"New Looks in Ski Eqpt" (NY Times, 1983)

[ctenidae]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9E03E2DD1138F935A25752C0A965948260

Ballet skis, bold graphics, and hot new rear-entry boots!

 

[wa-loaf]

Who knew Merrell made ski boots? :-o

How did that ballet thing workout in the 88 olympics? :lol:

 

[ckofer]

Meanwhile, integrated ski brakes that are fully retractable have become standard in the industry.

I'll bet there are enough of old bastids here on the list who remember thinking the brakes were very cool.

 

[Talisman]

I'll bet there are enough of old bastids here on the list who remember thinking the brakes were very cool.

I thought intergral ski brakes were very cool and much better than the straps in use at the time. Of course I also thought rear entry boots were cool and owned a pair of those, I stand by that decision as foolish as it looks now. I can proudly say I never owned a pair of ballet skis by Hart or any other manufacturer. The Rossi VAS ski was pretty good in the day and I would ski on my brother's VAS skis when he wasn't looking.

Sadly, I must be one of the 'old bastids'.

 

[andyzee]

I've always appreciated a good Ski Hummer

 

[tree_skier]

I remember adding a brake under my marker explodomats. Does that make me an old bastid?

Also skied in a pair of Solomon SX91 equipes (rear entry for you yungsta's that don't remember) The worst boots I have ever used. At the end of the season we had a melt down party and melted them next to a bon fire.

 

[billski]

good old straps

Meanwhile, integrated ski brakes that are fully retractable have become standard in the industry.

I'll bet there are enough of old bastids here on the list who remember thinking the brakes were very cool.

Yep. This old 2-planker thought they were pretty cool, but I remember when even older resort management refused to permit them, ( just like when boards came out.) Ski straps mandatory. I was beaten up and lacerated much worse by my skis flailing against me than any other type of fall. I would gladly walk back upslope to retrieve my boards than be victimized by them.

It was also a lot of fun to watch someone screw around with his/her boots whilst on the chairlift and have the binding release, ski dangling by the strap. Much harder to get off the lift on one ski with the other scraping behing, rather than one skiing off one alone.

Rear entry was the exlier for the fat-calf crowd, though I saw more RE boot break apart under the stress than actually survive a season. I do know one dude who just gave up RE last season when he finally succumed to a custom bootfitter.

Then again, I mourned the loss of the last poma lift at Okemo before they gentrified it. Fastest, most reliable lift around, but boy did you feel it the next daze...

 

[Goblin84]

nothing wrong with RE boots. I had a buddy break his foot and the only way he could ski was with RE's. He couldnt fit hit foot into his normal boots so RE all the way!

 

[wa-loaf]

Everytime this thread pops up I think it has something to do with skiing in Egypt. :dunce:

 

[jerryg]

Everytime this thread pops up I think it has something to do with skiing in Egypt. :dunce:

For some sweet dune skiing... naked, a la Plake? YIkes!

As for ballet, I think it actually made it past 88, but was still a demonstration event for Albertville, after which they pulled the plug. Moguls was the only one of the three to only have to serve on olympics as a demonstration sport. Ariels was demonstration in 88 as well as 92, but obviously faired far-better than ballet.

However, who didn't love... Suzy Chaffee?

 

[ckofer]

I remember adding a brake under my marker explodomats. Does that make me an old bastid?

Also skied in a pair of Solomon SX91 equipes (rear entry for you yungsta's that don't remember) The worst boots I have ever used. At the end of the season we had a melt down party and melted them next to a bon fire.

I never had a pair of SX91s but thought they viewed them with gear lust. Sometimes being broke saves you from disappointment.

And yes, just like me, you are an old bastid now.

 

[wa-loaf]

I never had a pair of SX91s but thought they viewed them with gear lust. Sometimes being broke saves you from disappointment.

And yes, just like me, you are an old bastid now.

Scott Schmitt skied them, they were hot back in the day. I had black and yellow flexon comps, I was more of a Glen Plake fan.