Dec 4th 2024

GET TO KNOW OUR BRANDS: Peltonen Skis

While Peltonen might be a new brand to some, it has long had a rich history and deep popularity in Scandinavia and across Europe. Since introducing Peltonen to our family of ski brands, we’ve had so many people recount their affinity for the ski; “they were my favorite.” If you are a skier of a certain generation in the US, you might fondly remember skiing on a pair of Peltonens, but for younger or new skiers, they are still a bit unknown. Let’s fix that.

Peltonen’s Rich History:

The inception of Peltonen skis was born as much from necessity as anything. In August 1945, a young Toivo Peltonen started making skis in a village named Hartola in Finland. He originally set out to make ski wax but due to shortages in raw materials due to WW2, he had to get creative. Using his skills from previous work at the Järvinen's ski factory and his passion for ski manufacturing, Toivo founded the Peltonen ski company. These handmade skis gained a reputation locally, and soon skiers began travelling to Hartola in search of the best skis in Finland. As demand grew, Toivo developed new construction methods and his wooden skis were skilfully carved into beautifully finished products. Toivo often raced on skis he made himself, winning many regional championships. Each ski was as much a work of art as it was a high performance tool.

(photos from https://peltonenski.com/en/history/)

The 1970’s saw an increase in Peltonen’s international renown. In 1971, Juri Skobov and Valeri Voronkov won the first Olympic medals on Peltonen skis. In 1973, Finnish skier Pauli Siitonen won the 90km Vasaloppet on a pair of artfully crafted wooden skis. Peltonen sales increased exponentially in Sweden and beyond, further cementing the brand’s legacy and commitment to high performance skis.

(photos from https://peltonenski.com/en/history/)

However, in 1974, when fiber glass was first introduced as a superior construction material, demand for wooden skis plummeted. As many producers struggled to adapt, Peltonen emerged as a survivor, along with most of the ski companies that you see on the World Cup today.

“We cherish this resilience and being clever when things get hard. This persistence, SISU, is in our DNA very much still today.”

While Peltonen was forced to adapt to rapidly changing ski production, they were also the ones pioneering new technologies in the industry. The 1980s and ‘90s were particularly successful periods of innovation at Peltonen, as they experimented with the first skin skis and waxless grip technologies. Additionally, Peltonen was the first company to introduce dedicated skating skis during the 1984/’85 World Cup season and in 1992 Marjut Lukkarinen won an Olympic gold medal on a pair of Peltonen skis. Peltonen has long been a staple brand for recreational skiers, but has not quite maintained the same popularity at the World Cup and Olympic level. A few notable skiers such as Switzerland’s Nadine Fähndrich raced on Peltonen skis during multiple WC seasons. This year, Peltonen will celebrate their 80th anniversary, and carry forward the legacy of curiosity and passion for skiing established in 1945.

“We, crazy Finns who love skis and skiing, still have a lot to show to the rest of the skiing world. Are you ready? Buckle up!”

(photos from https://peltonenski.com/en/history/)

Peltonen’s Innovative Technology:

Since their founding in 1945, and after nearly eight decades of ski manufacturing and innovation, Peltonen has been at the forefront of ski design and materials. They were the first to integrate lightweight and durable components like carbon fiber and CNT nanocarbon technology in their cross country skis, setting new industry standards for strong yet lightweight skis. Here are just a few of their most popular innovations:

Waxfree Nanogrip®: Nanogrip® is both a glide wax and a grip wax at the same time, creating an all around classic system that works in conditions where waxing is difficult. This makes classic skiing accessible and easy for recreational skiers.

Nano High Speed Base®: The base is made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a durable and low-friction material commonly used in high-end ski bases. The hydrophobic surface minimizes water absorption, preventing suction effects that can slow down the skis in wetter snow. The material is highly resistant to wear and scratches, maintaining its performance over time, even in abrasive snow conditions. It combines advanced materials and treatments to ensure maximum glide and durability, making it a standout feature in their premium ski lineup.

Nomex Honeycomb & Aircell CORE: The redesigned Nomex Honeycomb Core is a cutting-edge component in Peltonen skis, combining advanced materials and design to deliver lightweight, durable, and high-performance skis taSDilored for competitive athletes and demanding skiers. It enhances speed, responsiveness, and overall skiing efficiency. Nomex is an extra light, aviation grade Kevlar Reinforced honeycomb construction that offers superior stiffness and reduced weight in the ski. topclass power transmission features. Due to the dynamic action of the construction it is used especially in race skis. Also used in aerospace and other high-tech industries, underscoring its advanced engineering pedigree. The honeycomb design uses less material compared to traditional solid cores, aligning with Peltonen's commitment to sustainability.

Core: Nomex honeycomb core for race skis (left) and Peltonen-patented Aircell (right) for everything else. (photo from daily skier)

Speed Edge 2.0®: This year, Peltonen introduced its all new Speed Edge 2.0 technology. Speed Edge 2.0 removes the ski's traditional protruding sharp edge from the snow contact area of the ski and maximizes the usable gliding surface area of the ski. Combined with a completely renewed core and reshaped side cut, Peltonen skate skis are at a whole new level. Notably, the Speed Edge 2.0 technology reduces friction at contact points on snow, improving skiability and handling while the redesigned tip and tail lowers the swing weight of the ski.

Peltonen offers a huge range of skis for athletes of all levels; from the world cup level Supra X Skate and the Infra X Classic, to models for Worldloppet skiers, beginners, and juniors. Recent years have seen record production of Peltonen skis, and new innovations are combining craftsmanship with the newest technologies. In 2011, Peltonen moved their production to a brand new factory in Heinola, Finland, and made huge investments in the latest manufacturing technology and production capacity. The new operation has been called the “most modern ski factory” and produces between 23,000 and 70,000 pairs of skis each year.

Peltonen & Enjoy Winter

Enjoy Winter is proud to reintroduce this storied brand back into US ski racing. We carry a wide range of skis, including the extremely popular Infra Skin Skis. Not only do we skis for all levels in our shop and online, but we fully support our Factory Team athletes Annika and Simon with top of the line Peltonen racing skis.

Last season, Annika had a series of top results on her Peltonen skis and we can’t wait to see what type of speed this year’s fleet, with all new technology and construction, will bring.

“I really love the way the skis feel at speed, they are stable and dynamic, and I always find myself gliding past people on fast downhills. I am excited to keep getting to know this brand, especially the classic skis, and see where they can take me!”

Through all of the revolutions in ski production, materials, technique and more, one thing has always remained the same: Peltonen’s passion for cross-country skiing tradition and culture and commitment to innovation. Enjoy Winter embodies those same values, and that is why we are so excited to have Peltonen as one of our signature brands.

Let us help you pick out your very own pair - Check out all our Peltonen skis HERE

Got any photos or stories of you and your Peltonen skis? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you!