I've recently noticed something while watching World Cup and Olympic races/training runs.
By background, I grew up watching Phil and Steve Mahre and Ingemar Stenmark win just about every other race. And every time they won, or even didn't win, they held their skis against their shoulders, their actual skis mind you, to give interviews, pose for photos, podium ceremonies, etc. This of course caused the general consumer to walk into their favorite ski shop and say "I want Phil's skis", never mind if a World Cup Slalom ski was totally inappropriate for this consumer lol. Remember how many true slalom racing skis we'd see on the mountain back in those days?
Fast forward to today, I've noticed with Head in particular, perhaps other manufacturers as well, when the current "Pole Sitter" is in the "First Place" sitting area, if he is a Head skier, he is NOT holding his actual World Cup Slalom Skis that he just raced, but rather a "prop" or "stunt" ski, the Head SuperShape iSpeed, which is basically a more consumer-friendly race-inspired ski. Also, even during the podium ceremony, Head skiers are hoisting up the SuperShape iSpeed ski, not their actual World Cup racing skis they used.
I suppose ski manufacturers, maybe Head in particular, have figured out that if the "Win on Sunday, Sell'em on Monday" is going to happen, then they'd rather point the general consumer in a more consumer-friendly direction than their true World Cup race skis.
Anyone else noticed this?
By background, I grew up watching Phil and Steve Mahre and Ingemar Stenmark win just about every other race. And every time they won, or even didn't win, they held their skis against their shoulders, their actual skis mind you, to give interviews, pose for photos, podium ceremonies, etc. This of course caused the general consumer to walk into their favorite ski shop and say "I want Phil's skis", never mind if a World Cup Slalom ski was totally inappropriate for this consumer lol. Remember how many true slalom racing skis we'd see on the mountain back in those days?
Fast forward to today, I've noticed with Head in particular, perhaps other manufacturers as well, when the current "Pole Sitter" is in the "First Place" sitting area, if he is a Head skier, he is NOT holding his actual World Cup Slalom Skis that he just raced, but rather a "prop" or "stunt" ski, the Head SuperShape iSpeed, which is basically a more consumer-friendly race-inspired ski. Also, even during the podium ceremony, Head skiers are hoisting up the SuperShape iSpeed ski, not their actual World Cup racing skis they used.
I suppose ski manufacturers, maybe Head in particular, have figured out that if the "Win on Sunday, Sell'em on Monday" is going to happen, then they'd rather point the general consumer in a more consumer-friendly direction than their true World Cup race skis.
Anyone else noticed this?