23.5 Degrees

23.5 degrees is the tilt of the earth. Our logo "G" is at that angle to represent two things. The first being a reminder we only have one earth. So don't waist it. the second is that little shift off axis gives the seasons. Our off season is usually filled with riding bikes. We have started the Grace Cycling team. It is comprised of David Liechty and Amir Al-Rubaiy. For the sake of possible podium time for a Grace Kit, we will certainly expand the team to accomplished riders that cross train with Kiwis, Kylies and Jakes underfoot. We sketched out a concept for the logo (above) and will "design" some kits to make us look faster!

Unbelievably, and a little daunting, we managed to get picked in the lottery for the Leadville 100. To finish respectfully we better start riding..between making skis of course! After the snow melts, we will see you in Leadville!

Some of the boys in Revelstoke..2011

Untitled from Chase Sheridan on Vimeo.

This week

We had a week full of a steep learning curve. We learned two new programs that communicate with a CNC machine. This 10 hour investment was worth every frustrating second. What took essentially the better part of a day Monday took an hour today. Tomorrow it will take 15 minutes. We had a few pitfalls in outcome as we attempted to CNC base material to a .007" tolerance. The end result will be perfect bases duplicated in minutes. The bit was not well chosen and the vacuum table didn't hold well enough. Easy fixes moving forward. A better bit and a dedicated "table" will fix the problems. We have 3 sets of bases (albeit not perfect) and a perfect mold ready for a run on Kylie 196s. Dave, Steve, and Ramon will be happy to test. We also have 2 Kylie 186 cores ready for profiling as well and 1 166. Random but we have our reasons.
Major progress and all under budget...

We also determined a stainless steel tip and tail would be best, as well as look sweet. With the new technology we can profile stainless and pocket mill the tip and tail details to accept the base inside the ski. Rock on..
Don't forget about laser cutting left over base material, what is usually in the landfill becomes usable!! We hate waist

Buddhist temple - Siem Reap, Cambodia

It isn't everyday we have friends follow up on our marketing projects in Cambodia. There isn't much snow there but evidently the placement and strategies are working and the Cambodians are getting the message that prototypes will be out end of march...

FWT Crested Butte

Day One Highlights: Crested Butte 2011 from Subaru Freeskiing World Tour on Vimeo.

Photo needs

FREELUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY

I would check them out..

Karma Bank

The week started out as perfect as one could expect. As I was riding my bike under Denver sunshine to meet a friend for brunch, a man pedaled the other direction on a Surly. Nice bike, looks just like the one that got stolen from me 16 months ago. Long story short he simply gave it back! I hope he enjoyed the "loan". Karma bank withdraw number #1.

We picked up two CNC'd Kylie 196 prototype cores today. They look perfect. One set is all Bamboo, the other is a matrix of bamboo and poplar. The Bamboo core weighs in at 2lbs-4.5oz (average between the two) the poplar matrix cores weigh in at 1lbs- 15oz. That half a pound is very noticeable. Moving forward there are scenarios that will come into play that effect the ski weight. So by prototype end we will have a composite weight to judge against. The CNC was free...Karma bank withdraw #2.

We signed up for a membership at Denver Club Workshop. Full access to CNC router, plasma cutter, welding, Lazar cutter and coffee etc. They gave me a free shirt and some free classes. Karma Bank Withdraw #3.

On the way home from Denver Club Workshop we hit a surplus store. Don't you know it they had .060" thick aluminium sheets 4'x12' for 70$. That is really cheap. These will be used to create cassettes. That is a long story and not very exciting. No Karma withdraw here but close.

Great day for the crew at Grace Skis...

2011 Mountain Hardwear Telemark Series

2011 Mountain Hardwear Big Mountain Telemark Series - Day Two Highlights from Telemark Skier Magazine on Vimeo.

Early ups

Check it www.earlyups.com

New Shop doors

We retro fitted a perforated 2"x 2" square tube with an Aluminium track and ran cased ball bearing in it. Dropped the doors with some u-bolts and we have doors. Two doors for 10$ each, a few studs and partical board. All this for sub 60$, not bad...

The oven went in its place as well..

From Moguls to Mountaineering.

Glen Plake via Peter Mason Via Sebastien montez-rosset..
Pro Skiers Eva Walkner and Glen Plake in Chamonix. Here is a film of their day in the Couloir Caché, in the heart of the Mont Blanc range. A superbe ski mountaineering line first skied in January 2009.

Res_o_lu-tion Skis

These four "kids" in Boulder have the right idea. I call them kids because I could actually have children their age if things went a little different my freshman year of college. I had the pleasure to ski around with this diverse crew at A-Basin last week. Tom, "The Talker" of the crew is motivated and forward thinking. He absolutely loves this shit. By this shit I mean everything involved in really skiing. Chris, "The Competitor" rips, no doubt he has trouble finding equals on the snow, and his attitude his perfect. Fun first, compete second and lives by the mantra, "one has to be good in bad conditions". I believe the "Doctor's" name was Mike. i could be wrong and I apologize in advance to the "Dr". This kid is going to save Chris and Tom when they are 40 still doing back flips in the park. Believe me, I wish I had a Dr.

The Talker, The Competitor and the Dr are making some skis in Boulder. Check them out, drop them some coin, maybe they will make you a pair. You still wont be as good as them on skis but you can dream...

Res_o_lu_tion SKIS

Wave skiing hitting abeach near you

Chuck Patterson Wave skiing

Rolling Along

We have spent a considerable amount of time out of the shop the last two weeks. SIA Show here in Denver, Something Independent panel discussion on small snowsport biz in Denver, and Landscape Architecture (why did that deserve a capitalization?) contract work so we can actually eat.

The Sia show was an experience in itself. We chatted away with "indie ski brands" and retailers. We confirmed that the retail route is the way to go. direct sales look good upfront and the margins look even better. In the long run a retailer can push better. We will worry more about consistent manufacturing and process and less about direct sales. The Something Independent hosted panel discussion was introduced by Governor Hinckenlooper. great in site into what it means to be in bi here in Denver and Colorado in general. The panel expanded on "made in Denver" or "made in Colorado". We got a small quote there at the end..

Setting foot back in the job that changed our path in life for a week of contract work was an eye opener. Thank you for the layoffs...we are onto better things.

Thanks everyone for the help along the way. We have a LONG way to go You know who you are but : Kate, Don, Donna, Len, Mark, Doug, Rick, Gordo, Thorpe, DeKoskies, Ramone, Amir and his Kayaks, Eric, Jeff and Kent,Kara, A-Basin....Who else....