SERVICE QUESTIONS

How do I get some stickers?

You've got a couple options. You can place an order for a sticker pack here for $10. Or, send us a self-addressed stamped envelope to WNDR Alpine 860 S 500 W SLC, UT 84101 and we'll take care of the rest. Additional cash toward the bevy fund and/or any random trinkets are bonus and will receive additional love.

I just ordered my dream skis/snowboard! How long until you ship? 

We typically get skis and snowboards in the mail within 1-2 days of ordering. If you’re pre ordering a new pair during the fall, check out the product page, where we list an estimated shipping date. Do note that if you’ve ordered ski bindings or touring skins for your skis or board, or you’ve ordered during our busy season (October through December), shipping times may be extended.

How do I start a ski/snowboard return or an exchange?

If you need to start a return, whether due to a warranty, sizing or any other issue, please begin by filling out our Love It or Return It form.  Once you’ve done so and submitted the form, we will respond via email within 24 hours informing you on how to proceed. 

How do I return any other item other than a ski/snowboard?

If you have a need to return anything other than a ski or snowboard, such as a shirt that doesn’t fit, or a broken ski pole, etc. please just email us at hello@wndr-alpine.com and we’ll provide instructions on how to proceed.  

Can you provide more information on your end of life Take Back Program?

For those of you with WNDR skis or snowboards that have reached the end of their usable life, we are offering our Take Back Program.  Obviously, in an ideal world, our skis and boards have held up for multiple seasons and you’ve got 300+ days on them. You take pride in keeping a regular and dialed tune on them and repair any core shot or burred edge with precision and diligence.  The greenest product you can ride is the one you already own, and we are all about that. 

But, if and when you do choose to get rid of your old skis/boards, we’d much rather you send them back to us, as opposed to having them uselessly sit in the back of the garage, or worse, end up in the landfill. Long term, we would love to create a closed loop process that diverts ski material from the landfill by reusing and recycling materials into new ski and snowboard builds, or simply using old materials for industrial applications. Used products  empower us to begin this process. 

We understand that skis and boards are meant to be ripped hard, and sometimes they are put beyond their capacity, and no longer have any life left.  Either you blow out an edge or bust the core smacking a rock or that hidden tree stump.  Or, you’re just ready for an upgrade to the quiver.  Whether they are still rideable or not, ideally our goal is to keep these from ending up in the trash can. 

If you’re ready to retire your skis/boards, we’re offering a 20% discount off a new pair once the skis/boards are returned.  Once we receive them back, we will review the ski and figure out what the best course of action is.  If they are just in need of a fresh tune, we would most likely get them fixed up and cycle them back through our HQ demo fleet, up on our site in the Archive section for resale, pass along to one of our local consignment partners to help find a new home, or even donate the skis/snowboards to a local charitable organization.  If the skis or snowboards are beyond the point of a quick fix/tune, we will set them aside to be broken down by our in-house granulator and reserve the material for incorporation as new components in future skis/snowboards, and or other products inside or outside the ski space. 

To begin the process, just reach out to us via phone, live chat (on the left of the website) or via email at hello@wndr-alpine.com.  

Where can I demo your skis and snowboards?

We understand that, for many, the whole “try before you buy” motto rings true, so it’s important to give skiers the ability to test our skis before pulling the trigger.  Currently, we have a demo program available for shops that align well with our mission and also want to be a part of the WNDR story. If you work at a shop or know of a shop that would be a good fit, we’re all for hearing from you. Never hurts to let your local ski shop know that you’re interested in trying out WNDRs as well.  

Click on our Dealer Locator for a complete worldwide listing of shops that currently carry WNDR Alpine.  And, if you’re not in any of those areas, we have our HQ demos available to ship anywhere within the US.  You can find more info on that here.  And, for every dollar spent on testing out a pair of our demos, we’ll equip you with a gift card to apply to your new pair when you’re ready to pull the trigger.

I love what you’re doing.  How can I represent the brand?

If you’re an avid skier and align with our mission, we’d love to hear from you.  Please fill out our Ride with Us form located here or at the bottom of our site. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

PRODUCT QUESTIONS

I'm torn on whether to get the camber or reverse camber profile. Do you have any advice?

We have an in depth write up on the camber vs. reverse camber debate that you can find here. If you still have questions after reading, we're more than happy to help. Drop us a line, give us a call or hit the chat button on the right of the page.

Are your skis and snowboards gender-specific?

They are designed to be unisex, offered in a variety of lengths, with a large sweet spot underfoot for a variety of different skier/boarder types and ski/snowboarding styles. Consult our size chart and/or get in touch with us at hello@wndr-alpine.com to find your perfect fit. As we grow, we will be adding shorter sizes if your ideal size isn’t currently available.

Where do you recommend mounting?

For 21/22 models or later, we have incorporated an indented line on the top sheet that corresponds to recommended boot sole center. For specific measurements from the tail notch, please refer to the ski model product pages in the spec sheet at the bottom of the page. When in doubt, contact us on live chat on the left side of the site, via email at hello@wndr-alpine.com or call us at 801-415-1815 with any questions.

How do I size my snowboard?

Please refer to the Size chart on the product page.. Typically it's based on the weight of the rider. For reference our Belletour 156 is typically in the range of (130-180lbs 59-82kg).

How do I adjust my splitboard tip, tail and latches?

For new Splitboards you shouldn’t need any adjustments. All the parts should connect and slide smoothly together. If your Splitboard has been used and needs a little tightening, loosen the 3mm allen bolts and slightly adjust to tighten the center seam.

What bindings work on my snowboard and or splitboard?

We use the industry standard insert pattern that offers a wide option of stance locations based off of our reference stance located on the snowboards. This allows most bindings to mount properly from any binding manufacture. (note: the only system that does not work is Est channel bindings) This is the same for Splitboards. We also sell Union and Spark bindings on the site and love the way they ride!

What edge bevel do you use on your skis and snowboards?

We run a 1° base edge bevel and a 2° side edge bevel.

Do you detune your skis and snowboards?

Skis and Boards are not detuned once they are finished.

BRAND QUESTIONS

Why the snowy owl? 

Inspired by sightings on ski tours deep into the backcountry of Interior BC, the snowy owl symbolizes the magic and awe of the alpine experience. Fast and agile, yet powerful, we think it’s a fitting metaphor for the products we create. Learn More.

Did Matt Sterbenz join Checkerspot having skis in mind?

I joined Checkerspot with the title GM of Winter Sports so I would remain engaged in my life long love affair with skiing in some way. Of course, the first few months were very exploratory. I focused on setting up a "Design Lab" in SLC where we would have the resources to animate the physicality, as everything back in Berkeley is molecular research and testing materials at a super small scale. Once we got a spot, we started to identify a team of local suppliers with experience casting polyurethanes, as well as engineers. A lot of those relationships carried over but some are completely new.

By December, 2018, we wanted to begin laminating and then on-snow testing to follow after the holidays. By February, I was already on version 5, enjoying our "prototype" so much that I became convinced that after a few more tweaks we should just make our own skis. So we decided to build a brand to drive the technology and story forward, as the lack of proof in design of our technology wasn't very conducive to setting up partnerships. Along the way we've identified several polyurethane applications in skis and snowboards that our molecule will improve the performance characteristics of what is currently used. This approach to ski building is providing us the physical vehicle we need to show and prove our technology and fuel the innovation of new materials for specific applications. We can dissect what’s existing and reimagine the origin of how petroleum-based materials perform and, for me, that’s at the heart of why I decided to join Checkerspot, and start WNDR Alpine. - Matt Sterbenz - WNDR Alpine Founder & GM

Why should I buy WNDR over a well established brand?

As to why support WNDR versus any other established brand, just look down and see that the materials haven’t changed that make up your skis/snowboard. Those same brands use the same materials as all the others, just in a different configuration, shape and color. In some cases, they even feel the same. We’ve taken on the challenge to reinvent what these world class skis and snowboards are made of. That being said, WNDR is more than a product, it’s given birth to a community of advocates who are seeking change across a variety of technological and environmental interests, all seeking to play a role in reducing our impact on the tracks we create and leave behind. 

First and foremost, our goal is to use biotechnology to introduce new, better materials, from a non-petroleum source. While we never claimed that we’re the most sustainable right out of the gate (again, above all we’re performance-driven), we’ve made it a goal to use this technology to increase the amount of bio-based plastics and composites in a ski and snowboard, and in doing so, reduce our reliance on petroleum products in building. We view this project as a continuum, and we’re just getting started.

We invite you along to experience this journey into the world of new materials for outdoor gear - it's sure to be an interesting one. Or, if you're in the SLC area, come by our design lab and check out what we're working on in person!

MATERIAL QUESTIONS

What’s different about WNDR Alpine’s materials? 

The outdoor industry has long been restricted to materials that aren’t purpose-built for use in technical outdoor gear. And the vast majority of them come from environmentally harmful resources.  Using the power of biotechnology, we’re unlocking new materials with improved performance characteristics. Using Checkerspot’s unique biotechnology platform, we’re building better materials, with better performance properties for specific use in alpine products. The icing on the cake: we derive these materials from microalgae - a renewable, biological resource.

Why are microalgae so special?

Microalgae are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth, having existed for literally billions of years. In fact, all higher plants evolved from microalgae.  Over these billions of years, some microalgae developed the ability to produce large amounts of oil. We can use this pristine oil to create a wide range of new materials - using biology, polymer chemistry, and materials science along the way to reach novel performance characteristics.  Microalgal oils also have an extremely low impact in terms of land and water use, and carbon footprint, as we can produce large amounts of it with very few inputs.

How do you grow your microalgae? 

We grow them by feeding them sugar in stainless steel fermentation tanks. Picture your local microbrewery, but with more scientists :)

Does the Algal Core take the place of carbon? 

Our Algal Core isn’t replacing carbon, as we still use a small amount to help with stiffness in our skis and boards. Carbon doesn’t aid in making a ski more damp but the Algal Core does. The Algal Core doesn’t directly mimic other building materials; rather, it’s its own material with its own unique performance benefits.

What does the algae have to do with the ski/snowboard's performance? 

We're creating our products because of the new performance characteristics that our technology can unlock. In the case of the ski and snowboard core, we developed a bio-based material to improve bulk strength to weight, torsional rigidity and dampness characteristics. These materials, aside from targeting our desired performance characteristics, are derived from a renewable resource - in this case, microalgae. Granted, the most sustainable ski/snowboard possible would be a hand-carved single plank of wood. But for those of us that want cutting edge performance from modern materials, microalgae offers something quite revolutionary:  The ability to gradually reduce our reliance on petroleum products, and improve ski and snowboard performance while we do it.