Ski season is schussing along, that time of year when cold-weather couture is on parade from the Yellowstone Club to Courchevel. To handle the terrain—whether it’s a groomed run, glade or powder bowl—you’ll need skis that can carve with you and bring out your best. And it doesn’t hurt if they also happen to look good. The bespoke sticks from these Stateside builders will turn heads well before your first tracks.
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Folsom Custom Skis
Image Credit: Courtesy of Folsom Custom Skis After a walk-in or phone consultation with Denver-based Folsom Custom Skis, the crew will construct skis that factor in the overall shape, tail, camber and rocker that are right for you, usually within two to four weeks. Starting at $1,299, each pair features a core made from various blends of poplar, maple and bamboo and a specific composite lay-up in varying percentages of fiberglass and carbon, depending on your preferred terrain and conditions. A lightweight, all-carbon option is also available for those who earn their turns by ascending on foot.
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Parlor Custom Skis
Image Credit: Courtesy of Parlor Custom Skis Located in Boston, this company gets its name from the former funeral parlor where the three founding friends first set up shop. But don’t let that deter you. Parlor not only handcrafts and tailors every plank to your unique skier profile but also offers you the option to experience the process hands-on through its build class. During the two- to three-day course, clients will help with every aspect, from bases to topsheet to sanding the side walls. The total cost of $1,750 includes the fitting, instruction, skis and even what they feed you while working.
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Romp Skis
Image Credit: Courtesy of Romp Skis Started in a garage by brothers Morgan and Caleb Weinberg in 2010, Romp has quickly gained acclaim for its custom skis. After you call (or fill out an online form) and are interviewed by a Romp expert, the team in Crested Butte, Colo., will handcraft the fully custom boards (starting at $2,000) to your precise needs—whether you know them or not. Make sure to tick the Countervail option, as it replaces fiberglass with carbon-fiber construction and includes patented carbon-fiber, vibration-canceling material that helps dampen the shakes on those icier hills.
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WhiteRoom Skis
Image Credit: Courtesy of WhiteRoom Skis After ski savant Vin Faraci’s own handmade boards were all the buzz at lift lines, he started creating custom skis on request in 2013. Based in northern Vermont, WhiteRoom Skis is a one-man operation that specializes in cores made primarily from locally sourced wood and one-of-a-kind topsheets with intricate inlays. Faraci usually produces only 12 to 15 pairs—each starting at $975—every year, reflecting his priorities: “I don’t want to be building skis when I should be skiing.”
