Convinced by the potential of “assisted” ski touring, the Swiss company E-Outdoor will present the world’s first electric slats at the beginning of January, at the Consumer Electronics Show Unveiled in Vegas.
It’s an invention that purists will probably not hold in their hearts. But after electrically assisted mountain biking, there was no doubt that one day or another, small engines would end up winning over ski touring.
Firstly because the practice is sometimes physically demanding, then because it has seen new momentum for several winters, and is no longer the prerogative of “real” mountaineers. It is precisely to support new practitioners, wishing to turn towards nature, or to seduce those who might be put off by climbs, that the Graubünden company E-Outdoor SA, established in San Bernadino, has been working on electric assistance since 2022. called E-Skimo.
The company will present its product directly inspired by electric bicycles on January 5 at the Consumer Electronics Show Unveiled in Las Vegas.
Concretely, each slat is equipped with a hub motor providing a torque of 20 newton meters and a lithium battery with a capacity of 220 watts per hour, for an autonomy of approximately three hours depending on the conditions. This system results in a sort of rubber tread, placed under the ski and comparable to a caterpillar.
Each drive section is equipped with a 6-axis inertial measurement unit and a GPS module, in order to determine the appropriate moment to activate the assistance: when the ski moves forward and not when it serves as support. The position of the slats, the weight placed on them or the angle of the heel are thus scrupulously observed.
An overview of skis equipped with “E-Skimo”.image: e-outdoor
The Swiss firm estimates that its kit allows users to climb up to 80% faster and overcome up to four times more elevation gain. She also reports that an ascent requires 30% less effort. But apart from the figures, E-Outdoor boasts of offering a natural descent, since once at the top, the device can be removed in less than a minute and stored in a bag provided with purchase.
We do not yet know the price of the first electrically assisted touring skis. The only certainty: the Swiss company will not sell it directly to consumers. It plans to market its system to ski manufacturers and has thus formed a partnership with the Tecnica group, which includes the Blizzard, Nordica and therefore Tecnica brands.
Here we can see the engine block and what looks like the tread. image: e-outdoor
“This collaboration was dedicated to the development of the first ski specifically designed to integrate the E-Skimo device, combining the Tecnica group’s recognized expertise in ski manufacturing with our advanced skills in e-outdoor technologies”
Press release from the E-Outdoor company
It is still too early to know if E-Outdoor has spotted the right opportunity, and will actively participate in the “democratization” of ski touring. On the other hand, we already know that these slats entertain early adopters. The proof: the mountain players have until now had a field day every April 1st, making this imminent technology an excellent opportunity.
But innovation is also extremely annoying. “I hope that I will no longer be in this world to see these lazy people invade our beautiful mountains”wrote an Internet user in 2022 on the site Ski passesfollowing the publication of an article considering the “sweet dream” of electrically assisted touring skis. These reactions are the lot of any innovation in the outdoor sports sector.
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