Powder Magazine - http://www.powdermag.com/latest-news/orbital-the-worlds-1st-all-mountain-ski-pole/

We have all been there, the epic powder day. You remembered everything, powder skis, face mask and extra goggles. The ride to the top of the mountain is long, and you double check to make sure you have everything. At the top you pause as you look over the terrain below your skis, looking for the perfect line. You grab your poles, extra tight, and plant them in the snow. You push off towards heaven and your poles sink into the snow… and sink, and sink and sink.

Shouldn’t there be one pair of poles that can go anywhere and do everything? That is what the new poles from Orbital Skiing are all about. The patented Precision Powderblade Technology allows the user to instantly adjust each basket from 4.5 square inches to almost triple that, or more than 12 square inches per basket for bottomless powder. The expanded basket allows for the same float effect that backcountry and off-piste skiers have been enjoying with their new wider skis without the hassle of changing to a larger, powder basket. Orbital is introducing two models, the two section Endeavor and 3 section Discovery. The adjustable shafts are 99% carbon and matched with a traditional alpine (Endeavor 2-section) and trekking (Discovery 3-section) grip with a self-locking strap.

Skiers who have seen and used the poles have been impressed. Dan Egan, named as one of Powder Magazine’s “Top Skiers of All Time” and with an established reputation as one of the premier adventure skiers in the world, was one of the early testers. Said Dan, “This is the piece of the all-mountain puzzle we’ve been missing. Backcountry skiing, all-mountain skiing — call it what you want but today’s skiers are pushing the boundaries more than ever before and Orbital Skiing has solved the challenge of poles that can adapt to terrain.” Former World Extreme Skiing Champion Brant Moles took the poles to South America this summer for some powder testing as well.

You can check out his video on the Orbital website. Endeavor and Discovery poles are available immediately at www.orbitalskiing.com

Backcountry Magazine Click here to see our press release.

ORBITAL SKIING ANNOUNCES ALL-MOUNTAIN POLES

Sewickley, PA – January 12, 2011 - While dramatic improvements to ski design have occurred over the past decade, the ski pole has seen very little change. That ends today as Orbital Skiing introduces Endeavor and Discovery; true, all-mountain poles for skiers, snowboarders, trekkers, snowshoers and hikers.

Both the 2-section Endeavor and 3-section Discovery poles include Orbital Skiing’s patented Precision Powderblade Technology&reg that allows the user to instantly adjust each basket from 4.5 square inches to almost triple that or more than 12 square inches per basket. The expanded basket allows for the same float effect that backcountry and off-piste skiers have been enjoying with their all-mountain skis without the hassle of changing to a larger, powder basket.

It was on a heli-trip that Orbital Skiing founder Tom Virostek realized there was nothing that gave skier’s poles the instant adjustability needed to meet the changing conditions. Whether it was traversing across the ridge or picking himself up after a fall, his poles plunged deeply and were effectively useless. “It was then I realized we needed a revolution in ski poles that would match the evolution we’ve seen in skis,” said Tom.

In order to reduce swing weight, a concern mentioned by early testers, Tom and his design team developed the Precision Powderblades&reg using Dupont® Nylon fiberglass thermoplastic, a material which offered the added benefit of preventing snow and ice from building up on its slippery surface. The team then coupled the baskets to a 99% carbon, 2 or 3 section adjustable shaft and matched that with a traditional alpine (2-section) and trekking (3-section) grip with a self-locking strap. “We took the best of what was on the market today, added our technology resulting in the first, truly all-mountain poles.”

Skiers who have seen and used the poles have been impressed. Dan Egan, named as one of Powder Magazine’s “Top Skiers of All Time” and with an established reputation as one of the premier adventure skiers in the world, was one of the early testers. Said Dan, “this is the piece of the all-mountain puzzle we’ve been missing. Backcountry skiing, all-mountain skiing – call it what you want but today’s skiers are pushing the boundaries more than ever before and Orbital Skiing has solved the challenge of poles that can adapt to terrain.”

Endeavor and Discovery poles are available immediately at www.orbitalskiing.com.

Contact: Dave Laidman, Sales & Marketing Manager, dl@orbitalskiing.com