ISPO BrandNew 06 Winners

The winner of the 13th ISPO BrandNew Awards in 2006 has been announced.  The event, which focuses on start-up brands within the sports sector, whittled down 171 entrants from over 25 countries in seven categories winners along with an overall winner.

Overall Winner: North Legion from Norway
Hardware Winter: Icelantic Boards from the US
Style: Tyra Clothing from Hungary
Sportswear: Stridelite from the US
Sportswear Accessories: CziP from the US
Accessories: Tubeline from Germany
Hardware Summer: Banshee Riverboards from the US
Hardware Accessories: Mantis from Germany

Icelantic Boards, a US ski manufacturer, scooped the Winter Hardware category.  Icelantic produce the Icelantic Scout, a ski board 143cm in length and with 140-105-130 sidecut characteristics.  The philosophy seems to be a cross between snowblades and full blown alpine freeride skis – a ski which has the surface area of the latter, but in a shorter form.  More control than a blade, more manoeuvrability than its longer cousin – I for one cannot wait to try them.