As a female who is a ski instructor (and sometimes teaches children), as well as someone who typically likes to keep their equiptment mostly not R-rated, I take issue with some of the top sheets out there these days. Interestingly, I’m in the young 20s age bracket (target market for more inappropriate graphics)and in my experince, many of my bad-ass ripper friends who purchase a pair of stix with the over-the-top graphics do so because they like the ski’s physical design as opposed to its ostentatious colors.

A great example right now is the women’s-specific Volkl Aura (in the Volkl attiva series; similar to the Mantra in construction, and the closest thing in the women’s line to the very popular Gotama). This ski has gotten rave reviews since its inception two seasons ago, and has consistenly been considered the standard for a single-quiver, mid-fat, women’s specific all mountain ski for very agreesive, expert women skiers. The downside? This year, the ski features a hot-pink, gold, and black, geisha woman, complete with gold-embossed cleavage. If you can believe it, the ski is even flashier in person than its on-web depiction.

As an instructor, I’m torn: this is the perfect all mountain ski for me, made by an industry leader (volkl), and unlike any other ski on the market in terms of construction. But do I want to teach the “pizza” and “french fries” to little girls while riding on that monstrosity? Absoultely not.

As a result, I’m forced to hide away my freeskiing quiver while interacting with anyone below the age of 18 or over the age of 35!

I wish I had the guts to spraypaint the topsheet

At least you haven’t gone the way of Burton with the Playboy topsheets.

I respect what you guys are doing and know the battle that you’re facing in building a small ski company, but IMO you should ditch the bikini babes and maybe you’ll sell more skis.

I suggest you respect companies that are trying new and different things.

Plus, if you really want to see cool topsheets, look at the other offerings from Boone Skis. They are high-design. Go to http://www.booneskis.com and see for yourself.

Thanks.

Thanks for chiming in! By no means do I want to discount your efforts–especially being a small company. I just think you could do better than just succumbing to the lowest-common-denominator of bikini-clad women. It’s an easy way to get short-term gain IMO.

Keep rockin’ it guys… come out with cool designs that can appeal to more people besides horny teenagers. Those with money and discerning tastes will choose other skis. You guys are young and scrappy… you’ll figure it out and I wish you the best of luck, even if I happen to dislike your bikini lady design.

Definitely, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder, but I think that most people can agree on an “appropriate” ski design that’s not R-rated. No matter how great the ski is, I’m not bringing home a pair of skis with a bikini babe on them. My main point is appropriateness. I’ve had some ugly skis that were ugly, but I didn’t care… But, then there are some designs that simply are distasteful.

I just watched the video on your site that describes your custom ski production process… AWESOME! You guys are doing some great things there at Wagner!

For anyone interested, here’s a link to the video:

http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2008/wagner-custom-factory-video/