How Are Skis Made?

Snow skiing is a popular recreational sport; however, skis were originally used as a mode of quick transportation in wintry and mountainous areas. Skiing is thought to have originated in the Scandinavian regions over 5,000 years ago. Early skis were carved from animal bone, but today they are made of several different materials such as polyurethane, plastic, wood and aluminum.

  1. Methods of Manufacturing

    • There are three different ways to manufacture skis --- torsion-box, single-shell and laminated. Laminated skis are the most common. These skis can contain many different materials, including wood, steel, aluminum and plastic. These materials are layered on top of one another with a core layer in the center. In the torsion-box method, the core material of the ski is surrounded by carbon fibers or fiberglass. These layers are wrapped around the core material rather than being stacked on top and beneath it. In the single-shell method, the skis are constructed from durable materials such as wood, but this material is enclosed by a shell made of fiberglass or plastic.

    Cutting the Skis

    • Skis are most often produced in factories. Each layer of the skis is cut individually before they are combined. Ski factories have computer-operated machines which are controlled by a factory technician who programs the computer to cut the exact dimensions needed for the ski being cut. The machines both cut and mill the skis and collect the excess materials which are often returned to the supplier of the materials to recycle.

    Pressing the Skis

    • Once all of the materials have been cut, the layers need to be put together to form the ski. The core materials as well as the additional layers are placed into a machine which presses them together. An epoxy resin is applied to seal these layers together to form the ski.

    Bonding and Graphics

    • Once the ski's layers have been pressed and sealed, a polyurethane base is added to the ski. This helps the ski run smoothly on the snow. Steel edges are also bonded to the skis for protection. Graphics, such as the ski company's logo, are usually added at the end. However, depending on the method of manufacturing, they could be added before the materials are pressed together.