This article is reprinted from The Professional Skier.
All copyrights apply.
Please see our copyright and disclaimer notice page. Snowsports are in a constant state of flux, and nowhere is this more evident than in the constantly evolving equipment options available to today's winter recreationist. The shelf life of gear keeps getting more condensed, and just about the time we get used to the new offerings, the whole scope of choices changes again. To gain the competitive edge, manufacturers have streamlined their product development cycles to bring products to the market faster. Technology feeds on itself, with innovations from a wide spectrum of technologies providing an infusion of knowledge, design strategies, and, ultimately, remarkable new products in many different fields.