LAUNCHING A NEW PRODUCT
The Tops and Flops in Winter Sports
Dear winter sports enthusiasts,
Throughout the history of winter sports equipment, new things have constantly been tried. It’s like a fast downhill run – with some spectacular jumps and a few elegant falls. Some products have settled on the market like fresh powder snow and are now indispensable. Others? Well, they might go down in history as real shelf warmers.
Categories:
Winter
THE TOP HITS ON THE SLOPES
Carving Skis (1990s)
The introduction of carving skis completely turned the skiing world upside down. With their pronounced hourglass shape, they allow skiers to carve tight turns with ease. The result? More fun, less muscle soreness, and an experience that made skiing more accessible to many.
Gore-Tex Winter Clothing (1980s)
Rain, snow, or strong winds? No problem with Gore-Tex! This waterproof and breathable membrane has protected winter sports enthusiasts from unpredictable weather—without making us sweat. A real game-changer for comfort on the slopes, and a blessing for anyone who doesn’t want to sit soaked on a chairlift.
Helmets with MIPS Technology (2010s)
Safety first—and MIPS technology takes it even further. This clever innovation offers better protection against rotational forces during a fall, elevating ski and snowboard helmets to a new level of safety. After all, we want to cruise down the mountains in style—not headfirst.
Atomic Ski Binding with Release Mechanism (1960s)
A groundbreaking invention that made the slopes safer for everyone: Atomic introduced the ski binding with a release mechanism. Falling without instantly risking injury? Yes, please! This technology set a new standard and made skiing significantly safer.
THE FLOPS ON THE SLOPES
Skiboarding / Snowblades (1990s)
Short and not so sweet: Skiboarding—also known as Snowblades—came and went in a flash. These ultra-short skis couldn’t live up to the hype and ended up being more of a daring novelty than a lasting trend.
Monoski (1980s)
The monoski was meant to be the perfect blend of skiing and snowboarding—but in the end, it was neither fish nor fowl. Snowboards took the lead, and the monoski faded into obscurity as a footnote in winter sports history.
Monoski (1970s–1980s)
The monoski was a curiosity that caught the eye of adventurous skiers looking for something new. It promised the best of both worlds—skiing and snowboarding. While it carved out a small niche in the 1980s, it ultimately didn’t catch on and flopped.
