You wouldn’t fill your crystal carafe with wine from the corner shop. And you wouldn’t douse your plate of Michelin-star food with a dollop of ketchup. So why spend time, money and effort on ski lessons and practice only to then buy a pair of ‘off the rack’ skis? At Original+, they don’t see custom-made ski equipment as a luxury. They see it as a necessity.

Original+ are an Austrian ski equipment company taking skiing into the digital future. They do this via AI software that creates custom-made skis. By putting the individual at the centre of the building process, they shun the offence that is mass production. Because no two skiers are the same, so why should their ski gear be?

The passion behind Original+ comes from Siegfried Rumpfhuber. As a former ski racer, instructor, guide, and product manager at Fischer, Sigi is somewhat of an industry expert. Founding the company in 2016, Sigi ensured a thorough process of development. Over two years, Original+ sourced experienced ski manufacturers, high-quality materials and state-of-the-art machinery. Now, since 2018, they have sold over 1,200 ‘Perfect Fit Guarantee’ skis. Not-to-mention, they, along with Fischer, are the only two ski manufacturers that are 100% Austrian made.

Features

With custom-made skis, you can ski with more safety, more confidence, more amusement and, crucially, more style. The Original+ features make all this possible:

• Longitude flex: The amount that the ski bends under pressure is dependent upon the type and shape of the wood core, alongside laminate material. Laminates can be made from varying materials from titanyl, glass, fibre, carbon, or flax.
• Torsion: To influence the stiffness of the ski, different strengths of the laminate materials are used.
• Damping properties: Through the use of varying degrees and types of wood, laminate and rubber, the ski’s resistance against vibration can be fine-tuned.
• Weight: The weight of the ski will be dependent on its use – be it slopes, off-piste or touring, for example. But generally, Original+ skis are lighter than other brands.
• Binding: The binding is mounted to the ski at your ideal position.
• Tuning: Depending on the specific snow and piste conditions of your preferred regions, the tuning of the ski is adapted.

Software

Original+ offers skis exclusively fit for you. This sort of guarantee doesn’t rest on luck or guesswork. It rests on the highly technical AI software called ORIGO. After just a few questions, your perfect ski can be constructed.

These questions delve into your personal world of skiing. They assess whether you stick to alpine or venture to touring. They understand your skill level, speed, and technique, to the point of even inquiring after your preferred turn radius. They then ask a little more about your ski habits, from your favourite destinations to how many days of the year you spend galivanting through these bubbles of alpine luxury. Finally, they’ll use personal details such as gender, age, height, weight, and shoe size to make the finishing touches. And of course, they’ll let you choose the design of the ski itself.

Service

After your biometrical data has been collected and combined with your ski style, the geometrics of your bespoke skis are calculated. Then, it’s just 15 to 25 working days before they arrive on your doorstep. And Original+ don’t just stop at skis when it comes to bespoke ski gear. They tempt you with custom-made poles, headwear, and goggles too.

Original+ recognises that personal products are big decisions. So they invite customers to make a holiday out of it and come with the company to an array of ski resorts to test and try before taking the leap.

Even then, if you’re not satisfied with your ski equipment, Original+ will give you a refund or build you an entirely new pair of skis or whatever you please. And for those who get a little too daring, they provide a crash replacement service at a special price.

Original+ isn’t just about choosing your favourite colour or getting your initials engraved – although, granted, these are important factors. More so, it’s about getting skis made to fit. It’s not just about your preferences, but about your needs. Original+ skis are not simply customised skis, they’re custom-made skis.