| Recent Developments |
| The sport of skiing hasn't improved much over the last hundred years or so, more than a few technicalities to make the sport more interesting, fast-paced, and dangerous. One of these improvements came about five years ago, and it was an invention called the Parabolics. These fashionable looking skis have a tip and tail that is much wider than the waist, which is the area under your boot. |
| The result is a dramatic shape or side cut along the side of the ski, producing an hourglass like figure. "When you tip the ski on edge, it will immediately start turning because the ski is already going in that direction," explains Bob Muran. It's so much easier to turn and balance that, "whatever level you were on conventional skis, you'll go up to another level on shaped skis," says Perry Schmunk, director of the ski and snowboard school at Blackomb Mountain at Whistler, B.C. "Everyone's enjoyment will go up a notch." The resort has replaced their rental skis with the shaped ones last year. |
| The simple geometric technology change will affect the skiing industry the same way the oversized racket impacted the sport of Tennis, says Schmunk. "It'll increase your sweet spot. They're the most innovative thing to happen to skis since plastic boots replaced leather ones in the 1960's," adds Muran, "when the plastic allowed you to lean forward and really pressurize the ski.". |
| The skis are shorter, about 15 cm shorter than what you would take on a conventional ski, and come in only four sizes. The wider tip and tail make up for the lost surface area from the decreased length. The deeper the side cut, the easier it is to turn. They are proclaimed to be the best in powder and easier to handle on cruddy snow and moguls. The prices for these new technologically advanced skis are more than the conventional ski, but vary from $299 up to $899. |
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| Parabolic Skis |
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| Parabolic Skis in Action!!! Look At him Go!!! |
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| Look at the new Curves!!! |
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| New technology brings Skiers and Snowboarders together....... Ahhhhh...... how cute!!!!! |
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