“The focus of Spyder’s research during the last few years has been about how we can make our speed suits more slippery against air,” says Spyder Product Director Phil Shettig, “Our goal is to manipulate airflow properties to make all of our suits faster against the competition.”
Spyder refined the surface texture on the top face knit, reducing the co-efficient of friction against wind. The new slippery surface has less texture than past fabrics, and was tested in wind tunnels to shave off precious hundredths of seconds from racers’ times, a margin by which many ski races are won and lost.
To replace traditional padding, Spyder worked with d30™ Labs to create a pad that has 40% less volume than prior protection. d30™ pads are made from intelligent molecules that flow during movement, but reactively lock together on impact to absorb shock. The padding system is more aerodynamic due to its lower profile and a lack of abrupt edges that can “catch” wind.
Finally, Spyder moved their protective pads from their slalom and GS suits to a separate underlayer in order to reduce the amount of thread, seams and needle holes on the outside fabric, all of which contribute to wind friction.
"The new suits are an example of how Spyder is constantly searching for innovative ways to make technological advances," says Steve Nyman, U.S. Ski Team athlete. "Once they are custom fit to each individual athlete's body, we will without a doubt have the fastest suits going into Vancouver."
Spyder’s Slippery Technology is the latest in a long line of innovations that have historically allowed Spyder race suits to stay far ahead of the competition. From the brand’s first padded slalom sweaters in 1970s to the Speedwyre suits that were banned by the FIS in the 1990s for being “too fast,” Spyder will once again charge ahead and separate itself as the leader in speed suit engineering.
About Spyder Active Sports
Spyder revolutionized ski apparel in 1978 with a padded slalom sweater designed "for racing, by racers." Spyder products continue to dominate the race circuit and are the choice of the US Alpine and Canadian Alpine World Cup Ski Teams. Renown for integration of high-tech fabrication, function and fashion, Spyder is the world’s leading skiwear and mountain-based apparel brand. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Spyder products are distributed in over 50 countries worldwide.
In 2008 Spyder acquired Cloudveil Mountain Works, credited as starting the modern day soft shell revolution. Cloudveil draws inspiration from its home-base of Jackson, Wyoming, building innovative and functional apparel for the outdoor, snowsports, fly fishing and casual apparel markets. For more information, visit www.spyder.com and www.cloudveil.com