk home – without worrying about the cold.

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Fresh Gear from SLC | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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