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.

The Slytech Fam and I  want to wish you Happy and Healthy New Year! I don't know about you, but it always shocks me when I think about just how FAST the year cruises by. You blink once and whamo, it's over.

What's the take-home lesson?

Milk every day you've got! Are you hesitating about hitting the hill on an average winter Saturday? Use your gut instinct and TAKE ACTION! In any case, NO REGRETS!

The ladies in Semmering had no regrets this past weekend in Austria. One of the biggest and most visited events of the ladies FIS Alpine World Cup circuit, Semmering night slalom boasts 12,000 screaming fans in attendance and hundreds of thousands more glued to their TV. Bright lights and the most cutting edge ski gear in the world can be seen at events like these.

The technicians of the top tier skiers are constantly tweaking the skis, using the newest waxes, sharpening edges just right for the snow conditions and then of course reporting back to the ski manufacteurers on their findings of what works and what does not. Countless personnel is always on hand to drive the R&D process.

Slytech, in just a few years of being on the scene, has been able to penetrate the market and convince many skiers that their gear, both 2nd skin back protection and nervous arm and shin guards are at the vanguard of engineering R&D. It says a lot when long established companies suddenly see a newcomer come in and (A) look cutting edge and (B) see them worn by the world's best!

If you ever have the privilege of sitting in the lunch room with all these ski girls, you'll always see a bunch of of them wearing Slytech 2nd Skin back protectors and their Nervous Guards.