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Shape your own powder ski

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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
Had an idea and just want to get a little feedback on it to see if it something people would be interested into doing. The idea is selling a pressed ski blank with a fiberglass base, with a canvas topsheet and a template that the buyer designed. The buyer can cut out the ski to the template or make changes to it as they see needed. Then they can design the topsheet to anything they want with paint or pens and finish it up by sealing the canvas and the sidewalls. Price would be around 200. So what do you guys think is this something any of you would like to try?
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Oct 23 2017 9:04AM
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Crispy.
Posts: 6108 - Karma: 7,678
How does one go about cutting out a ski? I feel like the durability would be wack...
Oct 23 2017 9:06AM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
Crispy.How does one go about cutting out a ski? I feel like the durability would be wack...


Jig saw or band saw. There would be no issues with durability the skis currently being made are made in the same manner. They are built solid using ski/snowboard standard epoxy, fiberglass and carbon fiber. The only difference is there would be no edges and the base currently is a thick hardwood veneer seal with a lightweight fiberglass. Not to say a plastic base is out of the question some testing would need to be done before I would be willing to sell that.
Oct 23 2017 9:15AM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,404
Or you could make the whole ski, but allow people to customize the look, similar to how you can make custom Nike shoes online. Charge $400-450
Oct 23 2017 11:32AM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
IsitWinterYet17Or you could make the whole ski, but allow people to customize the look, similar to how you can make custom Nike shoes online. Charge $400-450

Already offering that for skis for $450. This is just to see if anyone wants to be able to make a ski the way want it to look with their own hands. Honestly it is a lot of fun designing/shaping a ski, and the best part is that first time you put them on snow and make that first turn.

**This post was edited on Oct 23rd 2017 at 12:54:52pm
Oct 23 2017 12:54PM
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Session
Posts: 5372 - Karma: 22,047
From the description....it sounds like a shitty idea.
Oct 23 2017 12:59PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4224 - Karma: 10,614
YES. snowboards has a similar concept:

https://www.yesnowboard.com/products/the-clark
Oct 23 2017 1:06PM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
SessionFrom the description....it sounds like a shitty idea.

What about it makes you think that?
hot.pocketYES. snowboards has a similar concept:

https://www.yesnowboard.com/products/the-clark

The process that I'm currently doing is a lot like what Yes and a few other companies like blank snowboards and powder jet are selling as blanks, so why not see if the ski world would like something like it.

**This post was edited on Oct 23rd 2017 at 1:35:24pm
Oct 23 2017 1:32PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6883 - Karma: 24,505
How do you install the edges? Seems like this will be too complicated for someone to do with a small bag of tools in their living room.
Oct 23 2017 5:16PM
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Rum_Ham
Posts: 1449 - Karma: 4,482
OregonDeadHow do you install the edges? Seems like this will be too complicated for someone to do with a small bag of tools in their living room.


You don't. It would be for powder only where edges don't really come into effect.
Oct 23 2017 6:04PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8874 - Karma: 35,643
OregonDeadHow do you install the edges? Seems like this will be too complicated for someone to do with a small bag of tools in their living room.


No edge....powder only is the idea behind these. All you would need is a jigsaw essentially.

They have been pretty popular in the snowboard community. Curious to see how they would sell in skiing. For 200 bucks especially.
Oct 23 2017 6:14PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6883 - Karma: 24,505
Saho3914You don't. It would be for powder only where edges don't really come into effect.


Oh really. I have skied edgeless skis before for XC and I'm not sure I'd ever buy a pair without edges even for XC.
Oct 23 2017 6:19PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6883 - Karma: 24,505
Profahoben_212No edge....powder only is the idea behind these. All you would need is a jigsaw essentially.

They have been pretty popular in the snowboard community. Curious to see how they would sell in skiing. For 200 bucks especially.


I mean that would be a dream day where conditions are 'Powder only' and edges make no difference at all. Probably any huge ski would be fun on a day like that.
Oct 23 2017 6:22PM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
OregonDeadOh really. I have skied edgeless skis before for XC and I'm not sure I'd ever buy a pair without edges even for XC.


Edgless works just fine in powder and it is very smooth and very surfy. Check out some footage on two different edgeless skis with the veneer/fiberglass base.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/879305/stellahttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/879306/bush-whacking--1-
Oct 23 2017 7:01PM
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WoFIowz
Posts: 9788 - Karma: 72,404
Swems like too small a market that will never take off. Best to include edges
Oct 24 2017 2:31AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6883 - Karma: 24,505
Can you sell the finished ski for the same price?
Oct 24 2017 11:49AM
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Rum_Ham
Posts: 1449 - Karma: 4,482
OregonDeadCan you sell the finished ski for the same price?


Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it? Also I'm just gonna go ahead and say no, they probably wont, due to added labor cost, materials, etc.
Oct 24 2017 12:12PM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
Saho3914Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it? Also I'm just gonna go ahead and say no, they probably won't, due to added labor cost, materials, etc.

Spot on.
Nov 9 2017 1:57PM
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Session
Posts: 5372 - Karma: 22,047
Man, what a great idea. You could make a ski that is super awesome for the first 30 minutes of the day. Then go back to the car and get a real ski with edges.
Nov 9 2017 5:01PM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
Taking orders check it out
https://smart-skis.com/50-50/
Nov 9 2017 9:44PM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124
SessionMan, what a great idea. You could make a ski that is super awesome for the first 30 minutes of the day. Then go back to the car and get a real ski with edges.

oh and if they fall apart you get the well there's a damn good reason theres
NO WARRANTY AVAILABLE
im going with fkna shitty idea
but there's guillible gumbies out there
Nov 10 2017 12:51AM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
SFBv420.0oh and if they fall apart you get the well there's a damn good reason theres
NO WARRANTY AVAILABLE
im going with fkna shitty idea
but there's guillible gumbies out there


I agree that sounded a little harsh. Not having one available is more due to the fact that the customer is the one that handles the finishing process. The skis made for sale always have a 2 year warranty because they are built to last. Changed the no warranty to a limited one year warranty that covers the pressing process/delamination and doesn't cover any of the finishing process that the customer does. That doesn't mean the customer can't ask questions during or after the ski is finished. What wouldn't be covered under the warranty for example, failing to apply wood sealer on the sidewalls or messing up while cutting the skis out.
Nov 10 2017 7:36AM
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Sharko
Posts: 2274 - Karma: 4,101
So basically I can pay $200 for some lumber, then I can pay more for finishing materials and tools, then I can do all the work myself, and when I'm all done I'll have an edgeless ski that probably sucks because I don't know how to shape a ski better then the pros?

For the total cost I could have bought used pontoons on ebay with bindings already on them, or get surface blanks for $350.
I'm really into DIY stuff and customization, but I don't think I would take this project on.
Nov 10 2017 11:43AM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4224 - Karma: 10,614
SharkoSo basically I can pay $200 for some lumber, then I can pay more for finishing materials and tools, then I can do all the work myself, and when I'm all done I'll have an edgeless ski that probably sucks because I don't know how to shape a ski better then the pros?

For the total cost I could have bought used pontoons on ebay with bindings already on them, or get surface blanks for $350.
I'm really into DIY stuff and customization, but I don't think I would take this project on.


Buying the tools to cut the shape and give a nice finish quality to it is going to be significantly less than buying all the tools to build a pair of skis from scratch. Sure, you could search through craigslist for some cheap older pow skis, that's not what this project seems to be about.

It's a cool idea, there's plenty of people out there that would love to build their own skis but lack the funds to make that dream a reality. This is giving those people a chance to do a good portion of the work / design without having to invest in a press, epoxy, specialty materials and expensive tooling. $200 and some quality working / design time and you get a pair of skis that will be fun for those deep days.
Nov 10 2017 3:47PM
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slimeball
Posts: 592 - Karma: 668
such a cool idea dude
Nov 12 2017 12:03AM
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Smart-Skis
Posts: 66 - Karma: 594
hot.pocketBuying the tools to cut the shape and give a nice finish quality to it is going to be significantly less than buying all the tools to build a pair of skis from scratch. Sure, you could search through craigslist for some cheap older pow skis, that's not what this project seems to be about.

It's a cool idea, there's plenty of people out there that would love to build their own skis but lack the funds to make that dream a reality. This is giving those people a chance to do a good portion of the work / design without having to invest in a press, epoxy, specialty materials and expensive tooling. $200 and some quality working / design time and you get a pair of skis that will be fun for those deep days.


Yup doing this for that reason to make it more accessible for people to make a ski they want, but without having to spend a lot of time and money on a press/tools/materials. If you already have a sander and a jig saw all you really need is wood sealer or epoxy and that is roughly $20. It will take some time yes, thats the fun of it taking your time enjoying the process of making something that will be one of a kind. Hoping to have some more footage in the coming weeks to show how well the skis perform and hold up for durability. I can say all day long how well they ski but rather prove it so everyone can see that these skis are made to rip.
Nov 13 2017 7:52AM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5000 - Karma: 50,530
I think it will be too hard to get both skis exactly the same, also edges are pretty tight
Nov 13 2017 10:54AM
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