speed of a systems approach is not so important. Stepping up slightly to bet- ter-performing gear can also accentuate a better overall guest experience. Models at the next performance level include Elan’s new Element RS 78, featuring its groove/wave motion tech- nology that makes for an easier flex but with added torsional stiffness, and Ros- signol’s wood-core Experience lineup, offered in various widths and with men’s and women’s models. Head’s wood-core Shape AM—with a corresponding Joy series for women—features a bit more shape in the tail, and, at 80 mm at the waist, is what Mayhew calls more of a Western model. Some companies, like Nordica and Völkl, eschew the entry-level tier alto- gether. Nordica’s step-up models include the Alldrive 74, aimed primarily at East- ern resorts, and the wider Alldrive 84, with what Korpi calls “an oversized shov- el.” Fischer’s XTR RC One GT 78 and GT 82 are designed with a “triple-radius” dimen- sion to facilitate various turn shapes. Salomon’s entries in this category are the S/Max 06 XT and S/Max 08 XT, with 76 mm and 80 mm waists, respectively. Taking one more step up the perfor- mance ladder, Rossignol is matching its Forza carving models, introduced last year, with the new women’s-specific Nova line. Head matches its Kore X mod- els with its women-specific Joy series. Moving up from there means mov- ing into demo territory, where all sup- pliers have a fairly wide-ranging lineup of in-line models, usually (though not always) modified for rental with tougher topsheets and sidewalls. This is a grow- ing category driven by an increase in destination travelers, company reps say. One performance trend affects near- ly all rental models: the near-total move from extruded bases to sintered bases. Sintered bases offer greater durability as
well as an increased ability to hold wax, meaning better glide and better perfor- mance. Similarly, most rental bindings are now GripWalk compatible. BOOTS A well-fitting, comfortable boot is the most essential component of a good rent- al experience. Given the wide variety of skiing abilities and foot shapes, rental offerings in boots are becoming perhaps more vertically integrated than in skis. A common boot lineup from any of the major rental suppliers consists of three or four performance tiers, with lasts from 104 mm to 100 mm and flex values ranging from 85 to 110. A typical example might be Rossignol’s basic four- boot (non-Flash) lineup, from the 104 mm Evo Rental to the 100 mm Hi-Speed Pro MV Rental, with four corresponding women’s models, from the Kelia Rental to the Pure Pro Rental. BOA comes to rentals. The BOA adjustment system has hit the ski boot world and is beginning to infiltrate rent- al lineups. BOA hasn’t yet reached down into the lower price tiers, but both Fisch- er (with its RC4 95 MV BOA) and Salo- mon (with its S Pro Supra BOA) offer BOA in higher-performance models. A trick- le-down of BOA technology into lower price points is likely in the future. Nordica’s rear-entry HF grouping is a retro technology of sorts. While this easy-entry design used to be associat- ed with big-bucket, squishy designs for low-level skiers, Nordica’s Korpi notes that the HF line offers more performance, including the HF Pro with a 100 mm last and a 110 flex, a pretty beefy boot. Another ease-of-use design is Salo- mon’s QST Access boot, with a lever in the back to allow loosening between the cuff and the lower for easier walking. In sum, “stable” describes the current alpine rental market. Stable pricing, sta-
Left to right: Fischer XTR RC One GT 78; Nordica Alldrive 74; Rossignol women’s-specific Nova line.
get-conscious and high-volume buyers, but company reps insist that they pack solid performance punch at a minimal price. “We want to build a ski that lasts and delivers a good experience,” says Mayhew of Head’s entry-level offering. Says Fischer’s Ford: “The first price-point product is really improving.” Nevertheless, a little more money can buy a better product. “It’s not a huge difference in the step-up cost,” says Ros- si’s Hoefler, meaning less than 10 percent to buy up to the next performance level. “With one rental, you’ve made your money back.” Speed vs. step-up. Plus, not every resort needs, or wants, a system solution. At resorts where many rental packages are now pre-ordered online—and hence gear can be prepped before guest arriv- al—or at a destination resort where the morning rush is not so pronounced, the
Left to right: Nordica rear-entry HF Pro BOA; Rossignol women’s Pure Pro; Salomon QST Access with walk mode; Fischer RC4 95 MV BOA.
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