If you checked out the alpine ski action at the Olympics, then you would have seen a whole lot of racers dawning Slytech Protective Gear.

Here's just a brief rundown:

1. Bode Miller used Slytech Nervous Arm Guards in his silver medal performance in the Super G.
2. Silvan Zurbriggen was on Slytech Nervous Shin Guards in his bronze medal super combined performance.
3. Ted Ligety rocked the Nervous Arm and Shin Guards in his 5th place Super Combined finish.
4. Julia Mancuso and most of the US Ski Team hittin' it with Slytech Nervous Shin Guards and Arm Guards. Julia got ANOTHER SILVER!

Racers on the start list for tomorrow's Giant Slalom who have worn Slytech in the past and are likely to use us again include:

• Ted Ligety (USA)
• Tommy Ford (USA)
• Jake Zemansky (USA)
• Bode Miller (USA)
• Silvan Zurbriggen (SUI)
• Marc Berthod (SUI)
• Didier Defago (SUI and winner of the Olympic Downhill Gold)
• Andre Myhrer (NOR)
• Sandro Viletta (SUI)
• And several more...

Keep an eye out for our boys tomorrow at 10:30 Pacific Time from Whistler Creekside. Giant Slalom, baby!

Zurbriggen Killin' Schaldming

In case you missed last night's spectacle from the Schladming night slalom in Austria, Slytech Nervous Shin Guard shredder Silvan Zurbriggen reigned in 2nd place. He consistently brings home the bacon in the top 10 and wears his Slytech Nervous Shin guards with a Leki sticker on it (I think the Swiss have an agreement with them)...

With 50,000 rabid spectators and some serious prize money to go around, Silvan leaves Austria with some killer cash and great momentum for the Vancouver Olympics 2010.

Another worthy mention, Naoki Yuasa of Japan had a couple sick runs, setting the pace for most racers to come after him.

Yoooooshaaaaa Yuasa!

Ted Ligety reacts to an excellent second run to finish 8th in the Wengen slalom (Doug Haney/U.S. Ski Team)

Slytech Nervous Shinguards representing in Wengen, Switzerland this past weekend. The Ted Ligety + Silvan Zurbriggen duo bringin' it home in both the Super Combi and the Slalom:

Friday's Super Combi:
3rd Silvan Zurbriggen
5th Ted Ligety

Sunday's Slalom:
6th Silvan Zurbriggen
8th Ted Ligety

Racers are always looking for any possible advantage to shave even just a mili-second off of their time. Whether it's the particular wax that's used, the ski edges that are tuned in a specific way, the material of the speed suit or the way the shin guards slap the gates away, everything comes together.

We reported last February that several racers grab the Slytech's even though they are sponsored by other manufacturers. We've been told that it's because they have what racers call a more "elastic feel." The result is less energy wastage of the protector hitting the gate, allowing the skier to plow through efficiently.

Ted's Grill

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Courtesy of the US Ski Team

A day after the men's Giant Slalom was canceled due to heavy fog, Sunday's Slalom race in Adelboden, Switzerland saw 2 of the top 10 racers wearing Slytech Shinguards. Silvan Zurbriggen finished 10th and Marc Gini 6th. Way to go boys!

Official Results from FIS

Destroyer Nervous Shinguard

I'm not one to toot my own horn much or overhype things, but when I learned recently that some of the Swiss National Ski Team wear Slytech Nervous Shin Guards as opposed to the LEKI guards that their team is sponsored by, I just had to share it with you.

So, we're all hangin' at the World Championships of Alpine Skiing in Val d'Isere, France checking the action out when a friend leaned over to me and said: "you see Zurbriggen there? Recognize those shin guards?"

I zoomed my 400mm camera on him and couldn't believe my eyes. He had SLYTECH NERVOUS GUARDS on with a LEKI STICKER!

Now, that's a guy who knows what gear he likes. He also needs to keep his sponsor happy, so he slaps a sticker on them.

Actions speak louder than words, I guess.