So many goalies are content to believe that only so much can be done to make a mask stronger and more resistant to the bashings and lashings of numerous 100+ mile per hour slapshots. They look at Itech and Koho helmets with the resolve that the path ends there when it comes to finding the best mask available.

Then along came the crew at Airxess to absolutely revolutionize the evolution of the goalie mask. I can’t help but think that with all of the books being written and published lately about the history of the goalie mask, it’s pretty much time for another chapter to be written.

So allow us to introduce the Tornado Proton - created exclusively by Switzerland’s very own goalie mask master, Alec Voggel.

Known for their scintillating and flawless artwork that has been proudly displayed on masks around the globe over the last two decades, few knew that Airxess also tinkered with the mask retail business way back in the early 1990′s.

It all started in 1993 when Alec got involved in the “Giglio” mask, a helmet made exclusively by Leo Giglio. But after a few short years of production, Giglio moved on and Airxess went back to advancing and enhancing their mask-painting trade. But ever since they worked on the Giglio mask, Airxess always dreamed of a time when they would create a new mask fit for the world’s  most elite goalie gods.

It took more than a decade and over 1,000 total painted masks - all of which were painfully (and tearfully for some) deconstructed, reassembled, re-painted and repaired - before Airxess was finally able to take the first step in the construction of the Tornado Proton.

“I met a guy who could provide the materials I wanted to produce the masks,” Alec explained. “Then I met another guy who wanted to help to me produce them, and that was the key to starting the creation process. Up to that moment we had painted about 1,000 masks, dozens of which we had to repair. Once we learned how to handle fibers and epoxy, customers started hearing that we also repaired masks.”

The Airxess artists had handled enough helmets through their paintings that they were taking the extra step to help repair some of their customers’ cages and learning valuable insight about mask construction.

“This gave us the view behind the curtain of how masks were made, how the foam liner was placed, things like that,” Alec added. “This allowed us to see what we would do better if we were to make our own mask.”

And one thing Alec noticed during his many years of re-painting goalie helmets was the necessity of being able to access the screws easily when it came time to replace or remove the cage.

“We decided there’s a need to get easy access to the female posts when you disassemble a cage,” Alec explained. “We couldn’t stand the over-glued posts or those foam liners that had to be ripped off, so we had an easy solution – cut out the foam and cover it with another piece that can be easily removed if you need to locate and manage the screws.”

So all of these developments, combined with years of learning about mask materials, different cages, foams and new solutions for age-old problems, Alec started the actual mask-making process in 2007. By 2008, Airxess had reached the testing stage and right now is currently producing them exclusively in very small quantities, because as Alec comically says, “…we are only 2-4 people here at Airxess.”

But the grueling journey that basically took 15 years to complete has finally come to an end in the exact same spot it started – Bern, Switzerland. The hard work has paid off and now the mask is being shared with goalies all around the world. Thanks to Alec and his close goalie brothers, you have to look no further than the Tornado Proton mask from Airxess for a high-quality product that is combined with elite service and authentic, unique artwork!

So using only the finest materials known to man, the Tornado Proton is described to be “as safe as an atom bomb bunker” and shaped by the master of disaster himself. Not many people knew that he spent the last few decades creating a custom goalie mask that pushes the evolution in a new direction, but the proof is in the pudding.

Switzerland’s newest mad scientist (he is like the Einstein of goalie masks) buried himself in statistical analysis, design maps and airflow models for years, but re-surfaced with what we consider the ultimate creation of structural integrity, beauty and strength.

The helmets are made right in the heart of Bern and are custom made just for you. And if their artwork is any indication of the quality helmet you will receive, then be rest assured that the highest quality you demand and deserve will be delivered with nothing but pure precision and professionalism.

Now while notes and information on the helmet’s construction are currently only available in German at the moment (and through a couple of e-mails that needed translation), here are some details on the mask:

* VACUUM PROCESS GUARANTEES NO AIR BUBBLES
* NEW VISOR CONSTRUCTION FOR BETTER UPWARD VIEW
* UNI-DIRECTIONAL REINFORCEMENTS ON FOREHEAD AND CHIN
* EASILY ACCESSIBLE FEMALE POSTS FOR TIGHTENING SCREWS
* MINOR RECESSES IN FOAM ALLOW FOR EASE OF TIGHTENING
* FORWARD-SET CHIN ALLOWS FOR MORE EASE LOOKING DOWN
* EXTREMELY WIDE PERIPHERAL VIEW
* HIDDEN HARNESS AVAILABLE FOR MORE DESIGN SPACE
* THICKER SINGLE BAR ON A STAINLESS STEEL PRO CAGE
* CAGES AVAILABLE FOR UNDER 18 AND IN GOLD
* THICK PADDING WITH EXTRA LAYER ON FOREHEAD
* NOISE-REDUCED PADDING TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF SOUND
* VERY LIGHTWEIGHT, ABOUT ONE KILO (THE AC23 MODEL)
* ALL GENUINE PARTS IN STOCK RIGHT NOW AT AIRXESS.CH
* AC23 = TWO LAYERS ARAMID/CARBON, THREE LAYERS CARBON

As you can see, this helmet pushes the progression while providing you with a ton of customizations. Check out the different versions available, along with a desciption in German. When an English version is available we will post it here!

A special thanks to Alec Voggel at Airxess for permission to publish information on the Tornado Proton. You can visit their website today for more information on the mask and we have been assured that once more information is available in English, it will be posted right here at The Goalie Guild!

Airxess is truly excited to be making these helmets but happen to be very busy working on them, so please do some research before contacting them about one. Many questions can be answered on their website and we will keep you updated as more info becomes available.