Willi's TwinTips Skis

There is a phenomenon on the mountain these days that is surging to the forefront of the slope scene. While certainly not new to the market Twin Tip skis are growing at a rate the industry hasn't seen since snowboarding first hit the market. Twin Tips skis are where the attitude of snowboarding is colliding with skiing. This collision is bringing youth back into skiing with explosive force.

Today the mountain is seeing a new kind of "cross-over" rider. Snowboarders, who have never been on skis before are starting to be intrigued by these new boards. They can now get more speed, catch more air and pull tricks they could never pull before. Like snowboarding, twin tip skiing is now pulling in skaters that have never skied before and most likely don't come from skiing families. This not only brings new people to the slopes it also brings slope style to the streets.

The technology behind the skis is a blend between ski and snowboard research and development. The focus is to get a ski to hold a soft, undisturbed flex unaffected by the interruption of a binding while maintaining the torsional rigidity necessary to hold an edge. These skis must also have enough pop to propel the skier through a trick and not wash out. This is achieved by computer generated engineering and composite core construction. The soft, even flex with a snap at the end enables the skier to pull to tricks while the torsional rigidity allows for stability while maintaining the speed necessary to initiate and recover from these tricks.

Graphics and apparel are both affected by this trend. Specialty graphics once seen only on snowboards are finding their way to skis such as the K2 Silencer, the Line AfterBang Skis and Armada Coda. This brings a whole new dimension to the ski market as wild graphics give visual pop to a ski shop's wall. A pervasive sense of enthusiasm seems to come from these works of art; they are something to appreciate even if the ski isn't your style.

Form follows function on the apparel side of this trend. Ski apparel across the board is now more wearer-friendly for freedom of movement on the slopes. This freedom is necessary to pull the moves one sees in the halfpipe and terrain parks but it also affords the casual skier more comfort. The gear must be durable, versatile and stylish. If these styles look like they are mimicking streetwear it is because they are. Much of today's streetwear is fashioned after the skate movement, which requires many of the same functional components; freedom of movement, durability and versatility. The people at the forefront of these trends also insist that style is imperative; it ads to the color and individuality of the sport.

This new breed of skiing has crossed into the mainstream media as well, proving to be a popular on television as well. ESPN and ESPN2's X Game phenomenon routinely feature skiing's Halfpipe and Slopestyle events during primetime. On the Internet, www.expn.com provides television schedules, as well as news and other interesting features on these youthful sports.

The enthusiasm this trend is bringing to the slopes is exciting for everyone. It brings to the shop interesting art in the form of fashion and graphics; and to the slopes it brings the pizzazz of spectacular tricks and high-flying aerials that everyone finds a thrill to watch.