Replying to What is ON3P all about???

So about two years ago I got a pair of custom skis (brand will remain nameless) that was not what I had hoped for.

I have definitely become accustomed to custom skis.  For a few years, I skis a 190cm Igneous FFF as pretty much an everyday ski.

And one day, it got in my head that I should just build my own skis.  So the idea got rolling, I did some more research into what needed to be done, and went from there.

The idea was born so that I could have skis that I felt like I could not buy in stores, or get through what customs I was currently using.  Low and behold it would cost me enough to have a custom quiver of 30 or 40 skis, but that is neither here nor there....

So I stated talking to people about the idea, working through what I would need to get, calculating costs.

One thing I wanted to was not half ass it.  With absolutely no offense meant towards home skibuilders who use methods like vaccum and such....I basically did not want to half ass it.  if I was going to do this, I wanted to go at it with everything I had.

This was tough because during the whole development process I was working on a BS of Biology with a premedical focus at the University of Puget Sound, which included among other things a 10 month research thesis that ended up being over 22,000 words.  To say the least I was busy.

There was also a huge financial burden.  Again, I was in school at the time, so not exactly rolling in funding.  By the end of it, I had spent at least 6 times the amount of money I had originally expected to, but I also have so far produced 7 times as many testers as I originally expected.

Anyway, I got things moving and built my ski press by hand.  Again, I didn't want to half ass it and considering I build it by hand, myself, it came out pretty damn good.

From there it was just developing shapes, rocker, and flex patterns, and trying to make the best damn skis I can.

I would love to do this as a career and be able to provide the best skis people can get while still being able to provide myself with a decent income in the hopes that this can be work that I can someday support a family with (scarily enough....probably sooner than later considering I am already 22).

I basically want to be able to give people the options of a ski shape, and give them a choice of topsheet and flex (between a stiffer and softer flex).  I would also consider giving rocker options, but that may depend. 

Ski Building in the united states is touch business.  Making skis here with quality materials is definitely expensive, and costs are definitely high.

So far, we have produced 52 prototype skis. 

Production skis will have screen printed topsheets done by NS's own Matty Jeronimo (freezed) which as just amazing.

Edges will be 2.2mm wide, 1.8mm thick, so very beefy.

We will use multiple layers of VDS to ensure good bonding as well as provide good dampening.

We do not do a full wrap to help decrease delamination issues associated with a full wrap.

Base material will be 4001 Durasurf, the fastest and hardest available.  bases will be screen printed so you can look good in the air.

Sidewalls now are bamboo (extension of core) but for production we will have UHMW (p-tec) sidewalls for great durability.

We use both carbon and fiberglass in our layup, as well as a fiberglass matte to help with screw retention.

The biggest component is definitely the bamboo core.  I personally love the way they ski.  It is really hard to describe the way they ski.  They are damp....but also super poppy.  Basically a great material.

We should have a website up as soon as I can afford to get it up.  www.on3pskis.com

There will be more info there, as well as a spot for people to let me know what type of skis they want to know.  I know the skis I want, and have gone and designed them so far (along with the help of many great friends), but I want to know what YOU want.  So let me know....

Hope this helps answer some questions about ON3P.