Introducing the all new 2nd Skin Protection Series from Slytech. Subtle, yet important enhancements have been made across the line, making for an even more free and safe experience. Whether you're into snowboarding or skiing -- even mountain biking -- you can rest assured that these products have been thoroughly engineered with REAL SCIENCE backing up the safety claims.

*** STORES ARE PREORDERING NOW! If you already know you're in need of a new back protector or other protection products for next season, call your local distributor with your request. The contact information is listed below the pictures ***

Julia Straps on Slytech 2nd Skin

We're going to be seeing a lot of Slytech at the Vancouver Olympic Games in both the men's and women's GS & slalom races in form of arm guards and shin guards. You ask the athletes about why they use the Destroyer Guards, they'll tell you that they love the off-white look of the pre-preg fiberglass and because of the reduced surface area of the 3 gills, they are the fastest off the gate, bar-none.

What you won't see is what's under the athlete's ski suits. Back protection is absolutely essential in the world of ski racing. Injected hills (super hard and icey so that the later racers are not as much at a disadvantage) and super fast speeds (70, 80, 90 mph!) make for very dangerous conditions.

Without safety standard approved back protection the athletes would put themselves even more in to harm's way.

Racers need to go with equipment they trust. When you look around the ski huts where the skiers hang before a race, you'll see that a great number of racers trust Slytech.

Watch the Girl's Downhill race TODAY, Tuesday February 16th at 11AM PST! Olympic Fever is all over Whistler, so catch a glimpse wherever you are! It's lining up to be a nail-bighter. Will it be the favorite Lindsey Vonn with the busted shin (or so they say), or will it be the Victoria Secrets Vixen Julia Mancuso? Or will it be any one of the other powerhouses from Austrians to Germans to the hometown Canadians? You'll just have to tune it!

Wow, what can you say about Kitzbuhel's ferocity? That place seems to always chew up and spit out one poor soul every year.

You may remember the 07/08 season when American Scott McCartney crashed on the final jump of the Hahnenkamm downhill.

Well, this year there was another casualty. Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland took the final jump, lost his balance and landed right on his back, skis shattering in the process and Albrecht sliding to a halt at the finish.

He was wearing back protection when he crashed going some 130 km/h, and thankfully so. He came away with a crushed lung and head trauma, but no doubt without back protection and a helmet, things would have been much much worse.

As of the writing of this blog, Albrecht was still in an artificial coma, his hemothorax stopped, lung infection staved and head trauma progress positive (information taken from http://www.skionline.ch/index.php?section=news&cmd=details&newsid=7472&teaserId=) .

We all wish him well and remind ourselves as avid winter sports enthusiasts to protect ourselves with quality safety gear.

In the video clip below Romed Baumann of the Austrian Ski team chats about the SLYTECH 2ND SKIN BACK PROTECTOR on Austrian ORF TV.