This disclosure provides methods for the chemical modification of microbial derived triglyceride oils, use thereof in polyurethane chemistries, and incorporation thereof in the production of sporting goods equipment, including, for example, alpine skis, touring skis, cross country skis, approach skis, split boards, snowboards, surfboards, paddleboards, and water skis.

A method of manufacturing a snow sliding device includes forming a core by forming a core body including an outer surface including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a first thickness, and shaping the core body to include a second thickness; providing a plurality of elements, including a base with a sliding surface, and a top surface; incorporating in at least one of the core and the plurality of elements a first material, the first material exhibiting a shear rate-dependent shear resistance; and laminating the plurality of elements to the core.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

A sliding board, preferably a snow sliding board, including: a front sliding board region including a front end of the sliding board; a rear sliding board region including a rear end of the sliding board; and a binding region, extending between the front sliding board region and the rear sliding board region in the longitudinal direction of the sliding board, for fixing a sliding board binding for holding a boot. The snow sliding board exhibits a multi-layered structure including at least: a sliding board core; upper layers which are arranged above the sliding board core; and lower layers which are arranged below the sliding board core. At least one of the upper layers and/or at least one of the lower layers includes a fiber-composite material, wherein the fiber-composite material includes a multitude of fibers, wherein the fiber-composite material in a region exhibits a fiber orientation which varies within the region.

A highback for a snowboard binding, and method of creating same, includes a lower portion configured to couple the highback to a baseplate of the snowboard binding such that a proximal end of the first portion is proximate the baseplate. An upper portion having a first section and second section is formed from a uniform material. The first section is anchored within the lower portion and the second section extends from a distal end of the lower portion away from the proximal end.

A sliding board, preferably a snow sliding board, including: a front sliding board region including a front end of the sliding board; a rear sliding board region including a rear end of the sliding board; and a binding region, extending between the front sliding board region and the rear sliding board region in the longitudinal direction of the sliding board, for fixing a sliding board binding for holding a boot. The snow sliding board exhibits a multi-layered structure including at least: a sliding board core; upper layers which are arranged above the sliding board core; and lower layers which are arranged below the sliding board core. At least one of the upper layers and/or at least one of the lower layers includes a fiber-composite material, wherein the fiber-composite material includes a multitude of fibers, wherein the fiber-composite material in a region exhibits a fiber orientation which varies within the region.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

A method of manufacturing a snow sliding device includes forming a core by forming a core body including an outer surface including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a first thickness, and shaping the core body to include a second thickness; providing a plurality of elements, including a base with a sliding surface, and a top surface; incorporating in at least one of the core and the plurality of elements a first material, the first material exhibiting a shear rate-dependent shear resistance; and laminating the plurality of elements to the core.

The present invention relates to a ski binding (1) for the different forms of cross-country skiing, comprising a forward housing part (2) that contains a fixed engagement part (3), a movable engagement part (4), an actuating element (5) for moving the movable engagement part (4) between a locking position and a released position, and at least one flexible element (6) for abutment and cushioning against the front part of a ski shoe. The invention is characterized in that the flexible element (6) is injection molded together with the housing part (2). The present invention also relates to a method.

A method for providing at least one component of a snowboard binding, comprising the steps consisting in: using a material of the SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) type, constituted by discontinuous fibers of carbon or glass or hybrid, arranged randomly and interposed between two layers of polymeric resin; arranging the material in a mold for a step of pressure molding by means of metallic mold parts; performing the pressure molding step at a temperature and a pressure that are higher than the ambient values, with a low or high flow of material to fill the cavity of the mold; extracting the component from the mold.