Gaining Traction

Today was a good day for Grace. The research is coming together. We have made a preliminary decision to go with the Entropy Epoxy. http://www.entropyresins.com/ . This looks like the best alternative to the more harmful products on the market. If entropy holds up, doesn't suffer from UV exposure or become too brittle in low temps, we'll have a winner. Time will tell. We will have to press a few and go skiing.
Testing is going to be rough work.
We are pinpointing the manufacturing site. We think "Studio" is a better word as it conjures up a work of art. If all goes well, we will have a studio space in the next weeks. When that conversation is complete we will relinquish the spot. We "dumpster dove" a red office chair, my behind enjoyed it all day, major progress and improvement in ergonomics today. We thought about using Beetle Kill wood in the stringers as well as bamboo. What is Colorado going to do with all that wood? Burn it?
We researched CNC Routers...what a luxury that would be. Does anyone have 10K in USD tucked in their red corporate couch cushions to invest? Thus bringing up todays final thoughts: Would anyone be interested in investing...Would we even be open to investors to help get this thing off the ground?

Tomorrow: SKI PRESS

Eco_test

Grace will make one ski from all eco friendly materials. It will be a replica of one ski in the BM (Big Mountain) line in both shape and behavior. "Ecotest" will be instilled with every environmentally friendly sound product we can get our hands on. For example, we are currently looking into pine epoxy, recycled and/or reclaimed woods, cork cores, recycled foams, less waste in manufacturing (huge problem in the biz currently) hemp fabrics and anything and everything on the market.
The logo isn't tilted at 23.5 degrees to represent the obliquity of Mars.

These skis will be respectfully pressed in a limited run, to be sold to a band of "eco testers" i.e. conscientious skiers willing to test,deliver feedback and become an inherent part of the design process. We will be transparent with these results.
Grace doesn't believe that making a sub par product is worth "green" recognition if it fails on the snow, so we will create the best product first with the industries best materials and work in the test ski materiality when our manufacturing process is efficient. Materials, manufacturing process and ultimately the product needs to withstand a rigid "life cycle assessment. A 'Life Cycle Assessment' (LCA, also known as 'life cycle analysis', 'ecobalance', and 'cradle-to-grave analysis') is the investigation and evaluation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service caused or necessitated by its existence.
One day our kids will appreciate this sort of scrutiny.

We are starting this business with the intention of doing what is right....we stand on this cornice with a goal to make excellent skis, first and foremost, and within this-coming head over heals tumble of process and product-we hope to land on top of the debris with a quality product that respects itself, buyer, sport and earth.

With Dooley's Confirmation

KYLIE is the spelling! Photos coming soon.

grace ski start

So we brain dumped and came up with a ski naming process. Kate likes it and so do I... so here it goes: Every season (at least the first) Grace will create three skis in the line. and all Big Mountain Skis (BMS). Each ski will be made in two sizes. I don't appreciate ever being asked if I will make a woman's specific ski. Nobody asks if I will make a men's specific ski. The ski really doesn't know if a male or female is pressuring the tip. And skiing is not a gender specific sport unless one wants to spec some pink and blue and market a "true ski experience" to men and woman. Enough of that. Grace will make skis to be skied on by people who want to ski. And who not won't define themselves by a skis graphics. But that's a story for another time.
Anyhoo:
Three skis the first year:
1: The KIWI Big Mountain Powder (BMP-KIWI)
2: The Kiellie Big Mountain All (BMA-Kiellie)
3: The Jake Big Mountain Touring (BMT-Jake)
The specifics of these skis will be outlined when they get outlined but the story behind them is reminicent of a great time.
Never has there been a better dog on this earth, one with more personality, power, attitude and dominance then KIWI. We've all had dogs in our day with great personality traits but Kiwi deserves the BIG MOUNTAIN POWDER moniker. Kiwi wasn't all that thin, as late night stops at the Good Times Drive through and three nights in the Arapahoe? National forest chewing on Elk Femurs will attest. These romps definitely affected his waist line, thus the reverse camber and side cut that will be specified in the middle of the BMP-KIWI. Kiwi had some attitude...and as a friend once told me, his name should have been fuck you.
Miss all 110 LBS of ya buddy,
Kiellie (spelling will have to be checked with Dooley, by the way how is your neck?) She was a lover not a fighter, she did everything from lick your face to lean on you with loving support. She once jumped from a truck, i think it was going too slow for her liking, on route 6 coming down from A-Basin one spring afternoon. She took to the cement like is was her job, did three tumbles and got up galloping with her ever present positive attitude. If you knew her style, she did it all, got away with it and loved everyone. The Kiellie does it all with love and affection. Jake, was a Black Lab to the fullest. Athletic, attentive, in shape and ready for any and all uphill and downhill pursuits. That dog had keen brown eyes that could advise you from tying an ill-advised dry dropper? he responded to every "load up", "sit" and "stay" by George (one hell of a telemark skier, smooth as his pooch). Simply put this dog could get around on all-terrain.

So that is it. Three skis for the first year...The BM line is all she wrote as I don't do 720's (anymore) and don't have the expertise to make a ski to do that on frozen ramps. Should I have rescued a smaller, quicker pooch then KIWI?
NO WAY.
Update on Kiellie spelling coming soon...off to get some non-toxic epoxy....and peruse some I-beams.
PS: I would post more pictures but those were the days before digital cameras and GoProvideo footage.