2011 Trends

With another SIA marks another year of trends being marketed for us. So what trends are going out, what trends are coming in, and where will we all stand once the Armageddon of marketing hits us this fall? Here’s a look at the trends that are coming out for 2011.Banana, Flat Kick, Zero or whatever the company has dubbed its alternate camber will remain again for 2011. Straight camber is looking more and more like it’s becoming the minority as more and more companies work out the kinks and dial in their alternate camber. The big leap though comes from the companies utilizing micro cambers in the tips with reverse between the feet or cambered under foot with rocker in the tips. Expect to see a lot more companies touting this version.

Combo Platter Anyone?

Also in the land of new technology is more companies tweaking base designs. Bataleon has always been one of the companies at the forefront for this, but now others are joining the revolution. So we have more B.S. , TBT, and even a Combo Platter to choose from.

Speed is the key in the land of boots. More companies are offering boa or their take on speed lacing. If companies aren’t investing in their own speed zone they’re just licensing it from the bigger guys.

Bindings well other than normal upgrades and color changes nothing super revolutionary here. But for a good laugh check out this post.

Goggles are in for 2011. Sabre and Drop jump into the eyewear segment with some new snowlines, while others perfect what they’ve been doing for a while. Meanwhile Zeal optics offers a H.U.D in one of their goggles.

Drop Goggles and Gloves

On the fashion side of things the Tall Tee in the snowboard world is dying. Yes, sadly rocking a cotton ghetto gown is just not as fashionable as it once was. Expect the East Coast to rock this trend for another 5 years at which point they’ll discover the gypsy curse and turn to that. In outerwear neons are still present with some brands while others tone it down and bring on the earth tones. Fashionable function still reigns supreme with multiple companies making jackets and pants you can wear from the slopes to the apres. Looking like a reject from the Sunset Strip is still in so being a heroine junkie on the slopes has some pull. Gypsies have decided that they’re now Ice Pirates (yes just like that 80’s cult classic).

The effects of the recession have finally sunk in and the idea that you can charge 400 bucks for a jib board seems to have caused some companies to drop their prices across their lines. Big players like Burton and Forum have slashed their prices to make things a bit more affordable for those without platinum cards. While smaller companies like Omatic remain true to keeping their snowboards affordable while still having solid technology.

Green is still a huge issue especially now with more companies jumping on the bandwagon. Expect to see more outerwear, hard goods, and accessories pushing forward with trying to lessen their impact on the environment. Green is still the new black.

Venture Snowboards keeps it green

Solid points of marking are still “rider driven companies”, “by riders for riders”, and “putting the fun back in snowboarding”. So once again three things that probably don’t even effect the normal man. On a plus note it seems more companies are utilizing graphics that don’t pander to the teenage demographic.

So in a nutshell here’s what we have to look forward to with this upcoming season. Some stuff will work, some stuff won’t, and thank god night gowns on the slopes are going to disappear.