Caroline Lalive signs with Head skis, Tyrolia bindings and Lange boots

Caroline Lalive signs with Head skis, Tyrolia bindings and Lange boots{mosimage}After four years with Salomon skis, boots, and bindings, the U.S. Ski Team’s four-event veteran Caroline Lalive will be making the switch to Head skis, Tyrolia bindings, and Lange boots. ‘I had no problems with Salomon, but I wanted to test other skis at the end of the season out of curiosity’ says Lalive.

Lalive’s testing sessions were postponed due to arthroscopic surgery on her medial collateral ligament after the World Cup Finals, but she returned to the Kaunertal Glacier in Austria at the end of May for a three-week session. Lalive tested the Austrian-made Head ski, along with the new Salomon ski and Blizzard. ‘All the skis were great’ offers Lalive. ‘It came down to timed runs, comfort with the skis and rapport with the company.’

The change to Lange boots was less complicated. ‘I skied on Langes before Salomon and I’ve always liked the boots’ says Lalive.

Lalive looks forward to working with a smaller company and having more input into the selection process. Says Lalive, ‘It’s no fault of Salomon, but Head will be able to focus on my individual needs. It’s cool to have more opportunity or influence, where I am in my career.’

Head skis currently has rising German star Maria Riesch in its stable, and is looking to gain a foothold in the U.S. ‘They are motivated to expose the ski to the U.S. market’ says Lalive, who will be the sole U.S. Ski Team representative on Head skis this season. ‘I figured I should get on the train while I could. I think their presence will improve in this country. My interactions have been wonderful.’