Some of the most innovative, progressive winter gear is made right here in Utah.
When it comes to winter sports, it’s not just the mountains that make Utah a world-class hub for ski and snowboard culture. Some of the most innovative, progressive winter gear is made right here in Utah, with dozens of companies based in the foothills of the powdery Wasatch Mountains.
Global ski companies like Atomic, Salomon and Rossignol have migrated their US headquarters to Utah because of the state’s stellar terrain and its roots in winter sports, bringing cutting-edge technologies one lift closer to the slopes. Atomic and Salomon, located in Ogden, have breathed new life into this once booming city, helping to create an outdoor mecca for winter enthusiasts, while Rossignol feels right at home among Park City’s classic ski town culture.
Utah’s ski and snowboard scene has attracted many independent companies too, which has blazed a new trail for more creative, experimental winter gear. Niche Snowboards in Salt Lake literally lives up to its name. No other company can claim an entire line of environmentally responsible snowboards like Niche, thanks to a combination of organic and natural materials like volcanic basalt, hemp and pine tree resin. RAMP Sports (aka, Riders Artists Musicians Project), has been experimenting with never-been-done manufacturing techniques in their Park City factory, allowing them to demo their prototypes when they’re fresh off the press at the nearby resorts and tweak any changes the same day.
But not all ski and snowboard companies need a chairlift to test their revolutionary products. Salt Lake-based Black Diamond Equipment and Voile create some of the industry’s most technical alpine touring and splitboarding gear for deep backcountry adventures. The neighboring Wasatch and Uinta Mountains boast a few million acres of undeveloped wilderness, providing powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders with near perfect touring conditions for their backcountry setup.
Regardless of where and what you ski, proper boots will affect how you ski. The experts at Surefoot and DaleBoot make comfort a priority with their approach to custom ski boots and insoles. Using high-tech equipment to analyze your pressure points and foot shape, these Utah-based companies build performance boots and orthotics tailored to your exact specifications.
And after you’ve taken stock of your gear, lifestyle-driven companies like Skullcandy and Discrete Headwear can put the bass-boosting headphones from Skullcandy are the official ear-wear of Park City. The colorful headphones pair exceptionally well with one of the stylish and warm beanies from pro skier Julian Carr’s mountain apparel company, Discrete Headwear, in Salt Lake.
