Ski History
The Evolution of the Ski
| c. 1850: | Cambered ski invented by woodcarvers in Telemark, Norway. |
| 1868: | Sondre Norheim introduced "Telemark ski," the first with a sidecut that narrowed the ski underfoot while the tip and tail remained wider. |
| 1882: | First hickory skis were produced in Norway. |
| 1893: | The first two-layer laminated ski was built by H.M. Christiansen in Norway. |
| c. 1895: | Great Grandpa Otnes built first Otnes Wood Skis in Norway. |
| 1928: | Segmented steel edge invented by Rudolph Lettner of Austria. Prototype for solid aluminum skis built in France. |
| 1930: | Rudolph Lettner invented and patented steel edge to prevent skis from wearing down. His ski racing daughter discovered that edges drastically improved grip when turning on hard snow. |
| 1932: | First successful three-layer laminated skis invented and marketed under Splitkein label in Norway and Anderson & Thompson in US. |
| 1934: | Limited production of solid aluminum ski by M. Vicky in France. |
| 1935: | First Kandahar cable binding holding skier's heel to ski. |
| 1939: | Hjalmar Hvam invented world's first useful release binding. |
| 1944: | Cellulix, the first cellulose plastic bottom, made for Dynamic skis in France. |
| 1945: | First aluminum-laminate ski with wood core manufactured using a formedahyde-based adhesive created to hold airplanes together. |
| 1946: | Gomme ski-first to use three different layered materials-produced in England. |
| 1948: | Chris Hoerle of CT created "Chris Ski", the first with continuous, low-drag, integral steel edge. |
| 1949: | Howard Head marketed aluminum Head Standard, the first commercially successful aluminum ski. |
| 1952: | First fiberglass-reinforced plastic ski spread idea of a ski with more liveliness and less vibration than aluminum ski. |
| 1955: | Henke Speed Fit buckle boots appeared. |
| 1957: | First useful aluminum ski poles made by Scott. |
| 1959: | First successful plastic fiberglass ski invented; eventually replaced both wood and aluminum in slalom racing and most recreational skis. |
| 1960: | First commercially successful fiberglass skis marketed. |
| 1989: | Volant Skis, first commercially manufactured steel skis introduced. |
| 1990: | Prototypes of deep-sidecut "shaped" skis built, moving from classic Telemark geometry toward a generation of easy-carving skis. |
| 2010: | Otnes USA introduced Old School Woodies. |
| 2011: | Otnes USA introduces the worlds first wood cap ski. |
News
Winter 2012
New skis!
Big changes are happening at Otnes USA. For 2012 we have moved all of our ski production to our new Idaho facility. Later this year we are also introducing our new 2013 All-Mountain rockered wood cap ski, which we believe is a worlds first. The new skis are built using Michigan poplar cores and caps and feature our new torsion strut core design. With 20cm of front early rise rocker these skis are "lots of fun in marginal conditions" without sacrificing edge hold on hardpack.
Dimensions are 126-90-116 @ 175cm. Suggested Retail is $889 usd. Shop demos are available in January 2012.
Summer 2011
Otnes USA skis for sale online!
Otnes USA is excited to announce that our online store is set to launch soon. We'll have skis and accessories of all kinds. More information coming soon!