Anyone checking out the latest goggles at SIA
needs to remember
puted category leader, has only developed four mod-
els since it entered the market 20 years ago. In this
market,  graphics  and  lens  technology  trump  new
model introductions every time.

“Sales  are  way  ahead  of  what  we  anticipated.
People are loving the small size and we’re having trou-
ble keeping up with the demand,” he said.

While other suppliers  worked  on  new frame colors,
Spy designers paid extra attention to the goggle straps,
adding everything from new logos on the women’s Comet
to plaid graphics on its Orbit.

“I think there are a lot of emphasis on colors and
graphics  to  match  apparel,  and  for  the  most part
there are not a whole lot of changes,” said Patrick
McIlvain, director Oakley Sport Marketing. “If it ain’t
broke, don’t’ fix it.”

But not all of Spy’s improvements were done with a paint-
brush. The company brought a new gradient mirror lens to the
Todd  Richards signature goggle that is  darker  in  the  center and
lighter on the periphery.

The largest product roll out goes to Smith, which
is introducing several new models, including the wild
Prodigy. For $95, customers get a spherical lens and,
more  importantly,  three  replaceable  parts  on  the
frame — one on the brow and two on the cheeks.
Customers can swap parts (just like Mr. Potato Head)
with $20 “hop-up” kits that come in four colors.

“Customization is huge in fashion,  just look at
the monograms on purses. The prodigy is a little dif-
ferent, but the idea is the same,” said Liz Randall,
Smith’s advertising and public relation’s manager.

While fashion trends like trucker
hats seem to spread like wildfire,
it  usually  takes  the  average  con-
sumer  a  bit longer to catch on to
changes  in  ski  styles.  Even  tele-
markers, who are usually  quick to
tune  into  shifts  in  technology  as
soon  as  they  spot  a  blip  on  the
radar, are still buying narrow-waist-
ed  skis,  even  though the  trend  is
inching wider.

and  more  consumers  looking  for
women-specific  skis.  The  Femme
Fatale is Atomic’s new women’s tele-
mark ski with a softer tail, designed
in response to research showing that
women apply a lot less pressure to
the tail of the ski than a man.

Smith  also  revamped  its  TuboCam  line,  most
notably replacing  the  venerable Cascade with  the
Disciple, gearing it to a more youthful rider.

Bollé brought a few new goggles, too. The $99
Zark  has interchangeable  lenses  and the  Scream
boasts a souped-up Air Booster ventilation system
that has twice the vents to reduce fogging. Prices
range from $89 to $99.

As part of its vision for growth,
telemark  manufacturers  are  trying
to  draw in  more  kids by  providing
them with size-appropriate gear. K2
is  introducing  the  Small  World,  a
scaled-down version of the popular
World  Piste,  available  in  139  and
149-centimeters  for  $219.  In  the
past,  the  lack  of  kids’  telemark
boots  prevented  kids  from  getting
into the  sport. Now, with  Garmont
offering two boots sized for kids, the
market is opening up.

Spherical  lenses  continue  to  gain  popularity
among skiers and snowboarders for their improved
clarity. Arnette adds the Destroyer to its line, it’s first
goggle with a spherical lens. The goggle is for snow-
boarders only and costs between $110 and $120.

“Our narrow skis are still our best
selling skis,” said K2’s Mike Hattrup,
“It’s just taking the public a little while
to realize that wider is better.”

At Karhu, the wider, all-mountain
skis  are  selling  best.  As  a  result,
Karhu has put some of the best fea-
tures of its popular fat skis, the Jak
and the Jil, in all-mountain geometry
in its new Grizzly and Kodiak skis.

In light of Oakley’s historically few models, the
last two years have seen a near whirlwind of new
design and introductions. The company introduced
its Wisdom frame at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002.
That model receives minor updates and some fresh
colors this year. And last year, Oakley dropped an
extra-small O Frame goggle for the groms that the
company offers with a tweaked design this season.

“We’re  not  really  seeing  an
increase in kids, but we’d like there
to be,” said Hattrup. “We know it’s
going  to  be  a  small  market,  but
we’ve  got  to  start  somewhere  so
we’re doing it.”

“We liked how the Jak and Jil per-
form  with  the  Titanal,”  said  Karhu’s
Charles Lozner, “but we didn’t want it
to be too heavy. We wanted to create
all mountain skis that perform every-
where  and  won’t  weight  someone
down in the backcountry.”

Oakley isn’t the only company doing well sell-
ing  goggles  with  small  frames.  Scott  Sorensen,
Dragon’s director  of marketing, said sales  of  the
company’s DXS small-frame goggle have taken off
since its introduction last year.

Karhu is also producing a junior
ski next  year.  Dubbed  the Special
Agent, it’s a mini version of Karhu’s
new park and pipe ski,  the Agent.
Anticipating an explosion of young
freeheel skiers, Karhu scaled down
the Agent to meet the demand for a
junior Karhu ski.  Karhu will offer the
Special  Agent  in  123,  133,  and
143centimeter sizes.

Like  Nordic  skiing  and  snow-
shoeing,   telemark   is   seeing   an
increase in participation by women,
evidenced by K2’s complete line of
three women’s telemark skis with the
new  wider,  off-piste  Dawn  Patrol
rounding  out  the  line   this  year.
Atomic’s Rick Halling is also seeing
more  women  getting  into  telemark

From left to right: Karhu Special Agent,
K2 Dawn Patrol, Atomic Femme Fatale
and Karhu Bear Kodiak.