Ski Design & Your Questions
Ski design isn't just about shape or materials—it's a complex, iterative dance between engineering, manufacturing constraints, and real-world feedback. In this candid panel from the Blister Summit, top ski designers from Moment, Folsom, and DPS Skis reveal that even the most 'obvious' design choices—like tail rocker or torsional stiffness—are deeply intentional, not just marketing fluff. One designer admits he once built a 136mm-wide 'super chunk' ski that was so unplayable it became a cautionary tale. Another confesses a beloved prototype—inspired by a popular Japanese powder ski—was shelved simply because his boss never approved it. The real magic, they say, lies in the team: from shop-floor workers who call out tiny changes that don’t matter, to fresh-eyed newcomers who see the sport through a beginner’s lens. And despite the industry’s obsession with 'one ski quiver' myths, the truth is most skis are built for specific missions—whether it’s carving on icy groomers or dancing through bumps. The future? Not AI, but smarter composites, better resin additives, and a relentless pursuit of feedback loops that turn raw on-snow data into better skis. The takeaway? Every ski you ride is the result of hundreds of failed prototypes, real people sweating over epoxy, and a team that refuses to settle for 'good enough.'
Tail rocker isn’t just for skiing switch—it improves maneuverability in bumps and technical terrain by allowing the tail to break free easily.
Torsional stiffness isn’t a byproduct; it’s a deliberate design choice that affects edge grip, stability, and how forgiving a ski feels on varied terrain.
Wood cores remain the dominant material in skis due to their performance, structural integrity, and sustainability—despite advances in composites and foams.
The most valuable feedback comes from shop-floor staff and new skiers, not just pro athletes—fresh eyes catch flaws that experts overlook.
No ski on the market has a single layer of metal—uneven metal placement causes camber deflection and poor rebound, making balanced construction essential.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to Gear 30: Ski Design Insights from the Summit
Jonathan Ellsworth introduces the episode, welcoming listeners to Gear 30 and setting the stage for a deep dive into ski design, featuring insights from a panel of top ski designers at the Blister Summit in Snowbird.
The Real Work Behind Ski Design: Beyond Marketing
“Ski design truly isn't like reinventing the wheel every single season. And it really is finding a balance of what is just marketing lingo and what is actually deployable technology that's functioning and making sure that your messaging and the way that you're describing it makes sense to the end user.”
The Hidden Challenges: Materials and Manufacturing
“You find something you love, you really start to hone in what you're using that for. And then all of a sudden it disappears from the market and it's gone. And you got to be like, shit, now I got to re-engineer this entire product because this is gone.”
One Ski Quiver vs. Specialized Tools: What Are You Really Building For?
“I tell customers all the time my favorite ski from our lineup is a very niche ski. This is not your first ski from us. This is your second or third once you've built a base.”
Torsional Stiffness: The Invisible Force That Shapes Your Ski
“Heavy torsional rigidity is going to increase hard pack on smooth snow. Where you want to have an engaged, you know, strong edge grip. But what that will do is it'll force you to stay in that position as you intermixed in different style snow and terrain.”
“It's not like mountain bikes. It's not like cars. It's not like anything where if you mess up a little bit, you can take apart that subframe and rebuild it and put it back in. Like, you got one shot to do this and like 25 minutes to get it all right.”
“That ski was heinous. It was heinous. There was nothing fun about it. Like it was a crappy powder ski because of its total design and like you couldn't get any cushion in the snow. It just kind of bounced off the snow.”
“Don't tell me what to fix or change. You know, if the tail is punishing, tell me the tail was punishing. Don't tell me it's too stiff. There can be other things like adjusting where the side cut is.”
Host
Guests
Max Smith
person
Blister
organization
Mike McCabe
person
DPS Skis
organization
Stu Gleason
person
Moment Skis
organization
Jonathan Ellsworth
person
Folsom Custom Skis
organization
PeaceWorks
product
Blister Summit
other
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