Why you should know him: Cudmore’s handmade Meier Skis literally showcase Colorado wood, including beetle-killed blue-stain pine and aspen from Grand Mesa, thanks to a clear top coat over the wood core. A drafter/designer for a Glenwood Springs civil engineering firm, Cudmore builds each pair of skis from the core out. He sells 30 to 40 pairs annually, starting at $650, at .
Q: Why did you start designing skis?
A: I wanted to design my own because I wanted to combine certain aspects of skis I like — the playfulness of the Salomon Pocket Rocket with the aggressiveness of the HellBent Pon2oon. I wanted something you could use at a resort or heli-skiing.
Q: Meaning?
A: Some of those big powder skis are great for powder, but once you’re on hardpack and trying to get back to the lift, it’s a suicide mission. I wanted to make something you can ride every day, throughout the season. These skis are designed for big mountain powder, but excel on groomed runs and do great on ice.
Q: Why do you use wood instead of laminate?
A: A wood core has good structural characteristics and vibration density. I was shooting for something different, something local, something Colorado, that’s a completely different look from anything else out there. All my wood is hand-selected. No knots. The base materials and sidewall materials are all overrun from K2 and Burton. The top sheet is clear so you can see through to the wood. Everyone absolutely loves it.
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com
