The New York Times tested five Gore-Tex snowboarding gloves: Drop Vertex’s GTX Snowboard ($74.95), Burton’s Yeti ($139.95), DAKINE’s Stingray ($94.95), MARMOT’s Alpinist ($180), SCOTT’s Bolt ($79.99)–and they like the results.

“A new technology from Gore-Tex called X-Trafit should thus be welcome. It’s an insert bonded to the lining, the Gore-Tex membrane and the outer shell, improving ‘the grip and dexterity of traditional waterproof, breathable gloves,’ said Doug Crawford of Gore-Tex.”

photo credit: goose3five

As seen at the SIA Snow Show in Denver this past week, ski and snowboard manufacturers are hoping that new technological advances in “rocker” design will help fuel performance and marketability of their product.

“Rocker was developed to ski deep, fresh snow — the shape encourages skis to float on top of the stuff, instead of digging into it — but now ski companies around the world are adding rocker to skis in ways they say will improve skiing on groomed trails,” writes Douglas Brown of The Denver Post.

“‘I guarantee you, every (manufacturer) has some rocker in their skis,’ said Erin Forest, marketing director at K2 Skis, the largest ski manufacturer in the world. ‘It’s the next revolution.’”