Over 250 members of the UK snowsports industry descended on the Austrian resort of Kühtai earlier this month for the annual Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB) Ski Test 2015.
In what was one of the most successful UK ski tests, conditions were perfect for testing the huge range of skis, with a mixture of fresh snow, groomed pistes and sunshine. The weather, combined with the perfect elements for testing skis – a fast lift, wide variety of terrain and a perfectly situated test centre – meant that over 3,500 test results were recorded from the 872 pairs available
The number of testers increased compared to 2014, from 138 to 175, and there was plenty of optimism from the 28 retailers represented at the tests and the 23 ski brands in the test village. There was also in an increase in media participating, with 9 separate media outlets in attendance.
The Ski Test also proved a great place to raise money for one of SIGB’s partners, Snow-Camp, with the production of bacon sandwiches by TKC Sales raising 900 Euros for the charity.
Sam Noble, President of SIGB, said of the Ski Test: “In Kühtai, we have found the perfect ski testing venue. The resort is welcoming and accommodating, and as in previous years the week has gone smoothy for all involved. There is a strong positive feeling within the industry at the moment, with brands, importers and retailers discussing this season and looking ahead to next winter with optimism.”
SIGB (Snowsport Industries of Great Britain) is the trade association for skiing and snowboarding. Led by a 12-strong committee of volunteers from within the industry, the SIGB currently has 158 member organisations from the retail, supplier and travel sectors of the industry. www.sigb.org.uk
Facts and Figures from the 2015 SIGB Ski Test (Figures in brackets are for 2014):
175 (138) individual testers
9 (7) media test organisations
28 (27) retailer test groups
23 (19) ski brands
872 (768) test skis with a total retail value of £372,740 (£317,409)
3,620 (3,471) test results recorded.
240 bacon butties, courtesy of TKC, which raised €900 for SnowCamp
1,600 (1,400) cups of coffee
Ski brands represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Amplid, Armada, Atomic, Black Crows, Black Diamond, Blizzard, Dupraz, Dynastar, Faction, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, La Sportiva, Line, Majesty, Movement, Nordica, Rossignol, Roxy, Salomon, Scott, Volkl
Retailers represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Active Snowsports, Anything Technical, Absolute Snow, Attwoolls Ski Shop, BASS, Blues The Ski Shop, Ski Bartlett, Craigdon Mountain Sports, Carters, Devon Ski Centre, Ellis Brigham, Edge & Wax, Snow Lab, Lockwoods, LD Mountain Centre, Mike Davies Leisure, Nevisport , Rivington Alpine, Sail & Ski, Surfdome Shop Ltd, Solutions 4 Feet, Snow Togs, Snow & Rock Sports, Ventura, Snowtrax, Backcountry UK, Snow Essentials
Media represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Fall-line , InTheSnow Magazine. Outdoor i , Racer Ready , Ski and Board, Snow Magazine, Style Altitude, Telegraph Ski and Snowboard
Ski boots represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Atomic, Dalbello, Fischer, Full Tilt, Head, Lange, La Sportiva, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Scarpa, Scott, Tecnica.
Goggles and Helmets represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Bern, Bollé, Cébé , Head, Julbo, Salomon, Scott, Smith Optics, Zeal Optics
Other items represented at the SIGB Ski Test 2015:
Demon, Ortovox, Petzl, Pieps, Pow , SkiA, Superfeet
Written by SIGB