the factory
WELCOME TO THE THUNDERDOME
This is where all the magic happens. We own and operate our factory in Reno, Nevada in the United States. All of our skis are built by hand in small batches using only the finest materials we can get our hands on. Every step happens right here, and no part of our process takes place outside of our walls...
THE FACTORY
Over the last two decades, we’ve gone from an extremely bare-bones operation in both resources and available space to something resembling a sophisticated setup. We’ve outgrown a couple smaller factory locations, and now we’re in our third.
Completely owned by Moment, we’ve built out this latest production facility from scratch—no more compromises on layout or making do with what the space allows. So when we say that we’re the ‘biggest little ski company in the world’, we mean it.
We may be smaller than the European giants, but don’t get it twisted—we’re the largest ski manufacturer in the United States and we don’t do anything in a small way.
There’s a lot that goes into making skis and even more that goes into making damn good ones. When it all comes together and you’ve got an allstar team, it comes down to three things: ingredients, machinery, and process. We like to think we’ve got all three pretty dialed.
MACHINERY
Just about all of the machinery is built custom to our spec.
If it’s not—well then it’s been torn down and rebuilt, retrofitted and modified so many times it may as well be. Anything that does come off the shelf we demand the absolute best.
That doesn’t mean we always want all the bells and whistles, that means more opportunity for customization and more options for modification and optimization down the road. When we say we do it all in house we mean it. We do it ALL in house.
And the thing about our machines is, they’re always changing. Because there is always a better way, and just when we think we have things all figured out we come up with something even better.
That’s why on any given day you’ll find our CEO elbows deep in a machine, covered in grease, rebuilding, repairing or modifying—not done up in a suit and tie talking with account execs or shareholders.
That’s just how it works ‘round here.
LAYUP
Layup is where the magic happens and where skis become skis.
Each of our carefully crafted parts are combined with some extra special secret sauce, a proprietary influx of black magic radiation and, of course, our unique formulation of exothermic epoxy that holds it all together.
Upwards of 15 different components, each with up to 6 different variations, are all laminated up inside a custom manufactured cassette before being placed inside a ski press to squish it all together.
Then, just like grandma's chocolate chip cookies, the skis are baked at a couple hundred degrees to ensure all that special epoxy is fully cured.
What pops out is something finally resembling a pair of skis, complete with the nice 'n pretty topsheet.
GRINDING
The grind room was a crowded place before the move. Not anymore, now it’s bright, spacious and loud.
Five large belt grinding machines, four stones, a few other odds and ends and a fully custom built ceramic edging machine to boot.
Oh, and we recently got a massive, fully automated, custom built and fully enclosed grinding machine that houses an additional four stones for the final structure. Overkill is underrated.
We always dreamed of having enough room to run everything all at once and, now that we have the space, we're able to run 100% of the machines 100% of the time.
Now when walking through, it’s the exception when there isn’t someone on every machine cranking away. It’s pretty rad to watch it all hum (if you don’t mind us saying so).
FINISHING
We call it the finishing room and sure, skis do get finished here, but really—it's home to a whole lot more.
All our skis go through a detuning process to prevent hookiness in 3D snow, get a fresh base wax, a stamp on the left sidewall to indicate the proper mounting location, and a fun saying stamped on the right sidewall.
After all that, our team of four-legged quality control inspectors carefully watch over employees as they peel the protective top layer off the ski, give it a thorough inspection for any issues, give the ski a wipe down, and carefully place the skis in shrink wrap.
Slap some stickers on the back and the skis are off to inventory, ready to be picked up in person, sent down the road, or shipped off across the world.
SHOWROOM
As for the finer details of the process—well, that’s where the magic happens. If you want a glimpse at that you’ll just have to come and see for yourself. We do have to keep some things a secret after all.
So come on down, we’ll walk you through the factory, talk shop, show off some new machines, and you can watch it all come together. Up front in our showroom you can feast your eyes on what all that hard work looks like—fresh from the oven. You can even get your hands on a few (we get it, you’ve just gotta touch things first). Hell, we’ll even service and maintain your skis for free—for life. So long as you bring them with you when you stop by. And if you catch us at the right time we’ll have a cold beer waiting for you.
Yeah, you read that right.
Our showroom is a fully functioning one stop ski shop. Everything you need from mounting and tuning to brand new boots and custom foot beds. We only stock the best gear, that we believe in, and that we use ourselves. So when you ask our opinion you won’t get a sales pitch, you’ll get only the straight dope—real experience and real specs. Not a bunch of one-size-fits-all marketing mumbo jumbo.
Reading about a ski factory is cool, if you’re into that sort of thing—but you’re still here, so safe to say you are—but experiencing a full walk though, is a whole different ball game. Come on by, we’d love to show it off. It is our baby after all.