SKIING
Skiers, like golfers, keep hoping that if they buy just one more gadget their ability will improve in rough proportion to what they paid for it. Responding handsomely to this line of thinking, the equipment makers have produced an unprecedented number of fresh items designed to make life easier on the slopes. Pictured on these pages are some of the most exciting of these products being brought out by the top designers in the U.S. and Europe.
Toe fitting made by Wunder (Germany) has two stiff springs which absorb high-speed shocks, allow boot to be set without special attachments.
Adjustable ski by Michal & Fils of Grenoble (France) can be altered in camber for rough snow (1), medium (2), or fast running (3) by adjusting tension on steel rods imbedded in ski (4) with turnbuckle (5).
Garmisch-hydro boot has pockets of hydraulic fluid (shaded areas) that grip ankle without cutting down circulation.
Safety bindings include adjustable toe release (1) by Ramy (Grenoble) that opens in twist fall. Heel release (2) by Goodman Skicraft opens in forward fall when pin anchored to rear cable pulls out of fastening at the center of the heel.
Eriksen ski, designed for racing, has multiple grooves to grip snow in straight runs.
Head masters ski also has small grooves but keeps wide conter groove of regular ski.
Cortina ski has Fiberglas threads running through bottom to reinforce wood strips.
Plastics Tey tape can be ironed onto ski to provide durable surface that needs no lacquer.
Henke airfit boot has air pocket in ankle that can be pumped up with detachable bulb.
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JACK KUNZ
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