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Ballard Mfg. for the people!

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Hey everybody,

My name is Mike and I am a senior at the University of New Hampshire. I am a skier first and foremost, and learned to ski in La Clusaz, France (if that sounds familiar, that’s because Candide Thovex put the resort on the map). I have always dreamed of starting a ski brand, with an emphasis placed both sustainability, and on manufacturing right here in the United States. Our ski designs are all hand-drawn, and then transferred to a CAD program in order to verify the dimensions and numbers are appropriate. Every step of the process will be done in-house, save for our topsheet and base prints (they will be outsourced to Miller Studios in Kent, Washington)! Here is our general timeline:

1. Our press has been designed and theorized completely. Once we have the money to purchase the steel, it can be built. 

2. Our first shape is currently in process of being transferred to AutoCad. Once this is completed, we will have our template for the shape. Again, raw materials is all we’re missing here. 

3. Just yesterday I cemented the space where we will be able to build and operate a press, as well as conduct our R&D for the first two ski shapes. I have spent around $2000 already on power tools and rent for the space. 

4. Stickers will be printed and sent to anyone who chooses to do graciously donate to the cause. I am currently putting my savings to date in to this project (see above), so don’t think I’m just asking for money willy-nilly! I am a college student after all, so I don’t have too much, but all that I can afford to put in to the project, I am! 

5. Once the press and templates for the first shape are built, we will begin physically constructing skis. The summer will be spent learning to become as consistent as possible with the process. Once fall rolls around, we are going to be pressing 3 different demo skis with the same dimensions, but different core layups. This will allow us to get on snow as early as possible and find the best combination of wood type, fiberglass, sidewall, and so forth. Once we have dialed our core, we will repeat the process with 3 different sidecuts (the overall tip/waist/tail widths will remain the same, but the taper/turn radius/camber will be changed) to find the best numbers to match the core materials!

6. After our initial R&D, we will be constructing 30 pairs of the core material/sidecut combination we feel is best, and they will be for sale exclusively here on the Newschoolers forum!

This GoFundMe will help us here at Ballard Mfg. to purchase the raw materials and tools needed for a ski press, as well as our first round of R&D in order to deliver as perfect a product as we can. We are currently working on printing stickers as a (small) way of showing our appreciation for your generosity! Plans for our press are completed, as well as our plans for the first shape. We just need the funding! We very much appreciate your help and support! Ballard Mfg. for the people!

Organizer

Michael Queally
Organizer
Barrington, NH

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