PERSPECTIVE by Kevin rolland

01:46 min • 29/01/2026

I’m back in the Halfpipe :) Cette fois-ci, sans dossard de compétition, mais avec le drone d’Arthur Maneint pour vous faire découvrir des perspectives de prise de vue inédites. Il est rare pour un athlète de halfpipe de continuer à rider sans faire de compétition. Et pourtant, c’est mon cas. Chaque année, j’ai besoin de ma petite dose de courbes. Les sensations que me procure le halfpipe, je ne les retrouve nulle part ailleurs. J’espère que ça vous plaira. 👍🤟👍 Réalisateur: @vecomvideo Producteur: @KevinRolland I’m back in the Halfpipe :) This time without a competition bib, but with Arthur Maneint’s drone to explore never-seen camera angles inside the pipe. It’s rare for a halfpipe athlete to keep riding without competing — and yet, that’s exactly my case. Every year, I need my small dose of curves. The feeling the halfpipe gives me is something I can’t find anywhere else. I hope you’ll enjoy it.🤟👍🤟 Réalisateur: @vecomvideo Producteur: @KevinRolland ------------------------------------- 🔔✅N'oublie pas de liker 👍, commenter 💬 et partager la vidéo ! 📢 Et surtout, abonne-toi à la chaîne pour ne rien manquer de nos prochaines aventures ! 😉

Half-pipe

Athletes

Kévin Rolland

Locations

Laax

Kévin Rolland

Profile and significance

Kévin Rolland is one of the defining French athletes of modern freeski halfpipe: a rider who helped push the event from “new-school curiosity” into a fully professional, Olympic-level discipline. Born in 1989 in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie) and developed through the mountains around La Plagne, he became a rare blend of early prodigy and long-haul competitor—someone who kept returning to the top tier across multiple eras of trick progression, judging trends, and equipment changes.

His résumé is anchored by a bronze medal at the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, along with major titles in the world championship and World Cup ecosystem, and multiple wins at the Winter X Games in the United States. Those results matter, but so does the timing: Rolland’s peak years overlapped with the period when halfpipe skiing was standardizing its technical language—how amplitude, rotation, grabs, and “use of the pipe” were scored—and when the global training pipeline for halfpipe athletes was becoming more structured. He isn’t just “successful”; he’s a reference point for how elite halfpipe skiing is supposed to look when it’s big, controlled, and complete.

Competitive arc and key venues

Rolland entered the Freestyle Ski World Cup in 2005 at 16, then stepped quickly into championship territory: junior world champion in 2007 (Airolo, Switzerland) and senior world champion in 2009 (Inawashiro, Japan) in ski halfpipe. Over the next decade-plus, he remained a constant in the sport’s most important arenas, winning the halfpipe crystal globe in 2009, 2016, and 2017—evidence of season-long consistency rather than one-off peak form.

On the showcase side of freeski, his name is closely associated with X Games halfpipe battles in Aspen Snowmass, where he won the event in 2010, 2011, and 2016. He also doubled up with victories at X Games Europe hosted in Tignes in 2010 and 2011, which helped cement the Alps as a legitimate stage for the same high-pressure, high-consequence halfpipe skiing traditionally seen in North America.

The Olympic storyline is equally central. At Sochi 2014—where men’s ski halfpipe made its Olympic debut—Rolland earned bronze, opening a new chapter in how freeski halfpipe athletes were perceived outside the core action-sports audience. Later Olympic appearances included PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, where he returned to place sixth in the halfpipe final and served as co-flag bearer for France at the opening ceremony. His last World Championships start listed by the FIS came in 2023 at Bakuriani, where he finished seventh in the men’s freeski halfpipe final—an end-of-era result that still reads as elite, given the depth and difficulty of the modern field.

How they ski: what to watch for

When Rolland is “on,” the first thing you notice is the scale: he’s built for amplitude, and he uses that height to make his run look calm instead of rushed. In halfpipe judging, big air alone isn’t enough—athletes need clean takeoffs, stable axis control through rotation, and landings that keep speed for the next wall. Rolland’s best runs are a clinic in that rhythm: he carries pace without appearing to chase it, and he tends to make difficult tricks look slower, which is often a sign of real control rather than cautious skiing.

Watch his approach to grabs and presentation. In freeski, a “spun” trick can still feel incomplete if the grab is short, late, or unstable. Rolland has long been associated with runs where grabs are integrated rather than tacked on, and where the trick selection feels designed as a full composition—left and right spins balanced, direction changes that read clearly, and enough variety that the run doesn’t blur into repetition. That kind of structure matters as much today as ever, even with the rapid escalation of trick difficulty in big air and slopestyle: halfpipe is still the discipline where style and clarity are easiest to compare head-to-head.

For fans learning how to evaluate halfpipe skiing, Rolland is also a useful case study in “use of the pipe.” Look for how far up the wall he travels, how consistent his air is from hit to hit, and whether he maintains line discipline so the run stays symmetrical. When he’s skiing well, his runs tend to look like they were drawn with a ruler—clean transitions, minimal chatter, and speed that remains intact all the way through.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Rolland’s influence isn’t only competitive. He became part of the public face of freeski halfpipe for a broader audience—both through Olympic visibility and through the way his name appears in projects that try to translate mountain sports for non-specialists. A concrete example is his inclusion as one of the athletes featured by Ubisoft around the “Road to the Olympics” expansion for Steep, reflecting how recognizable he had become as a representative of high-level freestyle skiing.

Just as important is the resilience narrative, because it’s verifiable and it shaped the second half of his career. In May 2019, Rolland suffered a severe training crash at home in La Plagne with multiple fractures, lung injury, and head trauma, spending days in a coma and being told he might never ski again. The comeback wasn’t an abstract “feel-good” storyline; it was a return to the top layer of the sport, culminating in a sixth-place Olympic finish in 2022. That arc matters in freeski culture because halfpipe progression is inherently risky—athletes are constantly negotiating the line between pushing difficulty and preserving the ability to compete for years.

Influence can also be seen closer to home. French freeski has produced a deep generation of slopestyle and big air talent, but halfpipe specialists are rarer, and Rolland’s longevity helped keep that pathway visible in France. Even for skiers who don’t ride halfpipe, his career is a reminder that technical progression is not only about the newest trick; it’s also about how long you can keep performing under pressure, and how well you can rebuild after a major interruption.

Geography that built the toolkit

Rolland’s story is inseparable from the geography of the Alps. Coming from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and representing the Club des Sports of La Plagne, he developed in a region where access to terrain, lift infrastructure, and a strong winter-sport culture can create an unusually high training volume. For halfpipe skiers, that volume matters: the discipline is as much about repetition and timing as it is about raw courage. The more days you spend in a pipe, the more precisely you learn the invisible details—where to pump for speed, how to manage the lip, how to land without washing out, and how to keep the run smooth even when the pipe wall is cut differently from venue to venue.

At the same time, his competitive circuit put him repeatedly on the most influential halfpipe venues in the world, especially the North American resorts that hosted major World Cup and championship events. Places like Park City Mountain, Copper Mountain, Deer Valley, and Mammoth Mountain each have their own snowpack, weather patterns, and pipe characteristics, and the athletes who last across many seasons are usually the ones who can adjust quickly. Rolland’s record across different years and venues suggests exactly that adaptability: a skier who could bring his own style while still meeting the technical demands of whichever pipe he was handed.

For viewers, this geographic mix is a clue to understanding his skiing: part Alpine freeride sensibility (big mountains, strong edges, comfort with speed), part contest professionalism (precision, routine building, performance under lights). That combination is a common thread among long-lived freeski champions, and Rolland fits it cleanly.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

At the elite halfpipe level, equipment is less about gimmicks and more about repeatability: boots that transmit edge pressure instantly, bindings that stay consistent across cold swings, and skis that feel stable on landings while still releasing cleanly on takeoff. In Rolland’s publicly listed competition setup, his boots are associated with Dalbello. That’s a practical detail for progressing skiers: halfpipe demands a boot that can absorb repeated impacts without becoming vague, while still allowing enough ankle articulation to stay centered in transitions.

Halfpipe also magnifies any weaknesses in fit. If your heel lifts, you lose precision on the wall. If your stance is too far back, you’ll fight to keep speed. Rolland’s longevity is a reminder that fundamentals—boot fit, alignment, and consistent tuning—often matter more than chasing a “pro model” aesthetic. Even strong park skiers can feel lost in a pipe until their gear feels predictable from edge to edge, hit to hit.

Another takeaway is how top halfpipe skiers manage training load. Rolland’s career included periods of high competitive density, major goals around Olympic cycles, and a return after serious injury. That kind of timeline typically requires disciplined equipment choices: fewer experimental changes mid-season, and more emphasis on what lets the athlete trust the setup. For anyone trying to improve, the lesson is simple: stability builds confidence, and confidence lets you ski with speed and commitment—which is the true currency of halfpipe.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans care about Kévin Rolland because his career sits at the crossroads of freestyle skiing’s biggest transitions: the Olympic arrival of ski halfpipe, the escalation of technical difficulty, and the increasing professionalism of training and competition. He won at the highest levels in multiple formats—World Championships, World Cup seasons, X Games, and the Olympics—while maintaining a recognizable style built around amplitude, clarity, and run composition.

Progressing skiers can learn from him because his story highlights what actually separates “good” from “world-class” in a pipe. It’s not only the hardest trick; it’s the ability to repeat difficult runs with control, keep the run readable, and land in a way that preserves speed and intent. Add in the comeback after a major crash and the return to an Olympic final, and you get a rare example of the full freeski skill set: technical mastery, competitive composure, and the patience to rebuild. If you’re watching halfpipe to understand the sport—not just the highlights—Rolland is one of the clearest reference points of the modern era.

Laax

Overview and significance

LAAX, part of the Flims Laax Falera ski area in Switzerland’s Graubünden, is widely regarded as Europe’s leading freestyle stronghold. The mountain hub at Crap Sogn Gion sits above the base village of Laax Murschetg and anchors an entire ecosystem built around park, pipe, and progressive riding. LAAX’s identity is inseparable from its event pedigree and infrastructure. The resort hosts the LAAX OPEN each January, a long-running FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Cup stop that draws a global roster and keeps course design at world standard. For everyday skiers, the headline is simple: few resorts on earth are as consistently tuned for slopestyle laps, halfpipe progression, and creative line choice.

What sets LAAX apart is how the freestyle focus permeates everything from terrain build and daily maintenance to how crowds move across the mountain. The resort doesn’t just add a park to a piste map; it builds entire traffic patterns and amenities around freestyle flow. That’s why you’ll hear people speak of it as a destination in itself, not just a stop in a larger Swiss itinerary. For freeskiers looking to log high-quality repetitions on features that mirror competition standards, LAAX is the benchmark.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

The lift network rises from base areas in Flims, Laax, and Falera to a broad high-alpine plateau around Crap Sogn Gion, with access to multiple aspects and a variety of wind exposures. Winter operations typically run from late November into mid-April, with exact dates adjusted annually based on snow and lift schedules. Upper-mountain zones frequently sit well above 2,000 meters, and on cold cycles the snow stays chalky and fast—ideal for park and pipe maintenance. On warmer spells, LAAX’s experienced shaping and grooming teams keep takeoffs and landings trustworthy through daily rebuilds and salt cycles.

Big-storm days steer many skiers toward lee-side stashes and wind-buffed gullies off the ridges; on bluebird resets, you’ll find crisp groomers for speed checks between park sessions. Off-piste terrain quickly graduates to avalanche-prone slopes; those who venture beyond marked runs must treat it as backcountry with full equipment and knowledge. When the high alpine is closed for wind, mid-mountain park lines and sheltered pistes remain the reliable plan B.

Park infrastructure and events

LAAX operates multiple dedicated parks and lines built for different skill levels and session goals. The centerpiece is the superpipe on Crap Sogn Gion—nicknamed “The Beast.” Official resort materials put it at roughly 200 meters in length, around 22 meters wide, and up to 6.9 meters high, making it the largest competition-ready halfpipe in the world and a season-long draw for national teams and private camps. For skiers, the pipe’s defining qualities are consistent walls, true entries, and speed that holds across the flat—essentials for learning new tricks safely.

Beyond the pipe, Snowpark LAAX spreads its features across zones that include the legendary NoName area and the Ils Plauns sector between Crap Sogn Gion and Alp Dado. The resort advertises five snowparks with more than ninety obstacles at peak build, including an Olympic-size pro kicker line, medium jump lines, jib gardens with progressive rails and boxes, and specialized learning areas. The point isn’t just quantity; it’s how the features are grouped to create repeatable, meaningful laps. LAAX’s slopestyle lines routinely echo FIS course spacing and landing geometry, which helps competition-focused skiers translate practice into results.

Every January, the LAAX OPEN brings World Cup slopestyle and halfpipe to the resort, with broadcast-ready venues and festival energy in the base area. The event’s longevity has shaped the local build culture; course shapers refine kicker radii, rail placement, and speed control with the same discipline used for the contest, then keep those lessons alive through the rest of the season. Year-round progression is reinforced by the Freestyle Academy, an indoor facility in the destination where skiers cross-train on trampolines and ramps for safe aerial practice before taking tricks to snow.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Travel is straightforward from Zürich. Take the SBB rail to Chur and connect by PostBus to Laax; from Chur, the bus ride is typically under an hour. Base services are split between Flims and Laax, but most park skiers gravitate to the lifts out of Laax Murschetg, where the rocksresort sits steps from the gondola, offering ski-in/ski-out apartments, food options, and after-lap amenities. Tickets are sold on a dynamic pricing model via the resort’s shop; booking earlier or avoiding peak holiday windows commonly yields better value.

Once on snow, the flow centers on Crap Sogn Gion. From there, you can choose fast laps through the NoName zone, route toward Ils Plauns for varied jibs and medium kickers, or head higher when conditions allow. A critical part of LAAX’s efficiency is how uplift lines feed parks without cumbersome traverses. Keep an eye on the resort’s live info for lift and park status, as wind holds at altitude can shift the best lap choices during a given day.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

LAAX’s culture is unapologetically freestyle-first. Cafés and meeting spots at park entrances, notably Caffè NoName, create a community feel where pros and locals mix. With that scene comes shared etiquette. In the pipe, call your drop clearly and wait until the previous rider exits. On slopestyle lines, never stop on landings or knuckles, and re-merge only below blind spots. Speed management is part of the craft here; if you’re uncertain about a hit, side-slip out safely rather than forcing it. Park staff are visible and approachable—use them for updates on feature wax, salt, or speed on warmer afternoons.

For freeride zones beyond marked runs, treat the terrain as avalanche country. Check the daily bulletin, carry beacon, shovel, and probe, and make conservative choices when wind loading and temperature swings are in play. Respect rope lines—closures often reflect grooming or build work, not just safety hazards, and ducking them damages the features everyone relies on.

Best time to go and how to plan

For park skiers, two windows stand out. Early season, once upper lifts and first lines are ready, delivers low-traffic laps and pliable snow for dialing speed. The heart of winter around the LAAX OPEN offers the best chance to see World Cup venues in action and benefit from contest-level builds, though crowds and accommodation prices rise accordingly. Spring brings longer days and forgiving landings, with the shapers maintaining lips and rails for all-day sessions when freeze–thaw cycles take hold.

Plan accommodation as close to the Laax base as budgets allow to maximize lap count. Preload your ticket in the app and check the resort’s live park status before committing to a sector. If you’re progressing flips or new spins, split sessions between the indoor Freestyle Academy and on-snow attempts to minimize risk. For day-to-day details—operating hours, transport, and current events—use the official Flims Laax and LAAX pages, and consult Getting There for the Zürich–Chur–Laax route overview.

Why freeskiers care

Freeskiers come to LAAX for repetition, reliability, and relevance. Repetition means you can lap slopestyle lines and the superpipe quickly, linking attempts into meaningful progress. Reliability means the shaping team keeps features true and the snow surface predictable even when the weather swings. Relevance means the design language on these hills mirrors what you’ll meet at major contests, from rail deck angles to trickable transfer lines to the timing of pro kickers. Add the community energy around Caffè NoName, the convenience of the rocksresort base area, and the pathway from the Freestyle Academy to world-class parks, and you have a destination that turns ambition into results. Whether you’re a film-focused rider building a trick list or a competitor hunting cleaner finals runs, LAAX provides the environment to make it happen.

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

IZIPIZI is a French eyewear brand created in 2010 and designed in Paris. It built its reputation by making everyday vision products feel approachable: frames that look good, cost less than traditional premium eyewear, and are easy to live with. In ski culture, that “daily object” mindset matters more than it sounds. You touch eyewear constantly—taking it on and off in lift lines, wiping snow crystals, swapping from goggles to sunglasses on spring days—so the brands that win long-term trust are the ones that feel practical, not precious.

While IZIPIZI became widely known through lifestyle ranges such as reading glasses and classic sunglasses, it also built a sports offering with snow-focused products. The sports range launched in 2017, and the brand later developed snow eyewear including glacier sunglasses and the SNOW goggle line. For skiers and snowboarders, the promise is straightforward: functional vision protection with a clean, friendly design language—gear that feels at home on chairlifts, in the parking lot, and in a café after skiing.

In 2023, IZIPIZI became B Corp certified, adding a recognizable third-party standard to its public commitments around social and environmental impact. For riders who think about durability, materials and footprint, it is one of the clearer signals that the brand is trying to measure and improve what it does, not just talk about it.

Product lines and key technologies

For skiing and snowboarding, the core products are the SNOW goggles, offered in adult and junior versions. On its ski and snowboard category page, IZIPIZI frames these goggles around comfort, style and UV lenses with categories suited to mountain weather. The adult range is presented with three lens families matched to conditions: an “all weather” lens for versatile visibility in mixed light, a “good weather” lens for bright, sunny days, and a “low light” lens for fog, snowfall and flat light. The brand publishes visible light transmission values on its goggle product pages, which helps you choose based on real light levels rather than guesswork.

The construction details are also skier-relevant. The SNOW goggles use a double-lens concept with anti-fog treatment and a bi-material design intended to limit condensation on the inside of the lens. The brand also specifies a polyurethane frame designed to resist impacts and thermal shocks, a 15 mm thermoformed face foam shaped for comfort over long sessions, and an adjustable strap with anti-slip silicone to stay stable on helmets. Fit is a key part of the pitch: the goggles are designed to be worn over prescription eyewear and to fit helmets widely, so you do not have to solve compatibility with a separate “OTG-only” purchase.

Alongside goggles, the brand’s glacier sunglasses target high-glare environments. In its sports range, IZIPIZI describes glacier sunglasses as being designed especially for snow sports, with strong UV protection and lens categories intended for intense light. In practice, they are the tool for spring touring, bootpacks, ridge hikes, and the kinds of warm resort days when goggles feel too enclosed but you still need serious glare management off reflective snow.

Beyond the snow category page, the outdoor sports lineup includes wraparound and side-shield styles that overlap with ski touring and mountain use. For example, ZENITH is described with a wide field of vision, a wraparound frame for wind and peripheral protection, and versions offered with category 3 lenses and even category 4 lenses intended for intense light. On some models, the brand lists bio-sourced frame material and removable side shells, which are practical features when you are moving fast, sweating, and dealing with side glare.

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

On snow, IZIPIZI aims for a comfortable, confidence-first feel rather than a race-only or ultralight approach. The SNOW goggles are designed for riders who spend full days outside: resort skiers who lap groomers and side hits, families who move between lessons and chairlifts, and freeride-minded skiers who mix short hikes with lift-served off-piste. The priorities are the ones that make a goggle disappear on your face: steady fit, face comfort, and a lens that stays clear when your body heat and the weather are fighting each other.

Lens choice is the biggest performance lever. If you ski a typical winter mix—clouds, sun breaks, and the occasional storm—the all-weather option is the simple “leave it on” solution. If your season is built around high-pressure weeks, spring corn, and high-altitude sunshine, the good-weather lens is the choice that reduces squinting and eye fatigue when the snow surface becomes a mirror. If you chase storms, ski in trees, or spend time in the kind of flat light that makes every roll-over look like a cliff, a low-light lens is the tool that keeps terrain definition when shadows disappear.

Glacier sunglasses fill a different role. They are for uphill travel and sunny days when airflow and comfort matter, and they make sense for touring transitions when goggles would trap heat. They are also useful off the hill for driving through bright valleys after skiing, when you want proper UV protection without switching into a purely casual fashion frame. For riders who like to keep gear simple, the brand’s snow-oriented offer creates a coherent system: goggles for storms and speed, glacier sunglasses for sun and movement, and everyday sunglasses for the moments in between.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

IZIPIZI has built credibility in freeski culture by working with athletes and using that feedback to shape the snow range. A flagship example is its partnership with halfpipe star Kevin Rolland and the SNOW x Kevin Rolland pro model. The brand describes that model as sharing the technical characteristics of the goggle it developed in 2018, emphasizing details that matter for hard riding: thermoformed foam designed for comfort over long sessions and anti-slip elements in the strap to hold fit in demanding situations.

The same brand story that highlights Rolland also places him in a broader freeski ambassador group that includes slopestyle and freeride riders. That matters because snow eyewear is judged in the messy conditions that marketing photos cannot show: pressure changes on cold chairlifts, sweat during bootpacks, snow crystals in wind, and the constant abuse of stuffing goggles into backpacks between laps. When a brand makes ambassadors a visible part of the story, it is at least acknowledging that the details riders complain about—fog, fit drift, pressure points—are the real battlefield.

Beyond elite competition, the brand also profiles mountain professionals and instructors inside its community content. Instructors log huge numbers of hours in mixed conditions and have little patience for gear that shifts, pinches, or fogs. That kind of everyday credibility is valuable for progressing skiers: it suggests the eyewear was chosen for real workdays, not only for podium photos or content shoots.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

The creative roots are in Paris, and you can feel that in the aesthetic: clean shapes, playful color, and an intention to look good in everyday life as well as on snow. But the snow identity is very Alpine. The brand’s community storytelling and ambassador profiles are anchored in French mountain regions and resort ecosystems—places where you experience every kind of light problem in a single day.

Resorts such as Courchevel and Les Arcs are good examples of why lens categories and fog control matter. You can go from bright ridgelines to shaded forests, from windy connections to warm base areas, and from calm groomers to humid snowfall—all in the same session. Those constant shifts are exactly what stress-test goggles: if condensation forms, you lose terrain reading; if the strap slips on a helmet, you start fiddling when you should be skiing.

On the high-alpine side, destinations such as Chamonix connect directly to the glacier sunglasses concept. In and around glaciated terrain and reflective snowfields, glare management becomes more than comfort—it is a basic safety need. That is the environment where high-category lenses and side protection make immediate sense for touring approaches, ridge hikes, and spring missions.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Durability in eyewear is partly about materials and partly about the small, repetitive abuses of a ski season. Foam must keep its shape after wet-dry cycles, straps must hold tension after being stretched over helmets every day, and lenses must resist fog and moisture when your temperature swings from sub-zero chairlifts to heated buildings. On its ski category pages, IZIPIZI describes a polyurethane structure built to handle impacts and thermal shock, plus a double anti-fog lens approach designed to keep visibility stable on-piste. For buyers, those are the core durability signals that matter more than flashy coatings: stable fit, stable clarity, and a frame that survives cold and occasional crashes.

On the sunglasses side, the brand increasingly ties sustainability to performance materials. For certain outdoor models, it specifies frame compositions that include bio-sourced polyamide derived from castor oil, chosen for lightness, flexibility and resistance to impact and perspiration. In cold air, a frame that remains flexible and comfortable is not just a “nice to have”; it is part of whether you keep the glasses on when the wind picks up and the pace increases.

At a company level, B Corp certification and public reporting create accountability beyond a single product. IZIPIZI states an ambition to move production toward fully bio-sourced materials, describing progress already made by the end of 2024 and setting a target for the end of 2025. For skiers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you like the style and fit, you can also choose the brand for a longer-term materials direction that it has chosen to state publicly and measure over time.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with the conditions you actually ski. If you mostly ride lifts in winter weather, prioritize goggles first, because fog control and helmet fit are the two things sunglasses cannot solve. The SNOW line is the straightforward entry point for resort skiing, freeride laps and everyday family days. If you also tour, hike, or spend lots of time in bright spring conditions, add glacier sunglasses as a second tool for airflow and glare management.

Within goggles, lens category is the key decision. If you want one lens to cover most days, an all-weather option is the safest default. If your favorite days are bright, high-contrast and high-glare, the good-weather lens is the choice that can reduce eye fatigue and improve comfort. If you spend a lot of time in storms, trees, fog, or “flat light” bowls, a low-light lens is the best way to keep definition when the snow surface loses shadows. Fit is the other decision: look at size guidance and choose the version that matches your helmet, face shape and whether you wear prescription glasses.

For sunglasses, choose based on coverage and light. If you are regularly around reflective snowfields or at higher altitudes, prioritize high-category lenses and side protection for comfort and safety. If your day includes driving and mixed reflections, a polarised lens can be a comfort choice. In every case, the simplest approach is to match the tool to the session: goggles for storm and speed, glacier sunglasses for sun and movement, and everyday sunglasses for the moments in between.

Why riders care

Riders care about IZIPIZI because it treats eyewear as both a technical necessity and a daily object you live with. On the hill, the SNOW goggles and glacier sunglasses focus on fundamentals—UV protection, fog reduction, stable fit, and lens categories that map to real mountain conditions—without forcing a hyper-race aesthetic. The products are positioned to be approachable for families and for progressing riders, but still credible enough to be associated with high-level freeski performance.

Off the hill, the same brand identity carries into travel, après and city life, which is why the eyewear shows up naturally in ski towns: it is easy to pack, easy to wear, and not overly precious. Add an ambassador presence rooted in real snow use and a serious sustainability signal through B Corp certification, and you get a brand that makes sense for skiers who want dependable vision now and a clearer, publicly stated direction for materials and impact over time.

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

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.

Brand overview and significance

WATTS is a French action-sports clothing brand that sits at the crossroads of surf culture, freeski energy, and modern mountain style. The label often explains its identity through the phrase “WAves To The Snow,” and that idea is reflected in its seasonal range: technical winter outerwear alongside lifestyle, surf, and skate pieces designed for the same community mindset. In skiing, WATTS is best known for bold graphics, strong colorways, and a “ride crew” vibe—while still insisting on technical construction for real winter use.

Public trade coverage places the brand’s emergence in the early 2010s, describing WATTS as created in January 2012 by Laurent Brito and Manuel Marlot, with an early positioning that mixed skiwear, beachwear, and street culture. The brand’s own storytelling leans into that origin with a surf-first narrative that expands naturally into snow. For riders, the significance is simple: WATTS targets people who want outerwear that looks distinctive in edits and on chairlifts, but is still built for long days in bad weather.

Product lines and key technologies

WATTS’ winter offer centers on ski and snowboard clothing: jackets, pants, insulated layers, and accessories intended to cover a full resort setup. Within the snow range, the brand highlights a more technical segment under its Ski Tech collection, where it states that jackets and pants are equipped with a 4-way stretch Dupore-X membrane rated 20K/20K for waterproofing and breathability. In the broader ski and snowboard category, the brand also describes using Dupore-X at 10K/10K on some products, positioned as more versatile for milder weather or dual mountain-and-city use.

Beyond membranes, WATTS product descriptions consistently emphasize functional alpine details—things that matter when it’s snowing sideways and you’re still stacking laps. Depending on the piece, this can include seam sealing, storm hoods, waterproof zippers, ventilation, and rider-oriented storage such as ski-pass pockets. The brand also frames its winter system as layer-friendly: it references pairing more protective outerwear (including 3-layer options for colder adventures) with technical base layers, fleeces, and lightweight insulated pieces for temperature control across changing conditions.

Outside winter, WATTS sells lifestyle and warm-weather ranges (streetwear and surf), which matters for ski travelers who want a consistent brand identity year-round. Those categories also make the brand’s material direction easier to read: WATTS describes many everyday garments as using organic cotton and frequently mentions recycled polyester blends in items such as fleeces, sherpas, and certain streetwear pieces.

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

WATTS is built for riders who want performance without disappearing into a sea of neutral shells. The visual language is unapologetically graphic, and the cuts tend to feel modern and active—an approach that fits all-mountain resort days where you might carve groomers in the morning, dip into freeride terrain after lunch, then finish with a few park laps before après. The frequent emphasis on 4-way stretch in the snow line also signals a clear preference: freedom of movement for skiing switch, grabbing, popping side hits, and generally moving like a freeski rider rather than a purely static alpine commuter.

In practice, the lineup maps well to three common use-cases. First is classic storm-resort skiing, where WATTS’ stated 20K/20K membrane platform (in Ski Tech) is intended to handle wet snowfall, wind, and chairlift exposure without soaking through or trapping sweat. Second is spring and mixed conditions, where lighter outerwear—sometimes positioned by the brand around 10K/10K—can cover warm laps, slushy park days, and travel-friendly daily wear. Third is a colder, more technical day: riders who bootpack, hike short ridgelines, or ski variable snow can lean toward more protective construction and layer underneath, especially if choosing 3-layer pieces referenced by the brand for “extreme cold” style missions.

Because WATTS builds men’s, women’s, and kids’ ranges, it also works for families or mixed groups who want comparable weather protection across riders rather than a single “technical” kit for one person and casual layers for everyone else. Overall, the feel is freeride and freeski adjacent, but approachable for motivated intermediates who want a reliable, distinctive winter setup.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

The most visible athlete-facing expression of WATTS is its collaboration work, particularly the capsule created with freestyle skier Kevin Rolland. On its capsule presentation, the brand frames the project as “for skiers, by skiers,” and presents Rolland as a world champion and Olympic medalist in ski halfpipe—an explicit signal that WATTS wants credibility in the freeski competition world, not just in fashion. Collaboration product pages also repeat the technical positioning (notably 20K/20K membrane claims and stretch construction) as part of the story behind performance-driven designs.

Reputation-wise, WATTS occupies a specific niche: technical-looking outerwear with loud identity, rooted in action-sports culture rather than traditional alpine minimalism. That matters because, for many riders, jackets and pants aren’t just protection—they’re part of how you show up in the park, in street-style travel days, and in filmed sessions. WATTS’ approach is to make “graphic” compatible with “technical,” so you can wear a standout kit while still getting the practical build features that modern skiing demands.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

WATTS anchors its origin story in the French Atlantic lifestyle, and it directly references the culture of surf trips and shared sessions around Seignosse. That ocean-first heritage is unusual for a ski clothing label, but it explains why WATTS leans into “team” language and a community-forward tone: the brand identity is built around moving between scenes, not belonging to only one mountain town.

On the snow side, the design brief clearly aligns with the demands of big European winters: variable temperatures, wet storms, wind on lifts, and the need for breathability when you’re working hard. Large, high-altitude destinations like Val d’Isère represent the kind of environment where a 20K/20K stretch membrane is actually tested by reality—long days, changing weather, and repeated laps. The Kevin Rolland collaboration also naturally points toward alpine freeski culture tied to La Plagne, reinforcing that WATTS wants to speak to riders who treat the mountains as a training ground, not just a holiday backdrop.

For traveling riders building a European circuit, mentioning places like Zermatt helps frame the intended use-case: high-altitude snow, strong winds, and days that mix groomers, freeride lines, and park laps. WATTS’ promise—mobility plus protection—only matters if it holds up in those mixed, real-world resort conditions.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Construction in the snow range is framed around weather sealing and movement. WATTS repeatedly positions Dupore-X membranes as the core of its waterproof/breathable strategy, pairing that with stretch textiles to reduce restriction when you’re skiing dynamically. Many outerwear descriptions highlight seam sealing, storm hoods, and waterproof zippers, and some pieces include practical mountain details like powder skirts, pass pockets, and ventilation—small elements that determine whether a jacket feels like a true ski tool or just a styled shell.

Durability is difficult to “prove” from marketing alone, but there are signals riders can use. Outerwear that is fully seam sealed, uses robust zipper protection, and is built around higher waterproof/breathable claims is generally better suited to frequent resort use than lighter fashion-first layers. WATTS also positions certain products as rider-approved essentials, suggesting it designs with repeated wear and hard conditions in mind—even if exact lab durability metrics are not publicly standardized across the lineup.

On sustainability, the clearest brand statements appear in lifestyle categories rather than in technical ski shells. WATTS describes many tees and sweats as organic cotton, and it regularly mentions recycled polyester—sometimes referenced as coming from recycled bottles—in items such as fleeces, sherpas, and certain streetwear pieces. If sustainability is a priority, the most honest approach is to choose product-by-product and prioritize the garments where WATTS explicitly states recycled or organic material content, rather than assuming every winter outerwear piece uses the same material story.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with conditions. If your winter is mostly cold and dry, and you want a jacket that can double as city outerwear, the pieces WATTS positions around 10K/10K can be a practical choice—especially for spring skiing, park sessions, and travel days. If you regularly ride storms, warm snowfall, or coastal moisture where getting soaked ruins the day, look first at the Ski Tech outerwear built around the stated 20K/20K Dupore-X membrane platform. That decision alone often determines whether you stay dry on long lifts and in slow, snowy transitions.

Next, decide between insulation and a shell mindset. If you run cold, spend a lot of time filming, or ski at lower intensity, an insulated jacket can simplify layering. If you ride hard, hike, or want flexibility across temperatures, a lighter shell or 3-layer style paired with technical base layers and a midlayer usually regulates heat better. Fit matters too: WATTS leans toward athletic silhouettes, so if you prefer an oversized park look, you’ll want to pay extra attention to sizing and layering room.

Finally, choose based on the details that improve everyday comfort. A true storm hood and high collar matter in wind. Venting matters when you sweat. A powder skirt matters if you’re landing in deep snow. Those features are where style becomes function, and they’re also where WATTS tries to justify being taken seriously as a ski brand, not only a graphics brand.

Why riders care

WATTS matters to riders because it offers a rare combination: expressive design that feels personal, plus technical construction intended for real winter days. The surf-to-snow identity isn’t just a slogan—it explains why the brand speaks in “crew” terms, why its aesthetics feel at home in freeski culture, and why it builds winter pieces meant to move with you rather than restrict you. For skiers and snowboarders who want all-mountain outerwear that stands out, stays functional in bad weather, and fits a year-round action-sports lifestyle, WATTS is a distinct option with a clear point of view.