Skiing has been around for a staggeringly long time. The oldest skis ever found were uncovered in 1924 by men digging a ditch in Sweden. After, incredibly, they were kept in a shed, one survived and today it stands in the Västerbottens Museum, labelled the Kalvträsk ski. Carbon dating puts it at around 5,200 years old, or, in other words, older than the Pyramids of ancient Egypt.  When the Forest Sciences faculty of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences analysed the ski, it found that it had been fashioned from pine that had grown on a slope, causing the wood to become more dense and therefore perfectly suited to the job. It is evidence of such ancient ingenuity that makes the spirit of the alpine aficionado soar.  Happily for those of us who like a quick schuss every season, recent advances in snow-bound technology are producing on-slope kit and gadgetry the likes of which are more commonly seen in fighter jets and supercars; this is ski wizardry for the 21st century.  Leading the charge in ski innovation is Swiss manufacturer Zai. This company produces possibly the finest skis around at the moment, with revered brands including Bentley and Hublot clamouring to collaborate on bespoke products. Among Zai’s latest ski designs are the Scadin, with an indulgent felt surface for optimum scratch resistance, and the Spada, which is made from mountains – its core of 50-million-year-old Alpine granite gives excellent shock absorption, – and pre-stressed using carbon fibre so it will bend but not break.  Perhaps Zai’s piste (sorry) de résistance is its boundary-busting Nezza split ski. Borrowing old-school fin-tailed methodology from the snowboarding world, the Nezza, with its cedarwood core and carbon skin, has strength and spring in spades while those four split tails flex independently, reducing vibrations even on packed ice. It shouldn’t work, but it does. After years of research, Zai has performed some sort of snow-speckled miracle.  Ski boots have come on leaps and bounds, too. Now of course moulded inners are de rigueur, but recent innovation has been all about ‘exoskeletons’. The Apex MC.X has an ‘open chassis’ design that makes them much more comfortable and less restrictive, yet sacrificing none of the vital rigidity. But Dahu has taken this to extremes with its latest collection. Not only is the exoskeleton of its ski boot chicly minimal, the waterproof inner boot complete with rubber sole, heel and locking laces system doubles as a moon boot for all-night après-ski action. It is an elegant and eminently sensible solution that makes you wonder why it has not been perfected sooner.  If you like to look the part on the piste yet still flex some technical muscle, Moncler’s Carmaux jacket, part of the house’s Grenoble sportswear collection, not only has a typically smart aesthetic but also is packed with intelligent features. Alongside waterproof zips, it’s the Carmaux’s use of the technical material Cordura that is most laudable.  Cordura fabrics have been used by the military for more than 45 years and are known for their durability and resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs – so perfect protection from razor sharp ski edges. The Cordura cuff seals of the Carmaux have a thumb-hole so they become like built-in mittens. Not only does this keep the wind out, it stops the sleeves rolling up in the event of a tumble.  Of course protection is paramount, particularly if your skiing sensibility veers towards off-piste and black runs over the pleasure of après. US-brand Marker has a new award-winning protective gilet – the Body Vest 2.15 – that manages to squeeze the same level of safety padding into a garment as the rigid plastic shells you see snowboarders sporting. Just 16mm of material shields the spine to the rigorous standards demanded by the EN1621-2:2014 standard in the event of a crash, yet it can be worn unseen beneath a ski jacket. Extra pads on the front and sides also protect organs and the ribcage.  Black Diamond has for years been turning out very clever snow kit, and its new Halo 28 JetForce Avalanche Airbag pack is no exception. As well as carrying all your mountain paraphernalia, it has an airbag operated with a ducted fan and lithium-ion battery system. This is the first pack to shun air canisters and opt for reliable, rechargeable jet-fan inflators. Should you be caught in an avalanche, the pack inflates the 200L bag in under three seconds and lifts you to the snow surface as if you were in running water. It also deflates to create a vital air pocket once the avalanche has subsided. And the best part? All of this snow technology is designed to blend in discreetly – while working intelligently on your behalf.
Take to the slopes this season with enough state-of-the-art gear and gadgetry to satisfy the most intrepid - and stylish - of skiers