Völkl Blaze Skis
The all-new Völkl Blaze series provides an off-piste feel for intuitive skiers who enjoy short turns, offering one of the lightest freeride skis in its class. With the Blaze series, the Bavarian ski manufacturer launches four models that are specifically geared toward the needs of freeriders who appreciate agility, maneuverability, and lightweight. Blaze 94 and 106 (men) and 94W and 106W (women) are all designed to give the skier maximum support in short turns, and initiate turns more easily than a comparable Titanal ski.
To achieve the appropriate agility and reliability, Titanal is only incorporated in the Blaze under the binding in the form of a 0.3 mm thin Titanal Binding Platform, which supports direct power transmission and a rapid build-up of pressure going from turn to turn. This gives the skis a precise response at the start of the turn. The Suspension Tip, which makes its debut on the Blaze, also ensures smooth turn initiation and good handling, especially in challenging and variable snow conditions. The insert made of elastic TPU material on the edges of the tip and tail acts as a bumper at the point of the ski, which first comes into contact with the snow in wind-blown or tracked snow. Its shock-absorbing elasticity ensures better stability and catch-free float.
Blaze 106
The flagship Blaze 106 is designed from the ground up, with a new shape that combines a wide, 106mm waist with Völkl’s 3D Radius sidecut technology – a unique setup with longer radii at the tip and tail and a tighter shape in the mid-body, allowing the skier to switch from long arcs to short turns at will.
Also, the 3D Radius Sidecut contributes significantly to the ski’s great agility and maneuverability and is responsible for its short-turn prowess. A tight radius in the cambered area of mid-body provides marked support for both relaxed skiing and liveliness in short turns. At the same time, the very large radius maintained in the tip and tail rocker areas makes the skis much more stable than would be possible with a short-turn sidecut over the entire length of the ski. The ultralight tip-to-tail wood core is not only glued together by a complex combination of very light and resilient wood types but also extends over the entire length of the skis up to the point where tip and tail bend upwards, giving them a great combination of liveliness and low weight. For those who want to use Blaze as a touring ski, its minimal weight ensures an efficient ascent.
- MSRP $775
- Blaze 94 – weight: 1546g / lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186cm
- Blaze 106 – weight: 1772g / lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186cm
- Blaze 94W – weight: 1427g / lengths: 158, 165, 172cm
- Blaze 106W – weight: 1569g / lengths: 158, 165, 172cm
Marker Duke PT 16 Binding
The innovative Marker Duke PT 16 binding offers downhill skiing safety and performance along with alpine touring capabilities and weighs in at 1350g. The front toepiece rolls forward to provide a pintech touring capacity and can be detached and stuffed into a pack for 250-gram weight savings. When the front is clicked down into its baseplate in its normal downhill-specific mode, it offers full safety release properties from DIN 6-16. When the Inter Pivot 3 heel lock and walk brake system includes a neutral walking mode and 10° climbing aid. It also comes in a Duke PT 12 version with DIN 4-12 rating, the Hollow Linkage 2 heel, and a 1180g weight.
For skiers looking for the ultimate versatility in their setup, with uncompromising big mountain performance plus the ability to take advantage of actual Pin Tech climbing functionality, the Duke PT ushers in a new era. Marker sets yet another milestone, adding to the Royal Family heritage with the introduction of this hybrid freeride binding for the 2020-21 season.
The biggest highlight of this new binding is the innovative Quad-Lock Ride & Hike toe. In ride mode, it provides uncompromising downhill performance with full safety release properties up to DIN 16.
Switching the binding to hiking mode is simply a matter of unlocking the upper part of the toe piece and rotating it forward.
Pin binding technology is integrated into the base plate underneath the toe housing and operates in much the same way as Marker’s KingPin and Alpinist models. In uphill mode, you have the option of saving 250 grams weight per foot by removing the toe housing sections and stowing them in your backpack. To switch to downhill mode, the toe housing clicks back onto the base plate. It locks back into place thanks to Auto Quad-Lock technology, just by stepping into the binding, without any further action required by the skier. The toe piece also has SOLE.ID technology, just like other products in the Royal Family. This makes the binding compatible with all boot sole types falling under the Alpine (ISO 5355), Touring (ISO 9523), or GripWalk (ISO 9523) norms.
- Duke PT 16 – $825
- Duke PT 12 – $725
Dalbello Quantum Ski Boots
The Dalbello Quantum Series uses an infrared welding process to bond two pieces of the shell, allowing for varying contours, a better overall fit, and lighter weight. Along with the Bonded Shell construction, it features an innovative lacing system that includes Dyneema cording that makes for a backcountry boot that’s lightweight, stiff, powerful, and comfortable. The top of the line model, the Quantum Asolo Factory, weighs in at 950 grams, and the cuff and shell are made from a super light and ultra-stiff polyamide composite carbon material. The full lineup includes the Quantum Asolo Factory, Quantum Asolo, and the Quantum.
Asolo Factory
Dalbello is set to introduce its first series of dedicated Alpine Touring boots ever, with a brand-new shell design and construction method that seeks to provide a more contoured fit than past designs have achieved. When finding the lightest weight possible, the stiffness of the materials used limits the amount of contour that the shell can provide, compromising fit. The new Quantum Asolo Factory model comes in at 980 grams, with a Grilamid shell material that’s reinforced with long-fiber carbon, and a full Ultralon Quantum Pro liner.
The closure system consists of a dual-link cuff that is cinched together with a Dyneema rope for security and power transmission on the descent. The lower shell closure is performed by Dalbello’s new Quantum lacing system, set over a full heavy-duty gaiter that has an anti-abrasion pad for durability. The lower shell also features a full-length boot board – not a standard feature in this category – providing warmth and custom fitting capability.
With Dalbellos new Bonded Shell construction, the shell is injected in two distinct lengthwise sections and bonded with an infrared welding process. Each of the individual shell pieces can have much more contour than if injected as a single piece. Once bonded, the new Quantum series boots have a better fit than traditional ultralight shells can deliver.
- MSRP – $950
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