The European Ski Award winners were announced from the ispo tradeshow in Munich the first week of February, with both of the hardgoods awards giving a nod to some radical new technology for the slopes. The winners were the Fischer Soma Vacuum 130, which features the world’s first completely moldable ski shell, as well as the Blizzard Cochise ski, which embraces rocker technology with a reverse cambered core for a completely natural flex.
Each year an international jury of experts evaluates the products according to level of innovation, function, quality, technical details, user friendliness, ease of operation, and design. According to show organizers, “The jury was in awe of the evolutionary technologies and multitude of innovative functions of the entered products.” Here’s what they said:
Fischer Vaccum Fit
Fischer Vacuum Fit Technology allows the first ever fully anatomical customization of a complete ski boot at a never before seen level of quality. The process is based on the new, patented Fischer Vacu-Plast material. The simple and customer-friendly customization takes about 20 minutes and offers a high level of process reliability.
“Fischer Soma Vacuum 130 features a revolutionary customization and modification concept for ski boots. Optimizing boot fit will improve performance and safety; in addition, the well-thought-out overall concept provides retailers with an additional level of consultation competence,” praised the jury.
Blizzard Cochise
Thanks to the use of Flipcore Technology with its bamboo core and natural rocker shape, the ski provides powerful lift in powder and is incredibly agile despite its 108 mm (underfoot) width. “By evolving the rocker technology Blizzard perfects ski construction for the growing target group of on- and off-piste skiers,” said the jury. The Blizzard Cochise, packaged into a design matching other product lines, offers the skier a high level of use and enjoyment in any terrain.
The technology was first suggested by big mountain skier, Arne Backstrom, who died in a ski accident in South America last summer. Backstrom had suggested to Blizzard engineers that to make a truly complete reverse camber ski, they needed to begin with an updside down core. The technology debuts this fall in Blizzard’s new Free Mountain line of skis.
