Happy Trails

As temperatures drop, the ski season heats up — and so too does manufacturing of skis, poles, and boots.

The first snowfall of the year means sledding down favorite neighborhood hills, cozying up by a fire, and decking the halls for the holiday season. But for fans of winter sports, it means just one thing: skiing.

Archeologists date the first skis back to 6,000 B.C., when gliding across snowy surfaces on wooden planks was simply a more convenient means of transportation during frigid winters. The pastime first appeared in the US in the mid-eighteenth century, primarily carried over from Europe by immigrants. With the rise of luxury ski lodges in the Northeast and West after World War II, consumers in the US began to flock to the sport en masse. Today, more than 50 million skiers (and snowboarders) visit US ski resorts each season.

From a necessary mode of transportation in icy climates to a beloved pastime throughout the world, skiing has evolved dramatically over the centuries. With so many skiers taking to the slopes every winter, how do ski manufacturers keep up with demand for the latest and most innovative ski designs each season?

How Skis are Made

Every ski manufacturer has its own unique approach to ski design and construction, with each major brand developing its own specific parameters that dictate what makes for a good ski. There are also several different types of skis, each of which is best suited to certain terrains and styles.

When it comes to building a ski, however, the basic components are generally the same: skis today are built around a laminated wood core at the center. The core is surrounded by layered materials on top and bottom, which protect and strengthen the core while making it more flexible. These composite layers are most often made of fiberglass, but they can also be made of Kevlar, carbon fiber, or titanium. These layers are then sealed in with a top sheet and a waxed base and lined with steel edges to complete the ski.

Popularity of Skiing in the US

According to Statista, more than 13.5 million Americans skied in the US at least once in 2015, and more than 50 million skiers and snowboarders visit US ski resorts every winter season. Unsurprisingly, demand for skiing equipment is high, with consumers spending nearly $600 million on skiing equipment between 2013 and 2014.

Interest in skiing fluctuates with the seasons, since skiers can only hit the slopes about five months out of the year. In order to prepare for the seasonal demand for ski equipment, manufacturers start building and shipping skis in the summer so that retailers are well-stocked by the time the first powder falls.