European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Janet Nelson new York times new technology in the design and construction of skis Over the last year has the Industry in America a Abuzz. A \ v a a a a some say the innovations represent the greatest revolution since Howard head invented the Metal ski 40 years ago. Others say the changes Are an outgrowth of work that began five years ago when the midsection of skis was narrowed and new base construction was a introduced. Whatever its genesis the technology has brought a Breed of skis to the Market that promises to improve performance at least enough to justify their extravagant Price tags. Although these skis Are so far designed for intermediate to expert skiers with few budget restraints it is useful for All skiers to be aware of the newest developments. \ a Little information goes a Long Way in helping the buyer through the Thicket of new ski design terms such As Quot one piece wraps Quot and  and this technology will have an Impact on skis in the future. Re a in its simplest terms the innovations join the ski s top and sides into a single Structure called a one piece Cap like a Bridge or an Arch. And like a Bridge or an Arch pressure applied to any portion of the Structure is immediately transferred to the outermost Points the edges of the ski. The result is that these new skis hold their edges on the Snow better turn. More quickly and easily and Are More  skis Are made of separate pieces for the top sides and Bottom that Are joined to form a Box. Inside the Box Are layers of Wood foam or other materials or a solid Core of composite materials. This inner Core is the main structural foundation of the ski the thing that determines its skiing characteristics a flex distribution torsional rigidity and weight a and gives it holding turning and running properties. In the new skis the structural element that determines skiing characteristics is the one piece Cap. But not All one piece Caps function in the same Way and some skis with Caps Are still partly influenced by the inner Core Structure. / Volant was the first manufacturer to introduce skis with a one piece Cap design in limited Quantity last season. The Volant one piece topspin is made of stainless steel Over a Core of laminated Wood with fibreglass and rubber layers to Dampen the ski s liveliness. Invented by Bucky Kashiwa an Engineer at National labs in los Alamos n.m., and a former pro racer the steel Cap allows More weight to be distributed from the Center of the ski to the tip and Tail the designers claim the result is better Edge holding and easier turning. The Volant Are designed for skiers of intermediate and above ability and come in four models a fax one fax two fax three and few one a with stiffer to softer flex patterns Elissa Slanger a Squaw Valley Calif instructor who tested Volant for ski Magazine. Called them Quot pleasant cruising skis for All kinds of  the suggested retail Price is $460.Salomon known for bindings boots and Cross country equipment has spent $40 million on a Monocoque or one Shell ski design Over the last five years. The 59000 equip s one piece Cap is a folded composite of fibreglass and Kevlar Over a foam Core the sidewalls have an increasing slant toward the tip and Tail. The designers claim hat allows the ski to slice through Snow better. Recommended for experts and racers three models Are available a giant slalom slalom and super slalom a depending on How much turning they like to do but skiers select length by their body weight ability and aggressiveness rather than the usual height measurement. A. \ Quot Salomon s Power rating system is confusing at first said David Dodge a former pro racer who tested the skis Quot but it makes sense and it s important to follow it for Best re stilts Quot the s9000 equips have a retail Price of $595, in Germany the s9q00 Sells for 950 Marks or about $655. Friedrich Schlund managing director of sport team a sports store Chain in Northern Bavaria said that Salomon is giving each store in the country just 10 pairs of the skis at present Salomon is unable to produce More of the skis. Despite the Steep Price Schlund said his company has sold most of their s9000 allotment the Elan Max which is a product of Yugoslavia is. Also a Monocoque ski with a rounded Cap made of layers of fibreglass and Kevlar folded around a Wood Core. The skis come in  lengths but because the Tail tapers More than usual longer lengths Are recommended. That does to however hamper the ski s Quick turning or Edge holding characteristics according to Rick stalker who managed a series of ski shops and tested the Bxs for Snow country a Magazine. Quot it s not too demanding but very turny and holds very Well Quot said stalker. Quot in fact some skiers thought it was too  recommended As an All around ski for advanced intermediates and up the Max Sells for $550. The Fischer cad concept advanced design does not function As a one piece Cap in the purest sense of the technology because the Core As Well As the Shell determine the ski s characteristics. The ski is made with a one piece top of a plastic Alloy that is bonded through a vacuum process Over a Carbon Graphite sock surrounding a Wood Core. Dodge said the cad is one of the Best All around skis with excellent Edge hold and recommends them for upper intermediate to advanced skiers. The cad. Sells for $650, the Kastle x1 integral uses a similar process to the Fischer cad to make a top surface of laminated fibreglass folded Over a Wood Core but Kastle has altered the shape of the ski s top to give Rounder and smoother turns when the ski is flexed on the Snow. Another unusual characteristic is a series of rib folded into the Tail to provide torsional rigidity and a fast exit from turns. / stalker said this ski would perform Well on a wide variety of terrain but is Best on softer Snow. Designed with Good to excellent skiers in mind the x1 integral Sells for $550. Though they have similar structural characteristics these new skis do not ski alike. In fact Many people who tried them said they often had fewer similarities than Are found in More conventional skis made by different manufacturers. Before investing in these High end models skiers Are advised to give them a test from demo vans or rentals at ski area shops. Better yet wait a few years. Like past ski innovations designers say this technology is the leaching Edge of what Wilt be found in Many Tower priced models of the future. Prices mentioned in this Story refer to costs in the United states cafes outlets in Europe do not carry tiny of the skis mentioned. December 20, 1990 stripes naga Ine 7