Our Technology
Our Technology
Composites without Compromise
We wanted a better backcountry ski. So we built one—from the molecule up using biotechnology.
Composite materials of all kinds have existed in everything ranging from aircraft to bikes. And more recently, composites like carbon fiber have been repurposed by ski brands. But materials suppliers have never built materials explicitly with skiing in mind. For the first time in history, we’re using biotechnology to design materials specifically for backcountry skiing.
With our algal composite at the core, we’ve improved our ski’s torsional stiffness-to-weight ratio and edge hold, enabling superior performance up and down the mountain.
• Proprietary bio-based composite designed from the ground up to optimize performance in our backcountry freeride skis
• More stable ride feel for firm snow and harsh impacts
• Comparable strength to weight ratio of a carbon fiber ski
Part biotechnology, part chemistry and materials science, and part fabrication, our technology platform allows us to create new, bio-based materials with novel performance characteristics.
MOLECULAR FOUNDRY
Our platform begins with microalgae. We grow these algae in fermentation tanks in Berkeley to produce entirely new types of oils - oils that chemists have not had access to because the petroleum industry has no means to produce them.
Chemistry & Materials Science
These oils act as molecular “building blocks,” which we can chemically modify and utilize to design new materials with specific performance characteristics in mind.
FABRICATION
We use these new materials to prototype our products at our Design Lab in Salt Lake City where we test them using state of the art technology in the lab and in the field by our athletes.
DESIGN WITH INTENTION
So why are we doing this?
The answer is quite simple: this allows for the more intentional design of the equipment we rely on.
Instead of being forced to choose from a limited selection of existing materials to use in a product, we design the performance characteristics we want directly into the materials we produce. This empowers us to use sustainable materials to produce better performing gear - gear designed from the molecule up for a better outdoor experience.
