Why you shouldn’t consider brand when choosing a ski

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard someone say “I’m surprised this is an XYZ ski!!” because they typically prefer another brand. We’re here to tell you to throw brand loyalty out the window.

Skis are less unique than you might think

While every brand may have their own unique feel, brands are constantly evolving. There’s plenty of overlap in designs out there. The ski industry is like a really small town — everyone has had dinner with the family next door. The ski designer who now works for Volkl has also worked for Atomic, Elan, or Salomon (or maybe even all three).

Trust me when I say that designers are copycats. Every time I’ve talked to another ski designer about construction, we talk about which ski was used as the basis for the new one. Everyone copies each other’s skis. 

Our first year, we knew that Rossignol, Elan, and Nordica all bought our skis to replicate. With computers and lasers readily available, it’s not that hard to do. Of course, they can’t replicate our technology, but that’s a different story.

Brand might not matter, but structure sure does

Width, length, stiffness — these are a few aspects that actually do determine a ski’s performance. Check out the 5 things we think matter most when picking out a ski: How to Pick the Right Ski.