Maximize power with minimal effort. Lange’s Shadow is employing physics to revolutionize the skiing experience—making it both effortless and dynamic.
The ski boot plays a pivotal role in a skier’s performance, acting as the bridge between their energy and their skiing system. Recognizing this, Lange has innovatively designed the Shadow ski boot to optimize this connection. The result? Skiers can anticipate enhanced efficiency and fluid turns. We sat down with Thor Verdonk, Lange’s Technical Product Director for winter sports, to delve into the brilliance of the Shadow. Here are the insights he shared.
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Outside: What sparked the idea for the Shadow?
Thor Verdonk: At Lange, we set out to craft a boot that would amplify the skier’s energy, making the skiing experience both simpler and more dynamic. Our eureka moment came from observing full-suspension mountain bikes. They effortlessly blend suspension with stability, ensuring consistent tire traction and optimal performance. This observation reshaped our perspective on ski boot design.
Our game-changer was the rocker arm suspension concept. Realizing its potential, we were convinced that by leveraging this principle, we could enhance how a boot interacts with the ski system and adapts to varying snow conditions. This vision materialized in the form of the Shadow.
How does the Shadow differentiate itself from conventional ski boots?
At its core, the Shadow reimagines the very mechanics of ski boot design. Traditional boots often rely on two screws to link the upper cuff with the lower shell, centering the power zone around the ankle joint’s pivot point. This setup primarily uses the boot shell’s distortion from the skier’s weight for energy transfer.
Our inspiration from the mountain bike rocker arm led us to craft two unique features, both designed for optimal power delivery and feedback.
Enter the Suspension Blade: a long lever integrated into the boot’s lower shell that encapsulates the upper cuff using an elastomer. Instead of statically binding the cuff and shell, this configuration boosts leverage, channeling energy throughout the boot. The added elastomer acts as a shock absorber, ensuring smoother power delivery and rebound.
Then there’s the Dual Pivot, a secondary linkage placed slightly below the ankle’s pivot point. Working in tandem with the Suspension Blade, it recreates the rocker arm idea, establishing compression and tension zones both above and below the main pivot. The outcome? Enhanced rebound, a heightened sensation of snow contact, and consistent power transmission.
For customization, the Suspension Blade-Dual Pivot system offers two elastomer choices – hard and soft, enabling skiers to fine-tune their power experience. For a clearer understanding, we’ve put together a video for you:
LANGE ski boots | The Shadow – The 1st Assisted Performance skiboot of the industry
What does the term “mechanical advantage” signify?
At its essence, mechanical advantage is rooted in the principle of leverage, a foundational idea in simple machines. It revolves around the strategic placement of a pivot point on a lever arm, which can amplify or reduce the energy needed to maneuver an object. In the Shadow design, this principle is brought to life through the elongated lever arm of the Suspension Blade and its elevated elastomer connection compared to the central pivot. This setup ensures the ski/binding system receives greater power than what the skier initially applies to flex the boot’s front.
What other innovative features does the Shadow offer?
A significant emphasis during the Shadow’s development was on the liner’s fit. Consider this: in a ski boot, the liner is the sole component that directly contacts our feet. This intimate connection underscores the liner’s role in ensuring both comfort and peak performance. Leveraging the Auxetic principle, we’ve incorporated geometric-patterned cuts, enabling the liner’s material to stretch and mold three-dimensionally, conforming seamlessly to the foot’s contours. By integrating this Auxetic material, Lange has not only elevated comfort levels but also ensured that every subtle movement of the foot is relayed effectively to the entire skiing apparatus.
Who is the ideal user for this boot?
The Shadow caters to all-mountain skiing aficionados eager to find the ideal balance between comfort and top-notch performance. It’s perfect for those striving to elevate their skiing experience.
Lange, with over half a century of focus on foot dynamics and a passion for enhancing skiing prowess, has pioneered groundbreaking ski boot innovations. Whether it’s the World Cup races or the Freeride World Tour, Lange consistently sets the gold standard in the industry.
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