Alex BM fall edit

02:50 min • 01/10/2012

Here is an edit from recent trips out to Mount Hood and a couple shots from this winter. I would like to thank all my sponsors: D-structure, Volkl, Marker, Dalbello, Kombi, Smith, Orage and give a special thank to Windells Academy and Camp. Thanks to every one that supports me!

Athletes

Alex Beaulieu-Marchand

Locations

Mt. Hood

Alex Beaulieu-Marchand

Profile and significance

Alex Beaulieu-Marchand—universally known as ABM—is one of the defining Canadian freeskiers of his era, bridging elite contests and high-level filming with rare consistency. Born in Quebec City in 1994, he delivered a landmark result for Canada when he earned Olympic bronze in men’s ski slopestyle at PyeongChang 2018. That medal, combined with a haul of five X Games medals across slopestyle, big air, and Real Ski, and a 2019 FIS World Championships big air bronze in Park City, places him among the most decorated all-around freeskiers of the past decade. Just as importantly for fans, ABM is a rare athlete whose style reads as clearly on a slopestyle course as it does in an urban segment, making him essential viewing whether you follow competitions, street skiing, or both.

ABM’s reputation rests on substance more than hype. He first appeared at the Olympics as a finalist at Sochi 2014, overcame major injuries in the seasons that followed, and then returned to the very top of the sport by the end of the decade. His ski IQ—especially on rails—turned into a calling card: clean lock-ins, directional changes with purpose, and landings that keep speed alive for the next feature. That polish helps explain how he could step from podium moments at Aspen into the all-street format of Real Ski and still earn a medal there too. Few riders thread that needle as convincingly.

Competitive arc and key venues

ABM’s competitive arc traces the modern freeski pathway: early World Cups and Dew Tour appearances, a breakout X Games podium, and then a sustained period of podium-level runs at the sport’s headline events. He won slopestyle bronze at X Games Aspen in 2017, followed by the signature moment of his career—the Olympic bronze at PyeongChang 2018. In 2019 he produced one of the strongest single-year résumés of anyone in freeskiing: silver in big air and silver in slopestyle at Aspen Snowmass, bronze in Real Ski, and another big air bronze at the X Games stop in Norway. That same winter he added a World Championships bronze in big air at Park City, cementing his versatility.

Venues matter in how his skiing matured. Aspen has long been the proving ground for ABM’s jump and rail balance, while Breckenridge nurtured his early Dew Tour success and gave him the repetitions needed to scale tricks to XL features. Closer to home, the park culture around Quebec City—including Le Relais and Stoneham—fed his rail precision and urban instincts. It’s a circuit that spans manicured, high-speed courses and gritty winter cityscapes, and ABM has shown he can translate between the two without losing his identity.

How they ski: what to watch for

ABM’s skiing is built around clarity of intent. On rails, he emphasizes early edge commitment and solid center-of-mass control, which allows him to execute technical switch-ups and directional changes without scrambling. His exits are deliberate—he protects speed into the next panel of features, an asset in modern slopestyle scoring where momentum and link-up difficulty matter. On jumps, he’s known for precise takeoff timing and full-value grabs that stabilize rotations. You’ll often see him set rotations early and stay stacked in the air, enabling crisp axis control on doubles and triples and giving him options to alter grab sequences mid-spin.

What to watch in a run: ABM’s ability to vary spin direction and stance while keeping a consistent line speed. He can open rails with a high-difficulty lock-in, carry that speed to a left-spinning jump with a deep grab, then change direction for a switch takeoff on the next hit. The effect is a run that looks smooth to casual viewers but reveals dense technical content to experienced eyes. It’s the same economy you see in his street work—precise approaches, stable body position on impact, and clean outruns that don’t need dramatic recoveries to hold your attention.

Resilience, filming, and influence

ABM’s career includes significant injuries—collarbone, knee—that could have derailed momentum. Instead, those setbacks became inflection points. The comeback culminated in his Olympic bronze and the medal-laden 2019 campaign, but the long-term impact is broader: he demonstrated that a rail-forward technician could thrive in the biggest-air era by leaning into fundamentals and incremental difficulty gains rather than one-off risk. That template has influenced younger riders who prioritize repeatability and line design.

Filming has always been part of ABM’s identity. His Real Ski bronze established his credentials in the all-urban format. Later projects, including the short film “Mirage,” showcase a mature approach to concept and terrain selection, shifting seamlessly from park to natural features while keeping the same commitment to control and trick shape. For brands and fans alike, this duality—contest readiness paired with art-forward filming—makes ABM one of the sport’s most watchable athletes year-round.

Geography that built the toolkit

Quebec City winters shaped ABM’s toolset. Long, cold seasons and consistent snowfall give urban spots staying power, and the local lifts serve up the repetitions that turn rail ideas into habits. Laps at Le Relais and sessions at Stoneham honed timing on smaller, quicker features where approach and exit angles are unforgiving. That background helps explain his composure on World Cup-scale rails and why his street segments feel both ambitious and controlled.

On the contest circuit, Aspen Snowmass offered the clearest mirror for his best form, while Breckenridge remains synonymous with progression blocks where he added jump variety without sacrificing landing shape. The World Championship stage at Park City validated his big-air credentials in a setting known for meticulous jumps and high elevation, a combination that spotlights takeoff discipline and mid-air stability—two of ABM’s strengths.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

ABM rides Völkl skis with Marker bindings and wears Orage outerwear and Auclair gloves. The through-line across that kit is dependable platform feel and durability for both park laps and urban impacts. For progressing skiers using ABM as a model, the practical notes are straightforward: choose a park-capable ski with a balanced flex that allows proper presses on rails but won’t fold on large takeoffs; pair it with bindings that deliver elastic travel and predictable release; and invest in outerwear and gloves that keep mobility high across sub-zero sessions common to Quebec winters and late-night street shoots.

ABM’s gear choices support his style rather than define it. Even in the era of triple-cork arms races, his runs stand out because grabs are held, spin directions alternate, and landings are purposefully centered. Equipment is there to enable those habits; the technique makes them count.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

ABM matters because he shows what modern freeski completeness looks like: an Olympic medalist who can still film an urban segment worth replaying; a five-time X Games medalist whose best traits are accessible to learn from; a technician who treats rails as the backbone of a run and jumps as the canvas for clean, directionally varied tricks. If you’re watching slopestyle and big air to spot runs that age well on rewatch, ABM’s are a safe bet. If you’re a skier refining your own park game, study his line speed, his early grab timing, and how he exits rails with the next feature already in mind. That is the blueprint that took him from Quebec parks and streets to podiums at Aspen, Park City, and PyeongChang, and it’s why his skiing continues to resonate well beyond the scoreboard.

Mt. Hood

Overview and significance

Mt. Hood is Oregon’s year-round freeski engine and one of the most influential mountains in North America for progression. Three distinct resorts ring the volcano: Timberline on the south side with its famous Palmer Snowfield and the longest continuous lift-served vertical in the U.S. from Palmer to Government Camp; Mt. Hood Meadows on the southeast flank with the state’s largest single resort footprint; and Mt. Hood Skibowl near Government Camp, home to one of the biggest night-ski operations on the continent. The combination is rare: deep Pacific storm cycles in winter, a purpose-built park scene that stretches into late spring, and lift-served summer laps that attract national teams, film crews, and camp kids alike. For a quick internal overview, see our page at skipowd.tv/location/mt-hood/.

Hood’s significance goes beyond volume. Timberline’s summer scene keeps skills sharp when most mountains are green, Meadows supplies consequential bowls and gullies that ride well between storms, and Skibowl offers steep fall-line plus plentiful night hours. That multi-season, multi-venue rhythm is why so many crews schedule at least one Hood block every year—storm-chase in January, film corn lines in April, and return for park laps in June.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

This is a maritime mountain. Winter storms roll in from the Pacific, stack dense-but-shapeable snow, and leave behind supportive, wind-buffed chalk on ridges when skies clear. Meadows lists roughly 2,150 acres and about 2,777 feet of lift-served vertical with terrain that ranges from groomed cruisers to hike-to chutes in Heather Canyon; the resort’s live map and reports keep the daily picture current. Timberline’s published stats highlight 1,685 acres and a marquee 4,540-foot continuous vertical from the top of Palmer to the base at Government Camp, a line that links high-elevation snowfields to long, rolling lower-mountain pistes. Skibowl skis smaller but steeper, with classic tree shots and direct fall lines that reward timing. January and February deliver the coldest, most repeatable surfaces; March and April bring frequent blue windows and spring corn on solar aspects while shaded faces up high stay wintry.

Summer is the differentiator. When coverage and temperatures allow, Timberline spins Magic Mile and Palmer for morning sessions on lifted summer snow—the only lift-access of its kind in North America. The public can lap groomers and a dedicated public park while teams and camps work reserved lanes nearby. Expect early starts, salted in-runs, and quick laps in a compact venue that’s engineered for repetition. By midday, softer landings replace morning crispness; hydration, glacier-specific wax, and careful speed reads become part of the routine.

Park infrastructure and events

Timberline runs multiple terrain parks through the core season and transitions into a dedicated summer park program. The resort’s park hub outlines the year-round approach—rotating rail gardens, progressive jump lines, and spring builds that “level up” as the snowpack deepens, followed by a summer setup on Palmer that includes a public park and a Freestyle Training Center lane system with airbags and tow access when in operation. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has used Timberline as an official training site and continues to stage summer camps here for alpine, moguls, slopestyle, and halfpipe athletes as conditions and schedules allow.

Meadows complements that with a multi-zone park program that, in typical winters, includes beginner-friendly sets like the Zoo, intermediate/advanced flow in Forest Park, and—when temperatures and coverage line up—an 18-foot superpipe and banked features near the front side. Skibowl focuses on night mileage and natural features; you’ll find smaller park elements at times, but its calling card is lit terrain across multiple lifts, which keeps trick work and rail reps going long after sunset. The through-line across all three areas is practical shaping for predictable speed and safe landings rather than occasional spectacle.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

From Portland (PDX), the standard drive is U.S. 26 to Government Camp, then branch to your venue: the Timberline Highway (OR 173) to the lodge, the well-signed turn to Meadows via OR 35, or the direct approach to Skibowl. If you’d rather skip mountain parking or chain-ups, the year-round Mt. Hood Express bus links the town of Sandy with Government Camp and Timberline, with extra runs in winter. For road status and traction rules, Oregon’s TripCheck and the Chain Law page are the authoritative sources; winter weather can change rapidly between the lowlands and passes.

Daily flow hinges on visibility and wind. In storms, Meadows’ treeline benches and lower bowls keep speed honest; at Timberline, work the protected mid-mountain before stepping higher; at Skibowl, lap lit terrain where sightlines and traffic are predictable. After a front clears, hunt leeward chalk on ridges and panels, then build jump sessions as temperatures stabilize—crisp lips in the morning, forgiving landings later. In summer, set an early alarm; the best park laps and race training happen before surface softening and wind pick up. Public park hours are shorter than winter days—plan efficiently and hydrate.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Hood’s resorts operate on U.S. Forest Service land under special-use permits, with clear in-bounds rules and serious terrain just beyond rope lines. If you’re stepping outside marked runs at Meadows or Skibowl, or touring near Timberline, treat it like backcountry: carry beacon, shovel, and probe; travel with partners who know rescue; and read the regional bulletin from the Northwest Avalanche Center before you go. Glaciated terrain above lift-served zones can hide crevasses; respect closures on Palmer and never cross boundary ropes to “just take a look.” Inside the parks, follow Park Smart: inspect first, call your drop, hold a predictable line, and clear landings and knuckles immediately so laps keep moving.

Night culture matters here. Skibowl’s expansive lighting extends productive hours, but cold maritime air can glaze surfaces quickly after sunset; detune appropriately, keep edges sharp, and bias rail mileage until speeds feel consistent. On road days, build buffer time and consider transit; carrying chains or traction tires is often required during winter conditions, and real-time adjustments via TripCheck will save you headaches. On busy weekends, the easiest days are often car-free ones that start on the Mt. Hood Express or with an early train-to-rental-to-bus sequence from Portland.

Best time to go and how to plan

For pow consistency and durable park lips, aim for mid-January through late February. Those weeks typically deliver frequent refreshes, cold mornings, and predictable speed windows in the afternoon. March and April add bluebird spells and a classic corn cycle on solar aspects, especially at Meadows; Timberline’s spring rebuilds turn the lower mountain into a freestyle playground before the summer move to Palmer. If you’re targeting the summer scene, plan for early-morning lift spins, separate public and private lanes, and a compact schedule that rewards repetition. The public park is designed for learning and filming without getting in the way of team training, and it rides best before noon when salted takeoffs are crisp.

Each day, start with your venue’s status page for wind holds, lift links, and park notes, then pick a sector by aspect and visibility. Build sessions around a two- or three-feature circuit to dial speed before stepping into full lines. If you’d like to avoid driving altogether, lock in a bus seat on the Mt. Hood Express during peak weekends. For mixed crews, consider a two-mountain strategy: storm-day rails and night laps at Skibowl or lower Meadows, then high-alpine panels at Meadows or upper Timberline when skies clear.

Why freeskiers care

Because Mt. Hood combines a credible winter with a world-unique summer. You can stack powder laps and night sessions when storms are firing, then return months later to refine jump timing and rail work on Palmer’s salted snow under lift access. Timberline’s year-round parks and lanes, Meadows’ big-mountain flavor, and Skibowl’s after-dark mileage add up to a complete progression ecosystem, all within striking distance of Portland. If your goal is to learn fast, film clean, and keep momentum from January through July, Hood is a cornerstone destination.

Brand overview and significance

D-Structure is a rider-founded freeski retailer that helped define Québec’s modern ski culture. The story starts in 2000 on Rue St-Denis in Montréal, where photographers and skiers turned a small pro shop into a home for twin-tips, urban rails, and the then-new “Newschool” movement. A second store opened in 2003 in Québec City, which later became the operational hub. Over two decades, the shop has remained independent and scene-first—supporting athletes, hosting premieres, and stocking the gear that matches how locals actually ski. D-Structure’s founders and crew were also part of the wave that launched film-festival culture for freeskiing in 2007, further amplifying the community’s voice.

What sets D-Structure apart is curation and credibility. The shop built its reputation by betting early on twin-tips and park gear, then rounding out the wall with directional all-mountain, freeride, and touring equipment that stands up to Québec’s freeze-thaw long seasons. Today the store ships from Québec with clear returns/warranty handling and free-shipping thresholds for Canada and the U.S., while staying anchored to the same rider-led ethos that started it all. For Skipowd readers, there’s also an internal hub at D-Structure on skipowd.tv.

Product lines and key technologies

D-Structure is a retailer, not a ski manufacturer, so its “product line” is a selection across core brands and price points. Expect a deep freeski catalog—twins and directional-twins for park and all-mountain freestyle—alongside metal-reinforced carvers for firm days, rockered freeride shapes for chop and powder, and weight-conscious touring skis, skins, and packs. Boots, bindings, goggles, helmets, outerwear, and small parts round out the mix so you can build a complete setup without compromise.

On the hardgoods side, the buying philosophy prioritizes practical tech over hype. That means skis with balanced rocker/camber for edge hold and release, bindings with elastic travel you can trust on landings, and boots that can be fit accurately across narrow to high-volume feet. Softgoods follow the same logic: shells and insulation that breathe, layer cleanly, and survive rope-tow mileage and night laps. The result is a shelf that feels built for daily resort use, urban missions, and road-trip powder without forcing you into niche gear.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

If your winter is split between park laps, side-hits, and quick dives into the trees, D-Structure’s twin-tip and all-mountain-freestyle rows are the sweet spot: skis that press and pivot when you want but still carve predictably back to the lift. Directional skiers who charge groomers and late-day chop will find calmer, metal-laminated options with stronger torsional hold. For touring days, you’ll see lighter layups paired with reliable downhill manners, plus skins and packs that keep transitions efficient. Parents and newer riders get progression-friendly options with sensible flex and sizing; film-day skiers and street crews can find durable edges, thicker bases, and protective outerwear that holds up to rails and concrete.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

D-Structure’s influence shows through its athletes and alumni. From the early 2000s, the shop backed Québec talent that went on to win X Games medals, Olympic hardware, and major film accolades—names like JP Auclair, JF Cusson, Charles Gagnier, JF Houle, Kaya Turski, Kim Lamarre, and Phil “B-Dog” Casabon became shorthand for the province’s style. The current scene includes riders such as Alex Beaulieu-Marchand and Émile Bergeron featuring in edits and tours. That constant pipeline—supporting groms, documenting local lines, and celebrating premieres—keeps the shop relevant far beyond its square footage.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

D-Structure lives where it rides: the original roots in Montréal, and the day-to-day shop energy in Québec City. The broader map is classic Québec—night-ski rhythm, cold smoke in January, spring slush in April. Weekend road trips orbit places like Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians for frontside mileage, and Shawinigan’s Vallée du Parc for high-repetition parks and glades. Province-wide context comes from Bonjour Québec, which frames the snow culture D-Structure serves.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

As a retailer, D-Structure’s “construction” promise is about curation, setup, and service. Expect transparent shipping/returns and warranty support, careful mounting practices through partner workshops, and guidance that matches materials to use-case—thicker edges and tougher bases for street/rail abuse; stout sidewalls and titanal for hardpack composure; lighter cores and thoughtful carbon for touring efficiency. On responsibility, the store trends toward long-life products and repairable gear, and it regularly platforms brands investing in recycled textiles, traceable wood cores, and lower-impact factory energy. Keeping quality gear in circulation—and helping riders choose right the first time—reduces waste more effectively than any slogan.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with terrain and frequency. Mostly groomers with the occasional storm? Look for directional all-mountain skis with moderate waist widths and constructions that favor damping and edge grip. Spend half your day in the park or on side-hits? Twin-tips in the low-90s to ~100 mm underfoot balance pop with resort versatility; match them to bindings with solid retention and elasticity. Tour regularly? Pick a waist width that matches your snowpack, choose a binding system aligned with your objective length, and keep skins simple and reliable. Don’t overthink length: true-to-height for directional stability; a few centimeters shorter for a more freestyle feel in tight spaces. If you’re unsure between flexes or lasts, the staff’s local-snow experience—night laps, freeze-thaw mornings, and spring mash—makes the difference between “works on paper” and “works on your hill.”

Why riders care

D-Structure matters because it bridges culture and practicality. It’s the place that championed twin-tips before they were mainstream, still throws energy into premieres and edits, and also sends you home with a setup that feels right on your next chair up. The faces behind the counter speak the same language as the clips in your feed, and the shelves reflect the realities of Québec skiing—firm mornings, storm pockets, and long seasons under the lights. Whether your winter is a Tremblant pass, Shawinigan night missions, or road trips that stitch it all together, the D-Structure approach—honest advice, proven gear, and tight community ties—keeps you skiing more and fussing less.

Brand overview and significance

Dalbello is an Italian ski boot specialist founded in 1974 by Alessandro and Giovanna Dal Bello in the town of Asolo, in the Veneto foothills of the Dolomites. From the start, the company focused on one thing only – ski boots – and still produces its boots in its own factory in Italy. That tight focus and local manufacturing are a big part of why Dalbello has become a reference name for all-mountain, freeride and freestyle skiers who care about fit and flex as much as pure stiffness numbers.

The founders learned their craft in Swiss boot factories before returning to Italy to build boots under their own name, moving from stitched leather uppers into modern plastic shells as the sport evolved. Over the decades, Dalbello helped popularise three-piece “cabrio” boot architecture for aggressive skiers, and today the brand is known for combining progressive flex patterns with comfort-oriented fit solutions. As part of the wider Elevate Outdoor Collective alongside Marker and Völkl, Dalbello remains an independent boot specialist with the backing of a major winter sports group.

For skiers browsing shop walls full of generic overlap shells, Dalbello stands out as a boot-focused brand with a clear identity: Italian-built, anatomically shaped, and tuned for skiers who actually push their gear – from carving pistes to dropping into freeride faces or park lines.

Product lines and key technologies

Dalbello’s collection is organised more by skier type and terrain than by abstract marketing names. At the race and frontside end, the DRS and related models bring World Cup–derived shells and precise, low-volume fits to hard-snow specialists who live on groomers, gates and high edge angles. The Veloce and Veloce Space BOA® families build on that heritage for strong resort skiers, wrapping a more accessible fit around powerful shells and, in some models, a BOA® lower closure for even pressure over the instep.

The brand’s signature, though, is its cabrio (three-piece) design, now grouped under the Cabrio and IL Moro banners. These boots use separate shell, cuff and external tongue pieces to deliver a very progressive forward flex with strong support at the end of the range. Models like the Cabrio LV/MV and park-focused IL Moro aim at freeride, big mountain and park skiers who want shock absorption and smooth feel without harsh shin bang. For all-mountain and freeride skiers who want walk modes and more versatility, lines such as Panterra and Lupo blend cabrio architecture with hike mechanisms and GripWalk soles.

On the touring and “freetour” side, Quantum boots target uphill performance with lightweight shells, efficient walk modes and tech inserts, while still keeping a recognisably Dalbello stance for the descent. Across the range, technologies like Contour 4 (pre-shaped shell zones around common pressure points), customizable MyFit or ID thermo-mouldable liners, and GripWalk soles recur in different combinations, giving bootfitters tools to fine-tune comfort without sacrificing precision. The result is a catalog that runs from beginner-friendly resort boots to highly specialized big-mountain and backcountry models, all built on the same fit and flex philosophy.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

On snow, Dalbello boots generally feel more progressive and reactive than their pure flex index might suggest. In the DRS and Veloce families, the emphasis is on direct power transfer: strong heel hold, precise ankle wrapping and a supportive cuff that encourages you to stand in the middle of the ski and trust the boot when you roll the edge. These boots suit advanced and expert skiers who like carving high-speed arcs on groomers, running gates, or skiing hard snow where even small inputs at the cuff are amplified into the ski.

Switch into a Cabrio, Panterra or IL Moro, and the character changes. The three-piece design and external tongue tend to give a smoother, more elastic flex that many freeride and park skiers appreciate when absorbing landings, slashing wind lips or buttering rollers. The boot progressively stiffens as you move deeper into the flex, helping protect against harsh bottom-outs while keeping the initial movement supple enough to move with variable terrain. This makes cabrio boots popular for riders who mix park laps, side hits and off-piste sessions in the same day.

Touring-oriented shells in the Quantum and lighter Lupo/Freetour bracket prioritise range of motion and lower weight on the way up, but the brand’s bias still leans toward confident descending. They suit skiers who value real skiing performance on the way down more than the absolute lightest uphill setup, whether you are linking powder bowls above treeline or threading technical couloirs.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Dalbello boots have been under the feet of World Cup racers, freeride standouts and freestyle specialists for many seasons. In racing, green-accented DRS shells are a familiar sight in the start area and on European podiums, a sign that the brand’s fit and flex philosophy holds up at the highest pressures of alpine competition. The company highlights Olympic and World Cup successes in its own communications, using those results as proof that its shells can handle the forces of modern race courses.

In the freeski world, Dalbello gained a strong following when its cabrio-based Krypton and IL Moro boots became favourites among big mountain, park and slopestyle athletes who wanted smoother flex and better shock absorption on landings. That reputation has carried into newer Cabrio and Lupo lines, which you’ll spot in contemporary film segments and competition footage from big air, slopestyle and Freeride World Tour venues. For riders who spend their winters deep in park crews or filming in natural terrain, Dalbello is often the “boot brand” in otherwise mixed gear setups.

Among bootfitters and core skiers, Dalbello enjoys a reputation as a brand that listens to feedback from athletes and shops, iterating shell shapes and liners rather than chasing trends for their own sake. That gives the brand credibility with both aspiring racers and creative freeskiers who care more about how a boot skis than about the marketing copy on the box.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Dalbello’s roots in Asolo place the company in one of Italy’s historic footwear and sportsgear clusters, within reach of the Dolomites and major Alpine passes. Proximity to steep, varied terrain and a dense network of ski resorts has always been a practical advantage: prototypes can be tested on real snow, in real conditions, without crossing continents. That blend of workshop culture and mountain access is central to how the brand tells its story as “real Italian boots for real skiers.”

From a market perspective, Dalbello is strongly present across the Alps – Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and neighbouring regions – where both racers and freeriders demand precise, serviceable boots for long seasons. Through the Elevate Outdoor Collective’s global distribution, Dalbello has also built out a significant footprint in North America, Japan and other key ski regions, with dealers and bootfitters trained specifically on its shell shapes and molding systems. Whether you are lapping big-mountain terrain in North America or stacking days in central European parks, it is relatively easy to find a shop familiar with Dalbello fit.

For travelers visiting the Veneto and Dolomite areas, the brand’s home region is also a reminder that many of skiing’s most influential boots are born in small northern Italian towns where shoemaking and sport have been intertwined for generations.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Dalbello places a lot of emphasis on building every boot in its own Italian factory rather than outsourcing production. That control over materials, moulds and assembly allows the brand to keep a consistent “house feel” across different flexes and price points. Shells use polyurethane, polyamide or other engineered plastics matched to the boot’s category and intended flex character, with thicker-walled, denser compounds in race shells and tuned mixes in freeride and touring models.

Fit and durability are supported by features such as Contour 4 shell shaping around typical problem zones like the ankle and fifth metatarsal, heat-mouldable liners (from MyFit to high-end ID foam and wrap liners), and widespread use of GripWalk soles for better traction when walking on snow and in parking lots. Many models include replaceable toe and heel blocks or lugs, extending boot life for skiers who spend a lot of time on rock, stairs and resort pathways.

On the sustainability side, Dalbello participates in regional projects in the Veneto sports-system district that focus on comfort, safety and more efficient product development. While ski boots are inherently complex plastic products, the brand’s approach – centralised Italian manufacturing, longer-lasting shells, and serviceable components – aligns with a move toward gear that can be used and maintained for multiple seasons rather than rapidly discarded.

How to choose within the lineup

Choosing the right Dalbello boot starts with an honest assessment of how and where you ski. If your winters revolve around groomers, carving, and perhaps some amateur racing, look first at the DRS and Veloce lines, paying attention to last width and flex index. Narrow, low-volume shells with higher flex ratings will appeal to strong, technically solid skiers who want maximum response, while medium-volume options and slightly softer flexes suit aggressive intermediates and advanced riders who still prioritise comfort on long days.

All-mountain, freeride and park skiers should focus on the Cabrio, IL Moro, Panterra and Lupo families. Here, the key decisions are flex target, presence or absence of a walk mode, and how much time you expect to spend hiking, touring or bootpacking compared to riding lifts. If you mostly ski lifts but like natural terrain and bigger features, a stiffer Cabrio or IL Moro with GripWalk soles can be ideal; if you mix in touring and longer approaches, a Lupo or Panterra with a functional walk mechanism will make life easier without sacrificing too much downhill power.

Dedicated tourers and weight-conscious big-mountain riders can look to Quantum and lighter freetour models, checking range of motion and how the boots feel in a neutral, slightly forward stance. In all cases, working with a good bootfitter is crucial: Dalbello’s shells and liners are designed to be moulded and punched where needed, so the out-of-the-box feel is only the starting point, not the final word.

Why riders care

Riders care about Dalbello because the brand has a clear personality in a crowded boot market. For many, it is the combination of Italian craftsmanship, progressive cabrio flex and real-world comfort that makes these boots memorable. Park and big-mountain skiers appreciate how a well-set-up Cabrio or IL Moro absorbs landings and encourages playful skiing, while strong frontside and race users trust DRS and Veloce shells to hold up under the pressure of steep ice and high-speed arcs.

Equally important is the sense that Dalbello is built by people who think about boots first, not as an afterthought to skis or outerwear. Its ongoing presence in high-level racing, freeride and freestyle scenes, plus its continued commitment to Italian manufacturing, signal that the brand is invested in long-term performance rather than short product cycles. For skipowd.tv viewers watching edits from parks, big mountains and backcountry lines, Dalbello often appears in the background as the quiet constant: boots designed to let skiers focus on their line, not on their feet.

Brand overview and significance

Marker is one of skiing’s defining binding makers, founded in 1952 by Bavarian engineer Hannes Marker and built around a single idea: reliable, predictable release that lets skiers push harder with confidence. From the first safety-release concepts to modern freeride and touring solutions, Marker has been at the center of how power is transmitted to the ski—and how that power lets go when it should. The brand’s heritage is German alpine engineering; its imprint is global, visible on World Cup courses, the Freeride World Tour, and in everyday resort lines across the world.

Modern Marker covers the spectrum: resort carvers and park skiers rely on the “Royal Family” of alpine bindings; freeriders and hybrid tourers choose convertible or tech-based systems; gram counters head for minimalist pin bindings; junior and rental fleets run dialed versions for lighter or progressing skiers. The through-line is consistent mechanics and elastic travel tuned for real snow, making Marker a benchmark for skiers who value both retention and a clean, timely release.

Product lines and key technologies

Royal Family (resort/alpine): Squire (lightweight, lower DIN), Griffon (the all-mountain workhorse), and Jester (higher DIN, metal-reinforced) are the bindings most skiers recognize on lifts and in park lanes. Shared DNA includes a gliding AFD (anti-friction device) under the toe for reliable lateral release, wide mounting patterns to spread forces, and toe/heel architectures tuned for elasticity: Triple Pivot Light/Elite toes and Hollow Linkage or Inter Pivot heels keep the ride solid yet progressive. These bindings accept modern boot soles (alpine and GripWalk) and are offered in brake widths to match common ski sizes.

Race: Xcomp and WC-focused platforms emphasize torsional stiffness, razor-quick power transfer, and controlled elasticity so edge hold doesn’t chatter away on injected surfaces. Plates and interfaces are designed to reduce vibration, drive strong pressure into the shovel, and keep the ski tracking through ruts at speed.

Hybrid freeride/touring: Duke PT is Marker's convertible solution for skiers who split days between lifts and skins. The toe transforms: in “Hike” mode, a lightweight tech toe engages pin inserts for efficient uphill travel; in “Ride” mode, the alpine toe locks down for full-resort performance. Underfoot frames and heel pieces borrow from the Royal Family feel, so downhill behavior is familiar.

Freeride touring: Kingpin blends a tech toe with a powerful downhill-oriented heel, aimed at riders who want real touring efficiency without giving up jump landings, straight-line composure, or tracked-snow bite. M-Werks editions trim weight with premium materials while preserving the stout underfoot feel that freeriders expect.

Fast-and-light touring: Alpinist targets minimal weight and clean ergonomics for long approaches and technical objectives. Adjustable vertical and lateral release, practical riser heights, and simple, secure crampon interfaces make it a dependable tool when efficiency matters as much as turn quality.

Junior & systems: Marker rounds out the line with junior DIN ranges, demo/rental systems, and integrated-binding skis. The focus is the same: predictable release values, durable hardware, and interfaces that keep the ski flex natural.

Platform features you’ll see across the range: Sole compatibility for alpine and GripWalk boots; a range of DIN offerings that correctly match skier weight/ability; wide, low-stack interfaces for leverage on today’s broader skis; and serviceable parts (AFDs, brakes, heel tracks) so a binding can live multiple seasons with proper care.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

If you’re a daily resort skier who mixes groomers, trees, bumps, and side hits, the Griffon sits in the sweet spot: ample elasticity for hard landings and afternoon chop, with crisp step-in and consistent release. Park and pipe skiers who need predictable take-off/landing behavior often choose Griffon or Jester for the stronger heel feel and durability; lighter riders gravitate to Squire for the same mechanics in a friendlier package. Big-mountain skiers who duck gates or tour for steeps will appreciate Duke PT’s downhill authority with real uphill function, while Kingpin caters to freeriders who prioritize a tech toe’s efficiency without accepting a nervous descent. When objectives demand long skin tracks and precise ski control at minimal weight, Alpinist is the logical move.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Marker’s credibility is earned on timing sheets and in film parts. World Cup racers lean on the race program’s edge fidelity and measured elasticity; freeride athletes trust Royal Family heels and toes to absorb hits without pre-release in rough landings. Across the Freeride World Tour and major film projects, you’ll see Marker under skiers who value retention at speed and a consistent, toe-side release when falls get complex. That visibility matters to everyday skiers because it compresses development cycles—feedback from contest venues and filming windows flows quickly into toe springs, heel kinematics, and AFD materials.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Marker’s roots are in the Bavarian Alps—founded in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and engineered with the kind of repeatable, variable conditions that the region delivers all winter. The brand’s European footprint keeps testing loops close to high-mileage venues in Austria, Germany, and Italy, from early-season glacier surfaces to mid-winter storm cycles and spring hardpack. In North America, teams and partner brands put mileage on Royal Family and touring platforms at big, mixed-snow resorts and on classic touring corridors, ensuring behavior translates across continents.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Marker bindings feel “sorted” because the mechanics are: gliding AFDs that stay smooth under pressure; toe designs with purposeful ramp and spring curves; heels that emphasize vertical elasticity and controlled return so skis track instead of chattering. Materials vary by intent—composites for weight savings in Squire, metal reinforcement and magnesium hardware in Jester and race platforms, carbon-enhanced parts in M-Werks editions—but the goal is the same: keep mass where it adds strength and longevity, trim it where it doesn’t.

Durability is as much layout as material. Wide heel tracks resist slop over time; protected AFDs reduce contamination; brake arms are shaped to avoid hang-ups on modern sidewalls. Proper mounting and periodic service (checking forward pressure, toe height/AFD contact, and brake alignment) extend life and preserve release accuracy. While details differ by region, a clear, published warranty and the availability of service parts signal the brand’s intent for long, multi-season use—a sustainability win that matters more than any single material swap.

How to choose within the lineup

1) Start with where you ski. Mostly lift-served? Pick from Squire (lighter riders or lower DIN) → Griffon (most advanced/all-mountain skiers) → Jester (heavier or more aggressive riders, higher DIN). Racing gates or carving hard on ice? Look at Xcomp and race plates for the highest edge fidelity.

2) Decide if you’ll tour. Want “real” resort performance and occasional skins? Duke PT converts between pin-toe touring and full alpine toes. Want tech-toe efficiency with strong downhill manners? Choose Kingpin (or its lighter M-Werks sibling). Counting grams or linking big traverses? Alpinist is the minimalist pick.

3) Match DIN honestly. Use weight, ability, and style to land in the correct DIN range. Higher is not “better”—it’s just stiffer. Properly set bindings release when they should and hold when they must. If in doubt, consult a shop and bring your boots so toe height/AFD and forward pressure can be set correctly.

4) Size your brakes right. Aim for a brake width that matches your ski waist or sits just a few millimeters wider; avoid arms that flare far beyond the edge (hang-ups) or sit narrower than the sidecut (drag/lockups).

5) Consider soles and standards. If you swap boots, choose models that accept both alpine and GripWalk soles. Confirm compatibility before mounting, especially for mixed touring/resort setups.

Why riders care

Bindings are the most invisible part of your setup—until they aren’t. Marker’s value is making retention and release feel predictable so you can focus on line choice, edge angles, and speed. From Squire to Jester, Duke PT to Kingpin and Alpinist, the catalog maps cleanly to how skiers actually ride: park laps, storm-day chop, spring chutes, and big traverses. Add a long history of engineering around real snow and a present-day athlete pipeline that keeps the mechanics honest, and you get a brand that earns trust on the chair, in the start gate, and halfway down a no-fall zone.

Brand overview and significance

Orage is a Canadian ski apparel brand founded in 1989 in Montréal by UQAM business student Evelyne Trempe, later joined by Eric D’Anjou. From the start, the company’s identity blended technical mountain performance with a street-influenced style that resonated with freeskiers. Decades on, Orage remains headquartered in Québec and has expanded its footprint in Europe—including a 2024 flagship in Chamonix—while keeping product development tightly focused on skiing. The brand’s catalog spans three-layer shells, insulated resort pieces, midlayers, base layers, and accessories, all dialed for cold, wet winters and high-output days. On Skipowd, the curated hub for Orage gathers edits and athlete projects tied to the label’s history in freeski culture.

Orage’s cultural contribution is tangible. The brand helped define the freeski aesthetic in the 2000s and 2010s (including the irreverent Orage Masters “anti-comp”) and today backs progression through series partnerships like the FWT Challenger by Orage. That mix of credible tech and authentic scene presence makes Orage a consistent choice for skiers who want gear that performs in harsh storms yet still feels at home in the park and on spring booters.

Product lines and key technologies

The pinnacle collection is MTN-X: big-mountain, touring, and storm-day outerwear built around three-layer Dermizax® laminates with 20k/20k waterproof/breathability ratings, fully taped seams, and articulated patterns for mobility. Orage also uses hybrid 3L designs—pairing tough Dermizax® panels in high-wear zones with lighter, air-permeable Prime Alpha panels in the torso and underarms—to shed heat on long climbs without sacrificing weather protection. Many MTN-X pieces are available for both men and women with bibs, pants, and shells tuned for deep days.

For resort mileage and cold snaps, Orage’s insulation story centers on Gilltek™—a breathable baffle concept that integrates mesh “gills” to dump excess heat—often combined with high-loft synthetic fills such as PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume. The result is a puffy that feels warm on the chair but won’t swamp you on traverse pushes or hike-to shots. Across the range you’ll also see practical fabric choices like C0 DWR finishes and OEKO-TEX®-listed textiles on select styles, plus durable face fabrics that resist abrasion from packs and sled decks.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

If your winter alternates between storm cycles and technical terrain, MTN-X shells deliver a quiet, protective ride with dependable sealing and venting. Hybrid MTN-X pieces are purpose-built for high-output freestyle touring, ridge laps, and sled-access missions; they breathe better in the torso and move easily when you’re side-stepping, skating, or booting. Resort-first skiers who chase bell-to-bell laps will appreciate insulated jackets using Gilltek™ for that warm-but-not-clammy equilibrium during cold mornings, lift holds, and windy chairs.

Park and slopestyle riders tend to gravitate toward the brand’s more relaxed fits and durable face fabrics that hold up to rail seasons and repeated falls, while all-mountain skiers in colder climates get the core promise that built Orage’s reputation in Québec: weather protection that still feels comfortable and mobile when temps plunge and snow goes through thaw-freeze cycles.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Orage’s legacy in freeskiing runs from iconic riders (including long-time ties with Québec style leaders) to events that shaped the culture. The Orage Masters became a cult-favorite team showdown that prioritized creativity and showmanship, cementing the brand’s playful credibility. Today, the partnership with the Freeride World Tour Challenger circuit keeps Orage visible in venues where real snow, speed, and consequence stress-test outerwear. The through-line is consistent: hands-on athlete feedback and projects that feed directly back into patterning, vent placement, and fabric choices.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Montréal roots anchor the brand’s cold-weather DNA, and Québec resorts like Mont-Tremblant remain a natural testing ground for eastern conditions—wind, humidity, fast temperature swings. For deep, high-relief terrain and spring shoot weeks, teams and friends of the brand rack up mileage in British Columbia—from lift-served laps at Whistler-Blackcomb to storm cycles and sled-access zones around Retallack. In Europe, the new flagship presence in Chamonix reflects a long history of athlete trips and late-season alpine testing where weather can flip from sun to spindrift in minutes.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Under the hood, Orage leans on robust three-layer laminates (Dermizax®) with clean interior backers for easy layering and long-term comfort. Hybrid MTN-X pieces strategically place Prime Alpha panels to balance breathability and protection, while resort-focused jackets and pants use mapped insulation and tough face fabrics that shrug off chairlifts, glades, and repeated pack carry. Many garments specify C0 DWR and OEKO-TEX®-listed materials; Gilltek™ styles incorporate recycled shell fabrics and synthetic fills to reduce reliance on virgin inputs. The company also signals longevity through a practical warranty and repair stance—favoring repair when possible—so a well-chosen kit can run for multiple seasons with proper care.

Fit and patterning are part of durability: articulated knees and elbows reduce seam stress, and higher denier reinforcements appear at cuffs, hems, and shoulders to manage edge contact and pack abrasion. Hardware is serviceable (snaps, zips, hem cords), and bibs feature sturdy suspenders and functional pocket layouts that don’t interfere with beacon harnesses or hip belts.

How to choose within the lineup

Match environment first. If you ski deep storms, mixed alpine weather, or tour regularly, start with MTN-X 3L shells for maximum sealing and durability. If you spend equal time skinning and riding lifts—or tend to overheat—look to hybrid MTN-X shells that blend Dermizax® with Prime Alpha panels for extra airflow where your body runs hot.

Decide on insulation. For cold resorts, Gilltek™ puffies slot cleanly under a shell or stand alone on dry days: they’re warm on the chair yet vent during traverses. If you run hot, use a lighter, air-permeable midlayer and save heavier insulation for genuine deep-freeze weeks.

Dial fit for your skiing. Freeride and park skiers often prefer slightly roomier cuts for range of motion and style; all-mountain skiers prioritizing speed and trees may choose trimmer silhouettes to reduce flapping and snag risk. In bibs, choose a rise that clears your beacon harness and verify cuff openings against your boot buckles and walk-modes.

Think long-term use. Prioritize three-layer shells if you’ll repair and keep gear multiple seasons; they age gracefully with re-proofing and seam care. Resort-only skiers who value warmth and simplicity can lean into insulated jackets and pants, adding a light shell for spring.

Why riders care

Skiers choose Orage because it feels built for real winters and real riding: shells that stay quiet and sealed in sideways snow, insulated pieces that warm up the chair without boiling you on the traverse, and patterns that move naturally whether you’re skinning, spinning, or smashing chop. Add a heritage rooted in Montréal, a present-day presence from Québec to British Columbia and the Alps, and visible support of competitive and creative freeskiing, and you get a brand that balances credibility with comfort. If your season ranges from icy night laps to storm-day trees and spring couloirs, Orage’s clear, skiing-first lineup makes it easy to put together a kit that works—without overthinking it.

Brand overview and significance

Smith, often referred to as Smith Optics, is one of the defining names in ski goggles and helmets. The company traces its roots to 1965 in Sun Valley, Idaho, when orthodontist and powder skier Dr. Bob Smith built the first thermal-sealed, double-lens ski goggle at his kitchen table to solve fogging issues that plagued early gear. That home-built prototype turned into a small manufacturing operation in Ketchum and, over the following decades, into a global performance eyewear and helmet brand that now serves snow, bike and outdoor communities worldwide.

From those first anti-fog goggles, Smith has consistently pushed optical and protection technology forward. The brand helped establish what modern snow goggles look like—double lenses with integrated ventilation and face foam that actually seals in storms—then doubled down with its ChromaPop lens platform for enhanced contrast and color definition. On the helmet side, Smith became an early adopter of Koroyd tubular impact zones and Mips rotational-impact systems, combining them in lightweight, low-profile shells designed around real crashes in real terrain.

Today, Smith goggles and helmets are a common sight in lift lines, on Freeride World Tour venues, in park and street crews, and in the backcountry. For the skipowd.tv audience, Smith is the go-to name for seeing and protecting your head in all conditions: from flat-light park laps and street nights to high-speed big-mountain runs and storm days in places like Whistler-Blackcomb.

Product lines and key technologies

On snow, Smith’s core products are goggles, helmets and sunglasses designed to integrate as a system. The snow goggle lineup spans cylindrical and spherical / toric models, with families such as Squad, Proxy and Drift on the cylindrical side and premium models like I/O MAG and 4D MAG at the top of the range. Across those lines, the common threads are interchangeable lenses, advanced anti-fog treatments, substantial face foam and strap systems that play nicely with helmets.

The heart of Smith’s optical story is ChromaPop. Instead of simply tinting lenses, ChromaPop filters specific wavelengths where color channels overlap, making it easier for the eye to distinguish terrain detail in tricky light. Variants like ChromaPop Photochromic and ChromaPop Pro Photochromic automatically adapt to changing conditions, making them especially useful for variable clouds or tree laps where light changes quickly. Models such as the 4D MAG add BirdsEye Vision, a lens shape that curves further downward to expand lower peripheral vision and help riders see landings, lips and ruts earlier.

Helmet lines like Vantage, Nexus, Altus, Method and Mission are built around impact management and “ultimate integration” with Smith goggles. Many feature Zonal Koroyd—lightweight tubular structures that crumple on impact to absorb energy—combined with in-mold or hybrid shells and Mips for rotational-impact protection. Fit systems such as VaporFit or BOA-based 360-degree dials, along with fixed or adjustable vents, help tune comfort across disciplines, from park laps to big backcountry days.

Smith also extends its technology into sunglasses and glacier / alpine eyewear for touring and sunny high-alpine days, pairing ChromaPop lenses with bio-based Evolve frame materials and, in some lines, frames or lenses made from recycled content. But for most skiers on skipowd.tv, the primary touchpoints remain snow goggles and helmets.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

Because Smith focuses on goggles and helmets, “ride feel” is about visibility, comfort and how protected you feel in real mountain weather. A well-chosen Smith goggle is most noticeable when you forget about it: you can read texture in chalky snow, see definition in a blown-out landing and pick out subtle wind lips on a flat-light storm day. ChromaPop lenses help separate sky from snow when they’re the same grey, and the brand’s high-end anti-fog coatings and venting make it easier to hike, bootpack or adjust layers without instantly steaming your lens.

For freeride and all-mountain skiing, the combination of wide fields of view and clean helmet integration is what stands out. On a steep line or in trees, the extra peripheral vision of models like the 4D MAG or larger I/O lenses gives you more awareness of sluff, partners and obstructions. When paired with a Smith helmet, AirEvac channels pull moist air away from the goggle so you can run warmer vents without fogging—a big deal in maritime climates and during long storm cycles.

Park and street riders appreciate slightly different traits: smaller-frame options that sit well on narrower faces, cylindrical lenses with less visual distortion for rail approaches, and frames that handle repeated impacts and night sessions under sodium lights. Touring and “freerando” riders look for lower-profile helmets with efficient vents plus lighter goggles or sunglasses that stay clear on the skintrack but still offer enough coverage for cold descents.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Smith has been visible in competition and film for decades, from alpine racing to park, pipe and freeride. The brand’s goggles and helmets show up on the faces and heads of World Cup racers, X Games and Olympic medallists, and Freeride World Tour riders, but also on film-first athletes whose main output lives in edits and movie segments. In the skipowd.tv ecosystem, street and park specialists like Taylor Lundquist are profiled riding with Smith optics when low-contrast nights or flat-light park laps make lens choice a serious performance variable rather than a cosmetic detail.

At a brand level, Smith invests heavily in a broad athlete and ambassador roster across ski and snowboard. That roster feeds directly into product feedback: lens tints refined after seasons of filming in Japan; helmet vent layouts altered after hot spring park shoots; and strap / buckle tweaks that come from people using gear daily, not just on sunny demo days. The result is equipment that carries a quiet, earned reputation among working pros, instructors and patrollers as well as headline athletes.

Within the industry, Smith is widely regarded as one of the category leaders in snow goggles, with independent gear tests and reviews regularly singling out models like the I/O MAG and 4D MAG for clarity, anti-fog performance and lens-swap systems. That reputation has made “Smith goggles” almost a generic shorthand for high-end optics in some communities, even as strong competitors exist.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Smith’s story starts in Idaho and Utah, where Dr. Bob Smith tested his early goggles while trading them for lift tickets at Alta and skiing deep powder in the Intermountain West. The high-contrast, stormy light of those regions—chalk, shade, sunbursts and blowing snow in the same run—shaped the brand’s early priorities around fog control and practical field of view.

Today, the company’s snow presence spans the major ski belts of North America, Europe and Japan. Prototypes and production models see time on US Rocky Mountain and Wasatch resorts, Pacific Northwest volcanoes and interior British Columbia, as well as European hubs in the Alps where park, freeride and race programs run side by side. In skipowd.tv videos from locations like Whistler-Blackcomb, you’ll often spot Smith goggles and helmets on riders chasing storms, filming lines and teaching progression in real mixed weather.

This global reach means Smith gear is tuned for diverse snowpacks and climates: cold, dry interior days; heavy coastal storms; spring corn; and night sessions in urban spots. That breadth is part of why the brand has become a default choice for many traveling athletes and guides who need a setup that just works wherever their season takes them.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Smith builds its goggles around impact-resistant lenses (often Carbonic-x or similarly robust materials) with anti-fog inner surfaces and carefully managed airflow channels. Triple-layer face foams combine firmer base layers for structure with softer contact layers against the skin, helping seal out wind while staying comfortable for full days. Strap hardware and outriggers are designed to maintain consistent pressure across different helmet shells so the frame doesn’t pinch or float at speed.

Helmets use in-mold or hybrid shell constructions with EPS foam and Zonal Koroyd inserts in many models. Koroyd’s tubular structure crushes in a controlled way on impact, forming crumple zones that help manage energy from real-world crashes. Paired with Mips in a growing portion of the lineup, this gives Smith helmets a multi-layered approach to impact management. Adjustable or fixed vents and integrated AirEvac channels move warm, moist air out from the goggle-helmet interface to reduce fogging.

On the sustainability side, Smith has been rolling out more eco-focused materials and programs. Evolve frame material, used widely in the sunglasses range and in some snow-adjacent products, is a bio-based plastic derived in part from castor oil that offers full nylon-level performance with a lower environmental footprint. The CORE Collection uses frames and accessories made from post-consumer plastic bottles and recycled packaging, signalling that recycled content and circularity are becoming core to the brand’s material strategy. While not every snow product is “eco-labelled,” the direction of travel is clear: more bio-based and recycled materials, longer-lasting construction and ongoing efforts to keep manufacturing and packaging impacts trending downward.

How to choose within the lineup

Choosing Smith goggles starts with face size, helmet pairing and usual light conditions. For medium to larger faces that want maximum field of view, models like the 4D MAG or I/O MAG families are prime candidates, offering wide coverage, quick lens-change systems and multiple ChromaPop lens options for sun, mixed light and storms. Cylindrical models such as Squad work well for riders who prefer slightly lower profiles, simpler shapes and classic freestyle aesthetics without giving up ChromaPop or anti-fog performance.

Lens selection is just as important as frame choice. If you ski a lot of storm and flat-light days, prioritize high-VLT (lighter) ChromaPop tints designed for overcast and snow. If you chase sun and high-alpine days, add a low-VLT, darker lens to protect against glare. Riders who want a one-goggle solution for constantly changing light can look at ChromaPop Photochromic options, which adjust tint as conditions shift.

On the helmet side, start with how and where you ski. For everyday resort and freeride use, helmets like Vantage, Altus or Method offer a balance of weight, venting and protection with Koroyd and Mips in many builds. Park and street riders may lean toward lower-profile models with clean silhouettes and good goggle integration, while touring-focused skiers often look for lighter shells with larger vents or more open ventilation to manage heat on the skintrack. Always try helmet and goggle together to confirm gap-free integration and check that the strap and dial systems work for your head shape.

Why riders care

Riders care about Smith because the brand has spent nearly six decades focused on what you see and how protected you feel in the mountains. The original double-lens goggle solved a simple but critical problem—fog—and that same mindset runs through modern products: clearer contrast in flat light, cleaner helmet-goggle interfaces, and impact systems designed around real crashes rather than lab numbers alone.

For the skipowd.tv community, Smith is the quiet constant behind a lot of memorable footage and long seasons. It’s the goggle that lets a street crew finish a shot under dim lights, the helmet that disappears on your head during a big freeride line, and the lens that helps you pick out definition on a storm day when the mountain is one shade of grey. In a sport where vision and head protection are non-negotiable, Smith’s blend of history, innovation and everyday reliability is why so many skiers continue to reach for that logo when they gear up.

Brand overview and significance

Völkl is one of skiing’s defining names: a Bavarian manufacturer that has been building skis in Straubing, Germany, since the early 1920s and today stands as the country’s last large-scale ski factory. What started as a family workshop making wagons, boats and sleds evolved into a dedicated ski operation, with early models sold under the name “Vöstra,” a contraction of Völkl and Straubing. A century later, the company is still designing and pressing skis in the same town, now as part of the Elevate Outdoor Collective alongside Marker and Dalbello, but with a distinctly German engineering identity and a “Made in Germany” stamp that still means something to many riders.

Over that hundred-year arc, Völkl has helped shape multiple chapters of ski history. The brand played a prominent role in the carving revolution on-piste, in the rise of powerful all-mountain skis and, more recently, in athlete-led freeride and freestyle development. From Racetiger race skis to Mantra and Katana freeride platforms and the Revolt freestyle series, Völkl has earned a reputation for precision, edge grip and high-speed stability. At the same time, it has built a strong presence in park and backcountry culture through its Built Together program, where engineers, artists and athletes co-design skis from the ground up.

For the skipowd.tv audience, Völkl is the rare brand that genuinely spans World Cup race rooms, Freeride World Tour podiums and street-film back alleys. Its skis show up under top-tier racers, big-mountain chargers and park specialists, but they also anchor the kits of everyday skiers who simply want trustworthy tools for steep groomers, storms in Austria or rail sessions at urban-style parks. That breadth, backed by a century of continuity in Straubing, is why Völkl sits in the absolute top tier of global ski brands.

Product lines and key technologies

Völkl’s lineup is organized around clear families that speak to different types of skiing. On-piste and race performance live mainly in the Racetiger and Deacon lines. Racetiger models borrow heavily from World Cup construction, with full sidewalls, multilayer wood cores, metal laminates and technologies like UVO 3D, a visible vibration damper mounted near the tip that helps calm chatter and keep the edge locked in on hard snow. Titanal Frame constructions and 3D Glass laminates wrap the core to balance torsional stiffness, power and a surprisingly smooth ride for such serious skis.

For directional all-mountain and freeride, the Mantra family is the backbone. Modern versions (including women’s Secret models) use Völkl’s 3D Radius Sidecut, which blends a longer radius in tip and tail with a shorter one underfoot. The idea is simple: you can roll big, fast arcs when the ski is laid over at speed, but still pivot more tightly when you stand centered and reduce edge angle. Paired with metal frames and strong cores, Mantra and Secret skis are known as precise, confidence-inspiring platforms for steep groomers, chopped-up freeride lines and mixed conditions.

Where things get lighter and more playful, the Blaze series comes in. Blaze skis sit between classic freeride and touring: weight-conscious constructions that still ski with backbone. They are designed for skiers who mix resort and backcountry or want a nimble, surfier feel without sacrificing too much stability. The touring-focused Rise line then completes the human-powered side, with models like the Rise Above 88 built around Hybrid Tourlite or Hybrid Multilayer wood cores, 3D Radius Sidecut and Smart Skinclip systems that make skins quicker to handle on transitions.

The most visible story in modern Völkl is the Revolt family. Revolt 90, 96 and 104 cover park and all-mountain freestyle, while Revolt 114 and 121 push into big-mountain and backcountry trick territory. These skis are the result of the Built Together process: long development cycles where riders such as Markus Eder, Ross Tester, Sam Smoothy and others work directly with engineers to tune outlines, flex patterns and mount points. 3D Radius Sidecut, light swingweight cores and carefully tuned rocker lines are designed to make these skis stable enough for Freeride World Tour venues yet playful enough for butters, switch takeoffs and creative lines in soft snow.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

Across the range, Völkl skis share a clear family feel: they reward good technique, offer strong edge grip and tend to prefer being driven rather than passively steered. Racetiger and Deacon pisteskis suit skiers who enjoy carving clean, high-edge-angle turns on hard snow. On a cold morning in Austria, pointing a Racetiger or a Deacon down a freshly groomed red piste feels direct and precise: the ski holds without flinching, tracks through ripples and snaps from edge to edge in a way that appeals to technically minded riders.

Mantra and Secret models target advanced to expert skiers who want one pair that can tackle steep pistes, tracked-out freeride faces and variable snow. They thrive on terrain where you need to feel the edge bite even when the surface is rough—wind-buffed ridges, refrozen chop, afternoon crud. For many skiers based in Alpine hubs like Austria, a Mantra-type ski becomes the default daily driver: stiff enough to stay composed when the throttle is open, yet versatile across conditions.

Blaze and Rise skis speak to those who tour or move lightly across the mountain. Their ride feel is more agile and forgiving, especially at lower speeds or in tighter terrain. Think of skinning to a couloir, navigating narrow tree lines, or making hop turns down technical exits: 3D Radius Sidecut helps them switch between short, reactive turns and more open arcs as slope angle and snow density change.

Revolt models are the choice for skiers who read the mountain as a playground. Revolt 90 and 96 feel at home in parks, on handrails and in urban features, with balanced swingweights and twin tips that invite spins, swaps and switch landings. Revolt 104, 114 and 121 open up freeride and backcountry trick lines: they want bigger airs, deeper landings and enough space to draw expressive shapes in soft snow. Under a confident skier they still feel very “Völkl”—supportive, stable and precise—but their flex and rocker make them more forgiving and creative than the brand’s classic directional skis.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Völkl’s competitive footprint stretches from World Cup race gates to Olympic slopestyle podiums and the Freeride World Tour. In alpine racing, Racetiger models have carried generations of athletes through European Cup and World Cup calendars. The brand’s race department has historically prioritized strong edge grip, energy out of the turn and consistency on injected surfaces, and it continues to support athletes from multiple nations even as budgets and technologies evolve.

In freestyle, Völkl’s impact is easier to see on highlight reels. One of the brand’s most talked-about moments came at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, when Øystein Bråten, Nick Goepper and Alex Beaulieu-Marchand stood together on the men’s slopestyle podium, all riding Völkl skis. That podium sweep crystallized years of investment in comp-focused twin tips and signaled that the Revolt line had arrived as a serious weapon for big-stage park skiing.

On the freeride side, Markus Eder’s Freeride World Tour title and iconic film projects have become almost inseparable from the Revolt 121. The ski itself was developed through Built Together with Eder and a stacked roster of team riders and has since become a visual shorthand for powerful, trick-friendly big-mountain skiing. Other athletes use different widths—Revolt 104 and 114 in particular—to match their terrain and style, but all share the same co-designed DNA.

Beyond podiums, Völkl has invested deeply in culture. The Built Together project deliberately blurs the line between athlete, engineer and artist, and the brand appears frequently in modern freeski media, from web series and street projects to invitational events and creative contests. On skipowd.tv, you’ll see Völkl skis under riders in films, halfpipe edits and park sessions—an indication that the brand’s reach now extends far beyond traditional “race or freeride only” stereotypes.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Völkl’s home is Straubing in Lower Bavaria, a few hours’ drive from major Alpine passes and resorts. The factory’s proximity to Germany and Austria’s mountains makes it easy to move prototypes quickly from presses to snow. Historically, the brand tested and refined skis in the Bavarian Alps and neighboring Austrian regions; that pattern remains, with many models seeing early days on the kind of varied all-mountain terrain that everyday European skiers know well.

For freeride and freestyle development, the brand’s radius has expanded worldwide. Built Together projects have seen riders test shapes in New Zealand, North America, China and across Europe, reflecting how modern teams chase winter and diverse snowpacks. Big-mountain shapes like the Revolt 114 and 121 are refined on steep, exposed faces where stability and predictability matter more than pure looseness, while park and all-mountain freestyle models are dialed on glacier parks, urban spots and resort jump lines.

In the skipowd.tv ecosystem, you can imagine Völkl prototypes and team setups moving through hubs such as Sölden, with its early-season race and park infrastructure, or the cross-border region of Oberstdorf–Kleinwalsertal, where German and Austrian terrain meet in one lift pass. These kinds of venues—high, snow-sure, with a mix of groomers, natural lines and park facilities—are exactly where directional Mantras, playful Revolts and lighter Blaze or Rise skis make the most sense.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Völkl’s construction philosophy blends traditional sandwich layups with modern materials and thoughtful details. Multilayer wood cores, often combining denser species underfoot with lighter woods toward tip and tail, are paired with metal laminates in skis like the Mantra and Racetiger lines for power and damping. 3D Glass, where fiberglass wraps vertically over the sidewalls in key zones, increases edge hold and rebound without making the ski unmanageably stiff. Sintered bases and robust edges complete a package designed to handle high speeds, hard snow and seasons of heavy use.

Freeride and freestyle models in the Revolt and Blaze families tweak that formula for their missions. They may use lighter core constructions, less or differently placed metal, and more pronounced rocker to encourage slashing, butters and soft-snow performance. At the same time, sidewalls and edges are reinforced to handle rail impacts, rocky entrances and deep landings in mixed snow. 3D Radius Sidecut appears across categories, giving many skis the ability to switch personality depending on how and where you pressure them.

On the sustainability side, Völkl has been progressively tightening its manufacturing footprint through initiatives sometimes grouped under “Völkl Cares.” The Straubing factory operates with an ISO 50001-certified energy management system and has cut water consumption significantly by recirculating grinding water in production. Hazardous substances such as dichloromethane have been phased out from key processes to reduce environmental and worker exposure. As part of Elevate Outdoor Collective, Völkl also sits under a broader climate roadmap that targets steep reductions in emissions by 2030 and long-term net-zero goals, supported by investments in cleaner energy, more efficient logistics and more circular packaging.

How to choose within the lineup

Choosing the right Völkl starts with an honest look at where and how you ski. If your winter revolves around groomers and you love carving, Racetiger and Deacon models are the logical starting point. Shorter-radius versions feel lively and quick edge-to-edge for skiers who enjoy snappy turns, while longer-radius or more race-inspired builds cater to those who value speed and stability above all else.

For advanced skiers who want one ski to handle steep pistes, chopped-up freeride lines and trips to snow-sure Alps, the Mantra and Secret family is the classic answer. Pick a waist width that matches your terrain—narrower for primarily on-piste with occasional off-piste; mid-90s to low-100s for true all-mountain use. If you like a more forgiving, lighter feel or spend time touring as well as riding lifts, Blaze models soften the flex and lighten the construction, straddling freeride and “freerando.”

Touring-focused skiers should look at the Rise series. Skis like the Rise Above 88 deliver a balance of low weight on the climb and dependable performance on the descent, with Smart Skinclip systems simplifying transitions. Here, width is a trade-off between uphill efficiency and soft-snow support; around 85–90 mm is the versatile middle ground for long, mixed-condition tours.

Park and creative riders will gravitate toward Revolt. Revolt 90 and 96 are purpose-built for rails, jumps and urban, with lengths and flex patterns tuned for progressive mount points and switch skiing. Revolt 104, 114 and 121 target skiers who want to take that creativity into soft snow and big terrain. When choosing, think about how much time you actually spend in the park versus natural features, how playful you want the ski to feel, and whether you prioritize support at speed or easy pivots in tight spaces.

Why riders care

Riders care about Völkl because it combines old-school credibility with modern versatility. Few brands can point to a century of continuous ski production in the same town, podiums across World Cup, Olympics and Freeride World Tour, and at the same time a deep, genuine presence in street and park culture. When you click into a Mantra, Revolt, Blaze or Rise, you are stepping into a lineage that has been refined by engineers and riders who spend their lives in the mountains.

For the skipowd.tv community, that matters in concrete ways. The skis you see under athletes in halfpipe edits, big-mountain films and Austrian resort guides are the same models you can put on your own feet. Built Together means those products are shaped by the people actually skiing them at the highest levels, not just by spreadsheets. And behind the topsheets, the Straubing factory and Elevate Outdoor Collective’s sustainability push suggest that the brand is thinking about how to keep making skis responsibly for the next hundred years.

Ultimately, Völkl occupies a rare position: a global leader that still feels rooted in a specific place and culture, with products that express that mix of precision, power and creativity. Whether you’re railing morning corduroy, dropping a Freeride World Tour face in your dreams, or sessioning a park rail line until dark, there is almost certainly a Völkl in the lineup built to match the way you want to ski.