Magfit new grip

nuovo grip

A new grip is now available on Magfit ski poles.

A new grip has been designed by a team formed by designers and skiers in order to improve ergonomics
and the grip of gloves on ski poles.

The people who tested this new material are enthusiastic about the comfortability of the grip.

Skiing with no strap is better and better.

Go naked!

 

From 4000 BC to Magfit. The ski pole evolution.

The earliest depiction of a man with a ski pole was found in Norway in the form of a cave painting, dated at 4000 BC. The rock carving shows a man on a single ski (that reminds a snowboard) with stick.

Some rock carving found in Rødøy suggest that Alpine societies, such as those in Nordic regions or the Altai mountains, used their ski poles to hunt as well, giving them spear-like qualities.

Soldato norvegese

Norwegian Companies of ski troops were formed around 1750 in Trondheim and Kongvingen using  a single pole for propulsion and to steady their aim. The very first skiing competition were held by the military in 1767.

It’s the 1860, when Norwegian miners introduced skiing as a sport to the American west, in California. The speed was about 14 seconds down on icy 1,804 footcourse, 88 miles per hour.

US patents for steel ski poles began in 1933 when John B. Dickson invented a new design calling for the use of steel as the shaft material. This construction was superseded by Edward L. Scott, who is credited with popularizing the lightweight aluminium ski pole in 1959, deriving his modern design from golf club shafts. Ski builders introduced other high tech materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar through the 60s and 70s. Plastic bases reduced the need for waxing. In 1990, a revolution in ski shape began when Elan and Kneissel introduced deep-sidecut “shaped” skis, often called Parabolics.

Finally, in 2019, a new type of ski pole has born: the MagFit magnetic ski poles. Conceived for alpine skiing, the ski poles have been thought and patented to allow an easier and quicker seizing. You won’t have to stop anymore in order to seize your ski poles, you’ll just have to move your hands close to your stick. This system also increase the safety of your ride.

For the complete history of ski check the link: The history

The best 5 misadventures about traditional strap

Ski poles related injuries are very uncommon: the most common ski injury now is not broken legs, but torn or ripped ligaments. Some of this accident could be provided by ski pole straps.

“Why Don’t You Wear Ski Pole Straps”?

Patrick:  “Because of tree branches.  A tree branch can catch your pole basket as you are skiing by and easily dislocate your shoulder.  I have skied in Revelstoke a long time ago and they gave you poles that had no straps and taught you to use them.  I’ve never gone back.”

Nick:  “When hiking or skiing my poles will get caught in holes or branches under the snow.  With no strap, it’s no problem.  WIth a strap, you can get hung up or throw off balance leading to a bad fall in a bad place.”

Lee:  “Avalanches.  If I get in an avalanche, I want to be able to get rid of everything I can and I want to be able to swim and fight to stay on top and easily pull my avalanche airbag handle without being impeded by a pole pulling my hand wherever it wants.  It’s also great when hiking because you can move your hand up and down the pole with ease.  Even if you aren’t wearing the straps, they get in the way when changing your hand position on your pole and can even cause you to slip off if you accidentally grab the strap.”

Zach:  “I’m a photographer, so for photos.  It’s great to not have straps when I’m shooting because I can stick my pole in the snow and let go and that’s it. It’s one less step which gets me in position to take a photo that much quicker.”

Valerio: “When I was 18, I was competing in a regional giant slalom race. During a left turn, due to a little bump on the run or probably signs left by previous racers, I lost contact with the snow for a fraction of a second and was pushed outward by centrifugal force. In that very short moment my right pole decided to get stuck under my right ski, resulting in my body going right while my right knee bended innaturaly because my right foot was stopped by the pole. I broke a meniscus and my LCL almost snapped. My meniscus was surgically removed while the LCL fortunately healed by itself.

For the complete story check the link: How common are ski poles injuries and Don’t use ski poles straps

Trap with straps: ski poles injuries

Ski poles related injuries are very uncommon. The most common ski injury now is not broken legs, but torn or ripped ligaments. Releasable bindings properly set can prevent most injuries: having a hand lashed to a pole can constrain arm movements, limiting self-rescue techniques like swimming to safety, pulling an airbag trigger or digging out. Then there’s the added danger of poles functioning as anchors in a slide, effectively dragging a victim into the depths of cascading debris.

The risks of using pole straps aren’t only limited to avalanche terrain; they can also add to the dangers of falling into a tree well. Acting as restraints, pole straps can impede a tree-well victim’s ability to dig out or create an air pocket while waiting for help. Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) is most often responsible for the deaths of skiers and snowboarders when they fall into the area near a tree that is full of unconsolidated snow. There were 35 deaths between 2006-2016, with an average of 3.5 deaths per year. Removing pole straps in off-piste terrain is a good prevention strategy to employ.

Secondary injuries can occur when using pole straps in the backcountry, too. Brian Warren, Senior Guide & Winter Director at Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, recounts a friend’s experience skiing low-angle trees in the Tetons. “The track was fast through tight trees,” Warren says. “He had pole straps on, and his baskets got caught in thick alder. The pole stuck immediately and ripped his body to the ground, dislocating his shoulder.”

For a complete analysis on benefits and dangers of ski pole strap, check the link: When to use pole straps

The 5 best ski slopes in Italy

The 5 best ski slopes in Italy image

In Italy, skiing takes on a different pace from its northern neighbors, with a relaxed atmosphere where the point is having fun, not breaking records. This, coupled with lower ticket prices, makes Italy a very attractive place for families to take a ski vacation. Here the best 5 place for skii in Italy.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Families with beginning and intermediate skiers will find plenty of terrain at Cortina d’Ampezzo. More than three dozen lifts in Cortina carry skiers from the center of town to snowfields at the crests of the highest ridges. Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts the Women’s Alpine skiing World Cup on the Olympia slope in the Tofane.

Val Gardena

Smaller resorts like Val Gardena offer more intimate ski terrain, nearly 400 kilometers of interconnected skiing. Val Gardena does have facilities for beginners and intermediate skiers and about 65 percent of the terrain reached from here is for advanced and expert skiers, one of the highest in the Dolomites. Val Gardena installed Italy’s first eight-seater chairlift with heated seats. New for the 2019 ski season is the 921-meter, sixperson detachable chairlift.

Pila

ski slopes in Italy

Pila, with 70 kilometers of slopes, allow a breathtaking 360° view of Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. 15 lifts supply a variety of trials suitable for all, from beginners to experts. A new freestyle area will satisfy the most demanding riders for performing jumps and tricks on rails. In the new amusement “Pila Fun Park”, children and adults can have fun together with no age limits.

Sestriere and Val Chisone

One of Italy’s oldest ski resorts and the world’s first purpose-built ski resort. The Val Chisone Milky Way includes about 163 connected trails for intermediate, beginners and experts. Altitudes reach to 2,800 meters. The Chisone valley also includes the smaller ski resort of Pragelato, where you can ski the trails used in the Olympic cross-country events and perhaps catch competitions at the Olympic ski jump.

Courmayeur

For glitz and glamour in the Val D’Aosta. For views of the top of Europe from its highest mountain, ride up the Funivie Monte Bianco cable car to the ridge line, where views seem to stretch forever. Beginners will find gentler slopes in Courmayeur’s “suburb” of Dolonne, but most of the terrain is best suited to advanced and intermediate skiers.

Be ready with MagFit

Be ready for the next ski season. In all of this beautiful slopes, our magnetic ski poles will work perfectly, ensuring an enjoyable skiing time. Don’t waste time to wear your former straps and be ready to ski at once.