FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rick Halling
Director, Outdoor Products
Atomic Ski USA, Inc.
9 Columbia Dr.
Amherst, NH 03031
603-880-6143
[email protected]

January 16, 2002

 

ATOMIC BRINGS DIVERSITY TO RACING

The running shoe companies have always been at the forefront in the sporting goods industry when it comes to recognizing differences in athletes’ needs. For years, shoe producers have made different models of top of the line running shoes categorized as being designed for motion control, stability or cushioning. It was never suggested that one category of shoe was designed for the more serious or stronger runner than other categories of shoe. Instead, the different shoes were designed to meet the differences in the body types and running styles of the end users. Nordic racing skis have come close to recognizing differences in athlete’s needs. The ski companies have always offered different flexes and different bases to meet variety in snow conditions and skier weights. However, at the high end, companies have always offered just one sidecut and basic construction for all end users. Atomic is changing that strategy and taking on a plan similar to the running shoe companies.

The Austrian company will introduce two top of the line skating skis in the spring of 2002: BETA RS: 10C and BETA RS: 10D. Both skis will have the same Nomex core and Beta construction. The BETA RS: 10C (“C” stands for CONTROL) will use the 49/44/48 sidecut that has proven so successful for the last three years. The BETA RS: 10D (“D” stands for DYNAMIC) will use a 44/42/43 sidecut that has been thoroughly tested on the Worldcup. The 10D actually starts at only 41mm at the tip and then expands to 44mm about 10 centimeters down the ski while the 10C is 49mm wide at the beginning of the running surface. The wider ski emphasizes control while the narrow ski is aimed at speed.

Which ski for which athlete? “We found some interesting results with both sidecuts on the Worldcup last year,” states Rick Halling of Atomic. “Athletes were using the 49/44/48 sidecut for the two extremes in track conditions, either very hard packed or very soft. These same athletes were using the narrow ski for in between conditions, moderately hard to moderately soft .”

Atomic points out that there are some easy to understand differences to determine which ski is best for you:

  1. How is your V2? If you are still developing this technique, go with the wider RS: 10C.
  2. Do you have severe pronation? The wider ski helps to compensate for this and it will make racing easier.
  3. Do you enter the major marathons of over 1000 skiers? Do you ever deal with the infamous “Marathon Sugar,” that churned up crud that skiers from about 1000th place on back have to ski through? Then you should be on the wider ski. If you finish in the top 1000 at the Birkie, go with the narrow ski.
  4. Do you ski in the Lake Tahoe area or anywhere else that you have to glide on that wet heavy stickey snow? Choose the wide ski, it floats so nicely over that stuff.

Atomic wants to stress that the wide ski still has extremely fast glide and it is the shape that Jusin Wadsworth did so well on last year. They also want to stress that the narrow ski does have sidecut with Beta construction and its stability is equal to any other ski on the market.

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