Black Diamond Introduces
Tele and AT Boot Line At Ski Media "Boot Camp"
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January 3, 2008-- Culminating a three year project in which
the Utah-based outdoor gear maker invested some six to seven
million dollars, Black Diamond Equipment introduced its new telemark
and AT boot line to the ski media yesterday at company headquarters
here in Salt Lake City. BD presented three tele boots in its
"power" series, the Custom, Push and Stiletto, along
with three more tele boots in the "efficient" series,
the Seeker, Trance and Axis. On the alpine touring side, BD unveiled
three boots in the "power" category, the Factor, Methos
and Shiva, and we are told that additional AT "efficient
series" models are in the works.
Ski line manager Thomas Laakso
details features of BD's new boot line. Ph: Mitch Weber
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The backbone of Black Diamond's
new boot shells is in what BD calls its "Triax Frame."
The tele boot frames are divided into three categories: Triax-Pro,
Triax-Performance and Triax-Tour. The AT boot frames are divided
into two categories: Triax-Pro and Triax-Performance frames,
BD says that both feature high torsional stiffness for lateral
power transfer.
In its tele boots, BD says it has
designed with each model with either a RidStiff, MidStiff or
FreeFlex bellows for an "optimized level of stiffness and
performance where the stiffness of the cuff and bellows work
in harmony."
.
BD's Custom is their top of the
line, aggro tele boot. It's a burly, 4 buckle, T-Race type boot with
a very stiff forward and overall flex. An integrated ski/walk
mode toggles on/off and offers eight degrees of forward lean
customization in three settings. Flex 130 with RidStiff bellows.
It will be available in Mondo sizes 24-30.5, in half sizes, and
the Customs weigh 8 lbs 6 oz (mondo size 27), or 3.8 kg.
And on the AT side is the "Factor,"
also the top of the line. The Factor features alpine overlap
construction, and comes equipped with ISO Alpine DIN blocks,
compatible with BD AT blocks with integrated tech inserts (sold
separately). Weight is an estimated 9 lb 2 oz per pair (size
27), or 4.13 kg. Flex 130.
The new boots have many new features,
including a close, anatomical fit, as well as a specially designed
and innovative inner boot.
Here is their premier women's AT
boot, the Shiva. BD says its Shiva "has the alpine-boot
stiffness you’re
accustomed to, and is specifically designed for a female foot."
It too features alpine style overlap construction, and comes
with a women’s "Power Fit Light Liner," a female-specific
high-performance Strobel liner that is thermoformable and features
a single-pull speed lace closure system. It will be available
in Mondo 23-26.5, in half sizes. Flex 100. Weight is an estimated
8 lb 12 oz per pair (size 27), or 3.96 kg.
Addressing female-specific performance
and fit needs, BD says its women's boots have specially designed
liners, cuff openings and spoilers. The shells are built with
more aggressive stance angles for women's generally lower center
of gravity, as well as reduced overall volume.
Here is BD's top of the line women's
tele boot, the Stiletto. It comes equipped with a women’s
Power Fit Liner using a female-specific high-performance which
is thermoformable and features the Boa closure system. It will
come in a size range of Mondo 23-26.5, in half sizes, and will
weigh an estimated 8 lb 4 oz, per pair (size 27), or 3.74 kg.
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