2019 K2 Boot Brand Profile

When K2 waltzed into the boot market six years ago, part of the story heralding its arrival was that its team required only 18 months to create a better boot line. There was a whiff of hubris to the claim, as if the marketing juggernaut was predestined to seize a...

2019 Fischer Boot Brand Profile

Fischer had a long and illustrious history as a ski maker before they decided to jump into the boot pool, despite said pool already being awash with brands. The focus of their debut models was an abducted (toes-out) stance, a clever idea it slightly overcooked,...

2019 Full Tilt Boot Brand Profile

Full Tilt has a habit of re-purposing existing components to create new models. It applied this method to cock up the Drop Kick out of a Classic shell and spiral liner, and went to the same playbook last year with the B&E Pro, mixing a Descendant 6 shell and...

2019 Blizzard

It’s hard to imagine Blizzard doing much better in the freeride domain, so in 2019 it applied its innovative energies to enhancing its prospects in the race and carving categories. The new Firebird series of race skis embellish their classic wood-and-Titanal sandwich...

Blizzard 2019 Brand Profile

Blizzard’s fortunes began to turn around several years ago when the Tecnica Group acquired the brand and factory in Mittersill, Austria, and pumped a few million euros into an overhaul. It’s often the case in the world of industry that he who builds the last factory...