Carving (r)evolution

Charles H. Duell, a senior official in the U.S. Patent Office, claimed in 1899 that everything that should have been invented had already been invented. It would be interesting to observe this gentleman if he were alive today. He would not believe his eyes, but most of all he would be horrified at the extent of his error.

Many of mankind's great inventions share a strange common denominator. At the beginning of their journey, many of them were met with fierce disapproval, resistance, and rejection. This was the case with the first automobiles. People stared at them with disbelief, wonder, and even fear. It was much the same with the first personal computers. In the late 1970s, when Bill Gates talked about how soon everyone would have their own personal computer on their desk, he was laughed at. Steve Jobs was met with puzzled looks when he talked about a small box, about ten centimeters high and six centimeters wide, that would be a telephone, as well as anything else you could think of.

Although skiing is an integral part of life in many parts of the world, not only for pleasure but primarily as a means of transportation and survival, it cannot really be placed among mankind's most important ideas. Yet skiing is one of those activities that is driven by innovation and invention. And in this small part of the world, in the 1990s, an invention was born that surpassed everything. It could be called the mother of all inventions, a watershed moment, and a turning point after which nothing was ever the same again. It all happened in the small alpine village of Begunje na Gorenjskem in Slovenia. 

In those days, we still skied on two-meter-long skis. Good skiers could choose between slalom and giant slalom skis, but hardly anyone could tell the difference between the two. Slalom skis were supposed to be a little stiffer than giant slalom skis and that was it. To prove that the choice was more of an illusion than anything else, Ingemar Stenmark, the best male skier of all time, who won the longest string of World Cup races, raced an entire season on a single pair of skis for both slalom and giant slalom - and naturally won most of them. Although the legendary Swede was famous for his unique technique that allowed him to make the most of the now negligible side cut, the technique of the rest of the skiing population - both competitive and recreational - was based on skidding. 

Because of these circumstances, Elan's engineers began to envision a revolution. They produced a butterfly-shaped ski significantly wider and almost half a meter shorter than the planks used then. Placed next to traditional skis, they looked like equipment for a completely different sport. The initial responses were overwhelmingly negative. Elan dealers were horrified when they saw them. They said it was impossible to ski on them. But the engineers were so confident in their invention that they refused to admit defeat. They offered the skis to Elan employees, especially those who were new to skiing, whose reactions were quite different. They talked excitedly about how much easier it was to learn with these skis, how much easier they were to control, how beautifully they turned, and how much more fun they brought to the sport. This extraordinary anecdote changed the course of skiing history. The iconic skis bore the SCX name, an abbreviation for “Side Cut Extreme.” Those three letters marked the beginning of a new era, the era of carving. Thanks to SCX, Elan can confidently claim that every modern ski in the last thirty years carries a little bit of Elan DNA.

The SCX started an unbelievable chain reaction. They opened the doors of skiing to recreational skiers worldwide. Skiing was suddenly easier and more fun. Ski racers also adapted to the new skis quickly, and this time they could feel the difference between slalom skis with a radius of about 13 meters and giant slalom skis with a radius of about 19 meters. The new concept allowed ski manufacturers to produce skis in countless subgenres so that every skier could find the ski that best suited their preferences, needs, and abilities. And carving skis also made it possible to produce skis perfectly adapted to women in terms of geometry, technical characteristics, weight, and graphics.

Of course, all ski manufacturers were quick to jump on the bandwagon, but the people at Elan were not bothered at all. As carving pioneers, they knew how to maintain their edge and dominance. Every few years they would build on their invention, retaining their decisive advantage. Regularly they introduced innovations and improvements that turned the initial revolution into a cycle of evolution, to the delight of skiers all over the world. First, the Fusion binding system allowed the ski to flex better under the boot, further improving the effectiveness of the pronounced sidecut. Then came the SpeedWave series, with WaveFlex technology for improved flex and grip. Then came Amphibio skis. These asymmetrical skis introduced the revolutionary solution of using a dedicated left and right ski to combine the best features of rocker and camber profiles. Rocker allows for better flotation and quicker maneuverability, while camber provides superior edge grip and rebound. The resulting versatility of the Amphibio skis was unprecedented. Elan built on the technology by introducing Amphibio 4D technology, which uses dedicated technologies not only for the left and right skis, but also for the front and rear sections of the skis. The convex front section allows for easier and more precise turn initiation, while the concave rear section helps to efficiently exit the turn and set the skis up for a new turn.

With the Amphibio ski profile, Elan introduced a design that uses different tip profiles in addition to a dedicated left and right ski. The inside edge features classic camber while the outside edge is rockered in the tip and tail. Camber allows the entire edge to remain in contact with the snow surface while rocker, meaning a slight rise slightly before the widest section at the front of the ski, allows it to pivot into turns with less effort. This makes it easier to initiate turns and makes the ski easier to manage. 

In recent years, the ski world's attention has shifted from the groomed slopes to the backcountry. Everyone dreams of fresh powder and the joy of skiing in untouched winter wilderness instead of speeding down perfectly manicured pitches. But ski muscles have a long memory and have never forgotten the thrill of slicing perfect arcs down fresh groomers in the early morning as gravity creates a unique blend of speed and primal joy. 

The Primetime series skis represent the rebirth of carving by taking design to the next level. Inspired by the joy of skiing perfect groomers, they bring a new level of excitement and thrill to the slopes. At Elan, we understand the distinct types of on-piste skiers. Some love speed, some prefer shorter carved turns, and some just love to cruise the slopes all day. The Primetime family has a ski for everyone. The range includes eleven models, six for men and five for women, that combine a fresh and youthful design philosophy with state-of-the-art carving technology for the ultimate on-piste skiing experience.

Primetime Series skis are designed to give every skier more natural control in turns regardless of ability. This is achieved through PowerMatch technology, which adjusts and adds materials where necessary, in combination with Elan's revolutionary Amphibio profile, which integrates two profiles in one ski - classic camber on the inner edge and a rocker on the outer edge. This ensures even more precise power transmission to the parts of the ski where it is needed most for controlled handling on varied groomed terrain. The specific material allocation enhances the capabilities of the dedicated left and right skis for excellent edge control and breathtaking performance. 

Skiers interested in the technical design of the skis will appreciate the fact that PowerMatch with Dual Density Woodcore technology uses a thicker profile and stronger materials along the inner edge of the ski for power, stability, edge grip and responsiveness. In turn, the outer edge has a thinner profile in the tip and tail, and uses lighter materials for intuitive maneuverability, reduced weight, and a smooth feel.

Primetime Series skis also feature multiple Titanal reinforcements for excellent edge control, power, and rebound, Racing Sidewall technology for direct power transmission to the edges, and of course, the Amphibio profile, which combines a rocker profile on the outside of the ski for easier turn initiation with a classic camber on the inside for improved edge grip.

The innovative 3D shape of the Primetime skis is derived from the technology used in their construction. All models in the Primetime family are styled in a fresh monochromatic look inspired by different fields of sport, fashion and beauty.

Despite PowerMatch technology being the common ground between models, each model in the Primetime range offers different construction features to best adapt to different skiers' needs. 

Thinking back to Mr. Charles H. Duell; it is just as well that he was not a skier. If he were, a visit to Begunje na Gorenjskem would blow his mind.