Factory Visits: DPS Skis in Salt Lake City

Some History

As I learned at the factory, DPS was founded in 2005 and have since pioneered a variety of innovations in the ski industry, including the first 120 mm-waisted powder pintail, the first rockered ski with sidecut, and the world’s first (and only) pure pre-pregnated carbon fiber sandwich ski.

After eight years of manufacturing skis overseas, DPS moved their factory to Utah in 2013, and is now the leading domestic producer of skis. Building skis as close to good powder skiing as possible was an intentional decision aimed at minimizing how far the skis had to travel to mountains and integrating mountain culture into the DPS factory.

Inside the Factory

It’s not often that we actually get to see how our gear is made and it’s a pretty special experience to actually witness the process. At the DPS factory I was able to watch the DPS factory team transform an unassuming block of wood into a high-end carbon touring ski.

Skis may seem relatively simple from the outside, but most skis actually represent a complex amalgamation of different materials and precise shapes. At DPS, different parts of the factory are dedicated to different components of the ski, including a special room where topsheets are printed, a temperature-controlled area where ski bases are made and cut, and an open space for stone-grinding and putting the final touches on products.

On the tour, we watched a block of wood move through the shop as bases were added, camber was pressed, and topsheets were printed. Witnessing this transformation gave me a newfound appreciation for the incredible level of detail that goes into creating the technology that allows us to enjoy the experience of sliding around on snow.

The New Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL

The main attraction of my visit to the DPS factory was to learn more about their new Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL skis, which represent an update to the beloved Pagoda Tour line.

Launching later this summer, the new Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL features construction updates that align with DPS’ commitment to durability, sustainability, and performance. Specifically, the new carbon Pagoda Tour CFL skis include:

• A new carbon and flax laminate.
• Bio-based algal sidewalls from Checkerspot.
• Entropy bio-resin.

The new Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL line will also add a 105mm waist width ski to the Pagoda Tour family.

The most notable new feature on the Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL is the carbon and flax laminate (CFL), which is a new product developed by DPS. Flax is a natural fiber that has a much lower carbon footprint in manufacturing than carbon fiber. Weaving flax fiber into the pure carbon laminate thus helps lower the carbon footprint of the ski.

From a performance standpoint, this is also good news. The addition of flax increases torsional damping which is intended to reduce chatter in harder snow. This ski is rounded out by using a product called Entropy bio-resin and algal sidewalls to further reduce the carbon footprint by shifting away from traditional petroleum-based products. However, these skis retain the lightweight nature and durability of the classic DPS carbon ski.

Sustainability Measures

Sustainability in the ski industry requires massive innovations in materials design and a design system that can accommodate such changes, but it also necessitates thinking about how to reduce waste. DPS is leading the charge on waste reduction in multiple ways and, in touring the factory, it was clear to see that the company is constantly striving to improve on what they’re already doing.

The DPS Revive program offers an opportunity for DPS ski owners to trade in old DPS skis in exchange for credit toward a new pair. Your old skis will be refurbished and resold as part of the Revive collection. If you’re in the market for new skis and are open to buying used, you can also buy refurbished skis directly from the DPS Revive collection.

DPS also offers a lifetime warranty on its full-carbon ski products, including the Kaizen, Pagoda Tour, Pagoda, Pagoda Piste, Lotus and Powderworks models, purchased after July 1, 2022. Skis have to have been purchased from an authorized DPS dealer or directly from DPS qualify for a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. You can register your skis here.

Both of these initiatives reinforce DPS’ commitment to reducing waste in the industry and the company’s belief in the durability and quality of their product.