Making the best skis in the world is no coincidence. Before a product ships, there are years of research and development, testing and retesting. How do we test our products, and what do we test?
Take a trip with the Madshus test crew.
Right now, in the early summer, they are super busy getting everything lined up perfectly for the upcoming season. There is testing to be done with the top athletes in biathlon, cross-country, marathon and Nordic Combined, helping them dial in their equipment, as well as testing new models and products. Both of these processes provide invaluable feedback for the test crew and our product developers at the factory.
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Close to the venues and the community
At Madshus, we are fortunate to have some of the worlds best test arenas and test labs right in our back yard. In April and May, we often do field tests at Sjusjøen and Beitostølen, known for great snow and skiing conditions well into May and accordingly favored locations for the national teams and elite skiers. Then we move to Sognefjellet along with the top skiers when the summer ski center opens there in June.
The Madshus service techs also work closely with the Norwegian national team’s wax techs. The idea is that the national wax teams have a chance to learn the properties of the skis and how to optimize each pair well in advance of the race season. Working side by side with the Madshus service crew, the wax techs have a walking, talking, live help desk on site, and a both sides can exchange experiences and test results, says Madshus service tech Peter Blom.
“The national team wax techs now have all the athletes’ skis for the upcoming season, and can test individually with the athletes. Also, with more time on snow, athletes who were missing race skis for certain conditions can work with us and their wax team to find a pair or two that will fill those holes,” Blom explains.
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What do we test?
“For each product, we test a lot of different aspects,” says Bjørn Ivar Austrem, head of research and development at Madshus.
One example is how base materials are tested.
“We try a lot of different materials and finishes to determine which bases glide best and are the most dirt resistant in various snow conditions and temperatures. This requires a lot of field testing,” Austrem says.
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Flexes, cambers and properties are other properties of the ski that require extensive testing.
“When we compare flexes, cambers and related properties, we collect data on what glides the best, but also what provides the best ski feel. We record how the skis behave and maneuver in different conditions, and what we can do to improve the skis,” he says, noting that all testing is a combination of working with the athletes and the product developers at the factory.
For each parameter, there is a lot of prep work to do before taking the product to the snow to test it out.
“There are a lot of aspects to test for each parameter, which is what makes proper testing so tricky. You have to make sure you are only testing and comparing one parameter at a time, otherwise you get lost in causes and effects,” Austrem explains.
“We have to be absolutely sure of which factors we are testing, and eliminating everything else,” he says.
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Two years to a new base
Going back to his base testing as an example, Austrem explains that they always start with the manufacturers to get as much information about the potential base products and their properties.
With this data on hand, Madshus manufactures a series of test skis, often with about 10 different bases, and go to work: Which of the bases glide better? This is more than just the downhill speed on a hill.
“You do a glide test. Then you stop, look at the bases, record what you see and experience. Then you ski some more and ski different terrains.”
Then they look at how the bases take to waxing, grooming and prep: How do the bases absorb products? Which are more durable?
Then they take all the field notes and the feedback to the office, compare this information with the lab and factory notes, and try to narrow down the options. When they have done that, they manufacture two or three prototypes. These skis are tested on several World Cup races, in different snow conditions and temperatures. During this field/competition testing the Madshus service techs collect data and feedback from the athletes on performance and feel. Finally, this data is analyzed and some are turned into new models.
“The process of developing new bases typically takes a year and a half to two years, from the initial contact with base material manufacturers, to a new base is shipped to retailers,” Austrem says.
This process is also similar to how Madshus will develop and test various specialty grinds.
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Changing environment
Climate change affects both the testing and the end product.
“We notice that the snow is getting a lot more difficult. We have a lot less of the classic Nordic conditions with cold, powdery and natural snow, and a lot more manmade snow. This is particularly tricky during large events such as championships where the skiers use the same venues for a couple of weeks in a row and often the longest loops are three to five kilometers. Toward the end of the event, that snow is completely transformed and dead, Austrem points out.