Wooden skis

After contemplating the need for new skis, and deciding I didn't, I was curious about alternatives to mass produced commercial skis. I wondered if there were more environmentally friendly alternatives that also could perform. I've always  been a bit nostalgic, and try not to be overwhelmed by the latest and greatest fads and trends, there needs to be a correlation between functionality and technological advancement. I've also always been a fan of simple design and materials and have previously looked around at wooden skis as a viable alternative.

I started my search with a couple companies I had looked at previously, Rønning Ski, and Lightning Boards. While having slightly different approaches and history, both of these companies offer skis that are aimed at a niche market.  Rønning Ski has a long history of making wooden skis, but the addition of telemark and alpine skis is a fairly new market. What is unique about their skis is that they are 100% wood laminate. Lightning boards on the other hand are solid wood and have polycarbonate edges and P-Tex base. Both skis are 100% recyclable.

A couple of the other companies I found interesting include Grown  and Rabbit on the Roof, both which appear to be fairly new to the market, but also offering wood based alternatives to mass market skis. Particularly Grown taunts an eco-friendly approach to skiing. Rabbit on the Roof is a French company with a beautiful line of skis. Unfotunately my French isn't good enough to be able do much more than admire the pictures. Grown has a smaller line of skis, but is aimed at minimizing their environmental impact by exchanging conventional materials with recycled and alternative materials.

I can understand that there may be some concerns as to durability and performance, but it be interesting to try  a few of these skis to see how they compare. So the next time I actually do "need" new skis, I'll definitely look to something a bit more sustainable. As a bonus, it looks like I can end up with a beautiful pair of skis as well. I may have to find some wool knickers and leather boots though to make the look complete.