At the end of January, the UK snowsports industry packed up their gear, hit the road, and descended on La Clusaz for the annual SIGB Snow Test. Five glorious days of testing the freshest 25/26 gear, including everything from skis and boots to goggles, socks, outerwear, and even the latest tech designed to make life on the slopes that little bit better.
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This year’s test was extra special as it was the first to be fully organised by our new test partners, Hillside Outside. And let’s just say, they had their work cut out for them thanks to some truly unpredictable weather.
We kicked things off with a solid dose of Type 2 fun… Rain, high wind, and slightly soggy spirits. But hey, at least the slush skiing was soft! Then, just as we started questioning our life choices, the snow gods delivered fresh pow, instantly lifting morale and giving us the perfect conditions to put the latest freeride skis through their paces.The end of the week brought a mix of clouds and clearer skies, ideal for finally focusing testers on those piste skis instead of getting distracted by every bit of fresh snow.
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Off the slopes, the social scene was buzzing. The Fischer team’s quiz night had everyone’s competitive streak showing, while après sessions with Nordica, Volkl, Head, and Oakley made sure no one went thirsty. On the snow, K2 treated retailers to a carving clinic to put the new Blur piste ski range through its paces, while safety-conscious testers checked out the all new Pieps transceivers and put their Recco reflectors to the test at the Rab demo.
We kept our eyes peeled for the man, the myth, the legend, Candide Thovex, especially after spotting a few enthusiastic lookalikes buzzing around La Balme. But the real VIP visit came from Snow Test OG Mike Jardine, who instantly elevated everyone’s chill levels just by being there.
As the week wrapped up, we had one last highlight: Noddy Gowans and Tord Nilson lifting everyone’s end-of-the-week blues with the filming of their BOA parody music video (because no ski test is complete without a bit of creative genius), answering the real question on everyone’s lips: How many BOAs does one skier need?
A massive shout-out to everyone who made the test happen, our dedicated testers for putting in the miles (and the turns), the suppliers who showed up come rain, shine, or broken-down van, and our brilliant organisers for pulling off yet another epic Snow Test. At the AGM, the general consensus was that after three awesome tests in La Clusaz, everyone was ready for a change. So, the next test will be in a new location, stay tuned for details.
In the meantime, you can check out all the imagery captured by our two test photographers Marcin Wiklik and Alex Jeynes here. Feel free to use any of the images in print or online, but please do ensure you credit (the correct) photographer.