I'm Jazzed!

I'm Jazzed.

Rock on. 

www.skilab.com/projects/rondonnier/

The Rondonniers ship next week.
Check this out...







Kam messaged me today telling me:

“Ron - update on your skis.

They are 99% done.  For the last 1%, I need to sacrifice a snow chicken, let the skis sit and cure for one week, then ship to you!  I'll put them in the mail sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The graphics on the topsheet printed nicely.  I was happy with how they turned out.  The pine/maple cores were vertically profiled after the sidecut shape was cut on the CNC machine. 

Afterwards, I attached the sidewall material to the wood core.  I chose canarywood (exotic) for the sidewalls for several reasons.  First, the orange-reddish brown color of the wood and the grain pattern go well with the colors and lines on the topsheet.  Second, the wood is very hard and can take a beating -- it registers above 3000 on the Janka scale.  Finally, it is pretty decay resistant and well suited for the conditions of the Northwest.  And oh, it's also resistant to termites and such just in case you have some hungry mouths around. 

I added some carbon fiber for added snap, and a few other spices that will sweeten your ride.  The bases are all waxed up and ready to touch the snow.  When you get ready to mount, give me a shout and I'll provide some thoughts on where to put the bindings so you can zero in on the sweet spot!

Attached are several photos of the layup process and I have also made you a video showing the process.”



www.skilab.com/projects/rondonnier/

Now that really sucks!

Forgive me.

I’m really still somewhat speechless.
For those waiting news of the now two day past unveiling of the Ski Lab Rondonniers, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what happened.

There’s a development that I do not see coming. Maybe I should have. Maybe the stroke dulled my awareness skills a bit. I should have wondered when our usually 2 to 5 strong ski gang grew to 9 car loads of souls.  I should have wondered what was brewing when and Jeanette and Art suggested the ski gang drop by for burgers the very next night after holding 50 person company dinner celebration that ran on to 2:00AM the night before. Why would they do that?

But nope; I was oblivious.

But really, how could I have known. Kam had just messaged me just last week telling me the skis we scheduled to arrive about now. And Kam wouldn’t deceive me… would he?

You guys really got me.  And really, Marcus, the nerve… you (and god only know else) conspiring to have our friends to chip in for new binders and skins behind my back by BANNING FROM THE FORUM!! What creative, brazen and wonderfully kind thoughts. Thank you all.

For those of you that did not get a chance to attend the “Rondonnier unveiling” this last Sunday evening, Art was nice of enough to shoot some pics of the event as well as provide libations.







Jeanette also put together an impressive presentation speech for the unveiling. A copy is available HERE if you would like to read it.

The real star of the event though, was the Rondonniers , by Ski Lab .
Norie, Allyson and Kam created some pieces of workmanship. You should see those skis; the pictures do not do them justice. Their finish is like that of a very expensive piece of furniture. They truly do look much too nice ski (but I’m going to ski them anyway). That canarywood sidewalls really looks sharp. Kam and Ally did a fantastic job on them in every step from layout to finishing. Here’s some comments I pirated from one of Kam’s messages about the construction of the skis:

The pine/maple cores were vertically profiled after the sidecut shape was cut on the CNC machine.  Afterwards, I attached the sidewall material to the wood core.  I chose canarywood (exotic) for the sidewalls for several reasons.  First, the orange-reddish brown color of the wood and the grain pattern go well with the colors and lines on the topsheet.  Second, the wood is very hard and can take a beating -- it registers above 3000 on the Janka scale.  Finally, it is pretty decay resistant and well suited for the conditions of the Northwest.  And oh, it's also resistant to termites and such just in case you have some hungry mouths around

I have never seen a more beautiful pair of skis.

This community continues impress me with the quality of the people that join together here.

Thank you all.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

All that new gear requires new matching ski outerwear, especially that off white sun cap that's definitely got to go.   Love ya !

Zap & Jill