Inside Outdoor Magazine

The brainchild of owner and ski veteran Sigi Rumpfhuber, Original+ was designed to provide a more per- sonalized and accurate purchasing experience for customers. As Rumpf- huber explained, the outfitting process is very complex, and it’s important to look beyond basic metrics such as length. The smallest details, after all, can have a big impact on perfor- mance. It’s not always about going as fast as possible or making tighter turns, but also about feeling good — and safe— on the mountain. Original+ was originally sold primar- ily through Kickstarter, where consum- ers could receive custom-built skis at a discounted price. Retailers should keep in mind that this is the direction that the industry is trending. Not all consumers require such a comprehensive purchasing process right now, but demand for this type of customized experience will certainly increase moving forward as more platforms like this hit the market. As for comfortable skiing, Roam recently made headlines with its new intelligent exoskeleton for alpine ski- ers and snowboarders that helps reduce wear and tear on the knees. The product is expensive, though, at about $2,500, and right now there is a waiting list to purchase a pair. The exoskeleton requires a power pack, weighs about 20 pounds and uses em- bedded sensors to learn how the user skis. The system feeds this data into a pressurized air pump, which automati- cally expands and contracts as needed while the user is in motion. We are also just a few months away from the big September release of Spy Ace EC goggles, a Digital Trends Inno- vation Award winner at the most recent Outdoor Retailer show in Denver. This product uses electrochromic technol- ogy to enable quick tint adjustments with push-button ease — basically combining three different lens types in one frame. The goggles are expected to start at a retail price of $275 and will be sold online and through select retailers this fall. The Original+ mod.7 model SPRING 2018 | Inside Outdoor 17