Overview

A pair of American-made skis is the perfect souvenir when you visit the Sun Valley, especially if you decide you want to return. Big Wood Ski will custom make a handsome set for you, but keep in mind: These aren’t for amateurs. The Ski Shaper™, Caleb Baukol, knows how to craft them to World Cup specifications. After all, he has been obsessed with perfecting skis for almost 30 years.

This Idaho Green Powered company designs Custom Alpine Skis, Children’s Powder Skis and Nordic Skis. What looks like a slender slab of wood is much more. At its core are pure bamboo, fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar. As if that doesn’t provide enough strength and flexibility, each ski is also carefully constructed with carbon steel edges, strips of vibration-reducing rubber foil and resistance-building black carbon. The finishing touch is your choice of a rich cherry, traditional maple, edgy African Bubinga or textured zebra wood finish. It’s impossible not to be a proud owner.