POC. Strong enough for a man, but designed for a Frenchman.

Jan 30, 2010  ·  01:57 PM  ·  permalink

I love POC. Since the very first time I saw them in ID magazine, they’ve been my favorite helmet. It was about the technology, sure- but the look and feel, the build quality, have always been the thing that people notice when I stroll into the bar at 11:30am after a really satisfying day of skiing.

One of the things that was so great about them was their understated design. Which is why, when I arrived at the POC booth, I thought someone had put LSD in my coke- er, soda. Something to which I don’t object normally. But for the love of God I’m live blogging this stuff, and I can’t do my job if my laptop keeps sprouting feet and walking across the show floor.

But you know what? If you’re number one on the Freeride World Tour and you like 1970’s Throwback Lollipops you can have whatever the hell you want for your signature model.

Besides, Aurélien Ducroz is French… So he could wear a diaper and Crocs to aprés, and I imagine the accent still fills the hot tub.

And, truthfully, POC’s Ducroz model is growing on me. I’m not sure you open with that helmet unless you’re as good or better than the man himself, but it might be the kind of thing you break out for a second date, after she knows that you’re good in bed.

Fortunately, POC isn’t abandoning the clean, crisp look that I love. In fact, they’re taking up a notch with a full carbon version. I didn’t get the pricepoint, but I’m sure wearing it will be a lot like when I pull out the AMEX Centurion Card: someone starts chasing me because they recognize me from when I stole their AMEX Centurion Card.

Suffice it to say, I don’t believe that this helmet is better or lighter or cooler than the POC helmet that i already own. And I won’t, until I get to review one.

On an unrelated note, our media outreach department is always available at snowhugger@gmail.com