Whereas once many top skiers aspired to racing skis, that category is now pretty much confined to racers. The skis to be on these days are all mountain, freeride boards. Some companies are even making junior racing skis with twintips. A number of companies say they have them, most notably Rossignol. Some have alternatives that claim to be just as good such as the hands-free, easy entry boot from Nordica.
Snowboards come in sizes and shapes for everyone, with cool graphics still very important.
One of the new trends to come out of this year's show was elevating snowboard bindings, like skis did a few years back. In the case of boards, lifting the boot allows riders with bigger feet to ride narrower boards, which are more responsive. Some companies are incorporating a new steel cable lacing system that allows precise adjustment of boots for increased performance and several companies will offer snowboard bindings that can be adjusted on the fly, with no tools necessary. Clothing for winter sports hasn't changed radically in the past few years. The excitement this year comes from lots of bright colors and technology that keeps you warm without making you look like the Michelin Man.