Skis with a personal angle
European tradition, US tech and custom fitting enhance performance
Winter is coming ever closer, and with it the promise of snowy pistes – and, possibly, new skis. If you’re looking to optimise your performance this season, then now is the time to commission a pair of bespoke Wagner Custom Skis – beautiful designs that are created to your exact specifications using “Skier DNA” software (from about $1,750).
The process is actually quite simple. After filling out a detailed online questionnaire, a member of Wagner’s tech team (and often founder/engineer Pete Wagner himself) gathers further information about each client’s unique goals, his or her body type, strength and agility, as well as riding style and preferred range of terrain and snow conditions. And whether you’re schussing down a French Alp or scaling backcountry peaks in the Rockies, these skis are all created for “overall better balance, comfort and control”, explains Wagner.
While Wagner’s dream skis involve technological innovations, the basics remain as they have for years. At the heart of each ski is a hardwood core – often North American maple, ash or aspen for lighter models – with bases of the finest, most durable World-Cup-worthy P-tex (a polyethylene that enhances efficient glide) from Switzerland. Skis can be reinforced with Kevlar to protect against rocks and debris, and all edges are crafted from high-strength carbon steel. The structural layers include everything from aerospace-grade fibres to aluminium reinforcements, plus Wagner’s own carbon-fibre torsion box – all designed to reinforce the stiffness of the ski in the most lightweight manner possible. Top sheets are sourced from Austria and clients can choose between a wide variety of finishes, from solid colours to elegant, hand-crafted wood veneers to limitless patterns and graphics.
Arguably the best part of ordering a pair of these sculptural skis is the process of co-creating them with the Wagner team. Besides all being truly passionate about the sport, they’ll fit the bindings and provide personalised direction on the best ski boots and gear. The design process takes approximately three weeks from start to delivery (via FedEx), and satisfaction is guaranteed. After a 30-day trial period, if a customer isn’t happy with the skis, they may be returned and completely rebuilt, or the money refunded.
Wagner Custom Skis are a significant cut above factory-produced models in every way. As Pete Wagner himself says: “Custom equipment helps with power and efficiency, and the benefit is of course enhanced performance. But mostly, it just makes skiing more fun.”