Looking for more information on those tasty skis you’re drooling over? Check out all the manufacturer’s sites for the latest on their 2009-2010 equipment.
Alpina
Alpina Sports, Corp. (ASC) is the North American import and distribution company for alpine, nordic, telemark and back country equipment.
Atomic
Nestled amid the Alps, ATOMIC is headquartered in Altenmarkt/ Pongau, where every new developments are put to the test 365 days a year on some of the most challenging pistes and cross-country tracks worldwide – right near the factory. These conditions allow Atomic to continue revolutionizing the ski sport: such as most recently with the Doubledeck or the Featherlight, the lightest cross-country skis worldwide.
Atomic’s success is based on on more than 50 years of experience with Alpine skiing. The history of the company goes back to 1955, when Alois Rohrmoser along with four staff members manufactured together the firm’s first pair of skis. In 1989, Atomic was the first outfitter to provide skis, bindings, boots and poles from one source. Since 1994, Atomic has been part of the Amer Sports Group and is today both in terms of environmentally-friendly manufacturing and innovative products the technological market leader
Blizzard Ski
The Blizzard factory is located in Mittersill, Austria about 15 minutes from Kitzbuehel. The Mittersill facility is the international headquarters for Blizzard Sport GmbH and employs all of the product development, marketing, and production personnel. All Blizzard products are designed and produced in Mittersill.
In October of 2006 The Tecnica Group, a worldwide leader in winter sports equipment, acquired Blizzard Sport GmbH, The Tecnica Group owns the following brands: Tecnica, Blizzard, Nordica, Rollerblade, Lowa, Nitro, T-Shoes, Dolomite, Think Pink, and Moon Boots, and X Socks.
Dynamic Skis
Makes downhill skis in freeride, carving and competition, and pleasure skiing styles.
Dynastar
Dynastar is a winter sports company based in Sallanches, France. Founded in 1963, the name Dynastar was born when Les Plastiques Synthétiques, manufacturers of Starflex skis, collaborated with Dynamic on a new compound ski. The Dynastar brand is owned by the Rossignol Group.
The Dynastar ski division is run as a separate entity and is responsible for creating stand-alone products separate from the rest of the Rossignol Group. Known for its very high quality products, it is renowned for having one of the best product groups in the winter sports industry.
Elan Skis
Elan is among the top manufactures in the world. It produces skis with a main emphasis on functionality. Its passion is to create the best engineered equipment with modern designs and top performance.
Fischer
It was inventiveness and the pioneering spirit that drove the founder of the company, Josef Fischer Senior, to start-up his own business in 1924. Sledges and handcarts were made in the first two years and, despite all the difficulties he faced, he later realized his vision of the largest ski manufacturing company in the world.This entrepreneurial spirit and the wealth of ideas still remain the forces that drive the people at Fischer in their daily work – developing, marketing and selling first-class sports equipment.
Germina
Offers several downhill and cross-country ski models and poles.
Goode Skis
Former U.S. Ski Team member, Dave Goode, founded GOODE Ski Technologies in 1975. During the first fifteen years, the then Michigan-based company manufactured and marketed a full line of ski accessories.
In 1990, president and founder, Dave Goode, introduced the world’s first patented CARBON Composite Pencil ski pole. GOODE Ski poles are now recognized around the world for their strength, lightweight, aerodynamics and shock absorbent properties. GOODE ski poles have a dominant market share in North America.
In 1994, based on the success of GOODE COMPOSITE ski poles, the company applied the same technology to the manufacturing of water skis. GOODE patented the water ski industry’s first Carbon Fiber water ski. Over the past 14 years, GOODE Skis have held the Men’s and Women’s World Records longer and won more National Medals than all other ski companies combined.
In 1995, GOODE prototyped and built the snow ski industry’s first Carbon Fiber ski. In 2001, GOODE expanded its factory and purchased the production assets of Volant Skis. Today, GOODE produces a full line of carbon fiber snow skis.
Head Sports
Alpine skis in racing, freeride, extreme, allround, easy, junior and lady style groups. They also have a Head USA site.
K2
Builds some of the best skis in the world. K2 Inc. (NYSE: KTO) was founded in 1961 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner on Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington. K2 is known for pioneering fiberglass ski technology, which made skis significantly lighter and more lively than their wood and metal contemporaries. Famous users of K2 skis included pro champion Spider Sabich, World Cup and Olympic champion Phil Mahre, and his twin brother Steve Mahre, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist.
Kneissl – Dachstein
Started in the 1800s as a wooden carriage maker, Kneissl has become one the premiere ski builders in the world.
Madshus
In 1906, Martin Madshus started manufacturing skis in a barn located in Vardal, Norway.
In 1928 Madshus won its first Olympic medal, to date, no other ski manufacture has won medals in as many different Olympic cities.
One year after the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, Madshus relocated to its present home town of Biri, just 20 km south of Lillehammer. K2 Corp., saw great possibilities in Madshus, and acquire the ski manufactur in 1988. 2006 marks Madshus 100th anniversary, making it the Worlds Oldest Ski Company for nordic skis
Rossignol
Rossignol designs and manufactures Skis, Bindings, Ski boots (Alpine and Nordic), Snowboards, Technical Equipment and develop Softgoods Collections for all seasons. Excellent value, high reliability, quality, attractive design.
Salomon
Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Driven by passion for skiing and design innovation, Francois Salomon and his son George designed and perfected many of the first modern ski bindings. During the following 60 years, Salomon’s commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in bindings, boots, skis and apparel for both alpine and nordic skiing and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for snowboarding, adventure racing, mountaineering, and many other sports.
Today, Salomon products are sold in over 160 countries and the brand is a global icon. Through performance driven design, Salomon delivers innovation and progression to mountain sports; converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility. Salomon’s heritage, culture, and commitment are tied together by one simple concept: the world’s leading mountain people creating the world’s leading mountain product.
Voile
Offering backcountry splitboards, skis, telemark bindings, and avalanche rescue shovels.
Volant
Volant is a brand of ski equipment, currently owned by Amer Sports. It was founded as an independent company in the USA, by brothers Hank and Bucky Kashiwa in 1989. The brothers developed the stainless steel “cap” ski, and founded the company with the belief that stainless steel skis would provide better performance than skis made from other materials.
By 1998, Volant was the fourth best-selling ski supplier in the United States, with industry-leading owner loyalty at or above 80%.[citation needed] In 2001, Volant production was moved from Wheat Ridge, Colorado to Atomic’s Altenmarkt factory in Austria on an OEM basis.[1] In 2003, the Volant brand was acquired by Amer Group, LLC, the parent company of Atomic, and several other brands of sporting equipment.
Volkl Ski
In 1923, Franz Völkl began producing skis in his carriage factory and Völkl Skis have been recognized for their unparalleled innovation and performance ever since. Over the years, Völkl has introduced a number of innovations, including the first full fiberglass ski in 1970, the Motion System binding, and the first true women-specific ski construction. Today, a new factory in Straubing continues that tradition of innovation with some of the most progressive freeskiing models available.
Zag Freeride Skis
ZAG was the first ski manufacturer to design a ski that followed the design principles of snowboards. It took the daring of Stéphane “Zag” Radiguet, at the time a leading snowboard designer, to make the first pair of skis combining long, wide and soft tips with short, generous sidecuts: just like a snowboard. So the ZAG ski adventure began.
A new flex pattern: the traditional argument is that a stiff ski is a stable one. This may hold true on smooth terrain, but it falls down when such a ski comes into contact with any imperfection, let alone if trying to ski bumps or cut-up conditions! In contrast, a soft-flexing ski will bend when it hits any bump or imperfection and if skillfully designed, should act to absorb any of the terrain it comes across. Better that the ski does the work rather than you.
Guides for Cross Country Skiers
Eco-Friendly Ski Gear: Shopping Guide
How to Buy Cross Country Ski Bindings
Best Ski Boot Liners: Reviews and Purchasing Advice
We Love Hestra Ski Gloves