Bluehouse went through a plethora of prototypes and even multiple names to dial this ski in. But thanks to candid feedback and emergency IM brainstorming, we came up with The Maven, the second of two new fat skis for the 08/09 season.

Many believe the future of skiing belongs to the multi-talented. The problem with that is finding one ski that supports this attitude. Enter: The Maven. This ski was designed for multi-purpose fun. With its belt-busting wiast–139mm–and its rockered tip and tail–zero camber–you’ll have no problem floating in the deep and switching any landing. Simply put, no feature is too big, too bent, too abysmal anymore. The Mavens were designed to hit that…and by “that” I mean whatever will make your crew get loud.

This is not just another super-fat rocker. The Maven offers a longer running length than other skis in its class–making it more skiable between powder fields or between park features. The flex is playful, but not noodly. Once again, making this ski unique in its class with a slightly stiffer flex than others. We believe it truly is the Maven of skis for the Mavens of skiing. Enjoy the Maven, new for 08/09.

Maven Specs
189, t-w-t = 154-139-151, radius = 22.9m, running Length = 1120mm, weight = 5.2kg/pair

The Maven and all other 2008 Bluehouse skis go on sale for ridiculous, pre-season pricing on Sept. 18.

Bluehouse spent countless hours throughout the past season talking to the ski community. We can accredit the creation of our two new skis to the people who spoke up (a special shout out to the TGR and NS crews). The Shoots is the first of two new skis to be added to the Bluehouse fleet.

Fair warning: The Shoots is not for the novice skier. Some of the words used by testers to describe The Shoots’ personality were “charging,” “made for speed,” “weapons,” “killer-blaster” (a BH favorite), and “for serious screaming.” The Shoots brags the stiffest flex of all the BH fleet. The profile was designed to deliver comfort at top speeds. The rockered tips will keep your skis afloat any snow type and the nearly-flat tail will direct you where you want to go: downhill. In other words, The Shoots were bred for straightlining. Bluehouse felt it appropriate to name the ski after the bamboo plant’s growing pattern, but also likes the subtle reminder to its owner that this ski belongs in the chutes and similar terrain. The graphics were created by Simen Stori during the design contest last season. The art fit perfectly with Bluehouse’s plans for the ski. Enjoy The Shoots.

The Shoots Specs
191, t-w-t = 149-128-133, radius = 42.0m, running length = 1410mm

The Shoots and all other 2008 Bluehouse skis go on sale for ridiculous, pre-season pricing on Sept. 18., weight = 5.8kg/pair

Bluehouse fans, it’s that time of year again. We’re getting everything lined up here at Bluehouse for a couple major events coming very quickly. More details will be revealed in posts and emails that will shortly follow this one, but one thing we won’t keep a secret is the date: September 18, 2008.

9/18/08 will be a huge day for Bluehouse and anybody who loves a killer deal. Just like last year, we promise to bring you some of the sickest skis produced for the best prices possible, but only for a limited time and with a limited quantity.

Check in over the next few days for information on BH’s new skis, images of the ‘08 lineup, prices, and a party you won’t want to miss. Oh, and that one friend who is always bragging about knowing “the latest” would probably appreciate hearing about this from you. Spread the love by forwarding this link or friending Bluehouse Skis on Facebook. We’ll also share every detail about the upcoming sale with our email list, so sign up for that too.

Get ready, people. Fall approaches. Shortly thereafter, winter. With that, snow…and another amazing year with Bluehouse Skis.

Salt Lake City, UT – Bluehouse Ski Co. is here to stay—at least for another ski season. The Bluehouse team is gearing up for a second year of ski production, community involvement, and brand advancement. The independent ski company started as a college dream for founders Jared Richards and Adam Hepworth. It remained a dream for several years until March of 2007 when the LLC was formed. First-year accomplishments include a successful pre-season sale last September, well-attended events/competitions on and off the hill, a fully checked goals sheet for sales and customer attainment, and hundreds of positive reviews on products and customer service.

“We were really excited about our pre-season sales and the way the brand spread among skiers. We knew relatively early that we could start thinking about the 08-09 season. When we started this thing, we had no idea if that would happen,” said co-founder Jared Richards.

The early start on thinking has paid off for Bluehouse. They have big plans in development, including two new ski models and more lengths in previous models. Bluehouse also plans on putting its customers first by creating a Web site that encourages user interaction and feedback. And it will continue its tradition of unique promotional offers for the involved skier.

“Whatever we do, we think about the skier,” comments Hepworth, “all of our energy goes toward two objectives: skis our skiers want and prices our skiers can afford. That’s tough at times, but we rely on our independence and creativity to pull it off.”

Co-founders Jared Richards and Adam Hepworth and two other partners, Dan Nebeker and Shane Larsen, manage Bluehouse Ski Co. Jared, Adam, Dan, and Shane are skiers and were born in Utah.

For more information or for publications interested in doing a story, please contact Shane Larsen: shane@bluehouseskis.com, 801-440-4053.

Are you or anyone you know going to work at a ski resort next winter?  Do you want to make some extra money and rep a cool company?  Now is your chance to get screamin deals on the fattest 08-09 skis and gear for your friends, friends little brothers… who ever! 

Bluehouse is looking for On-Mountain Representatives to take our skis to the “Skier Community” in

Colorado,

California,

Pacific Northwest,

East-Coast, Montana,

New-Mexico, Idaho, and

Wyoming.  We’re looking for enthusiastic skiers who want to be part of a brand new company.  Qualifications include previous or future 08-09 season plans of involvement in the ski industry i.e. ski schooler, liftee, ticket sales, terrain park specialist, or mountain host.  Other qualifications include advanced skiing ability, avid social skills, high-energy, and some college experience or sales experience.   

To indicate your interest and get more information, please email your resume and cover letter to dan@bluehouseskis.com no later than June 30.

This is your last opportunity to enter the Bluehouse photo contest for a chance to win some 08-09 prototypes. The contest ends tonight at midnight with results following shortly thereafter. So far the entries have been unbelievable. We appreciate each of your contributions.

 Later.     

Today is the official announcement of the season-end Bluehouse Photo Contest. We invite you to share your most captivating photos of your Bluehouse skis in action. The contest will run through May 20 and the winners will receive a pair of new prototypes we tested during the season in creating our ‘08 - ‘09 ski line. We know the season has been epic for us, so we can’t wait to see how it has treated you.

Visit the Photo Contest page to view and vote on the current submissions or login and begin uploading your own shots.

Thanks for sharing!

Skiing in Bosnia this winter has been a bittersweet experience. Bitter because my hometown of SLC, UT was getting dumped on while I was away. Aside from powder-envy, my experience here has been nothing but stoke.

In 1984, Sarajevo was home to the winter Olympic Games. On the eve of the opening of the games, the mountains were bare. There was no way the downhill events were going to take place on the dirt trail outlined for the various events. Without snowmaking capabilities, the Muslims, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians all prayed a united prayer — they prayed for snow. Somehow, someway the snowgods heard their pleas and it went on to snow so that no event was canceled. Many have dubbed this the Sarajevo Miracle.

Skiing in Sarajevo has not changed much since those Olympics. The price of skiing is about the same and the mascot of the 1984 games can still be seen all over the town. Many of the ski facilities that were built specifically for the Olympics remain today with few if any repairs or updates, despite being having been subjected to a major war. In fact the Olympic venues of Igman and Bjelasnica were major battle areas that were heavily mined during the war. There are an estimated 900,000 mines that still splatter the Bosnian landscape. Many just on the edge of ski boundaries. This make for some very interesting backcountry touring, that requires a very experienced guide who can make sure you don’t get blown up. My guide and friend Dejan is just such a person to have around. In the last three weeks in Bosnia 6 people including mine experts have been killed by mines. The other Olympic mountain Jahorina was a Serb stronghold during the war. Several military facilities there were subjected to NATO bombings at the end of the war. The skeletal remains of these buildings provide a haunting reminder of the country’s recent past.

Like most of the chair lifts and hotels around the ski areas, the ski culture here is something reminiscent of the 1980s. Rad multicolored one pieces, skinny skies, and icey bumps are a favorite of many of the locals. This makes a perfect scene for anyone in search of fresh tracks. I’ve been 4 days late from a storm and have skied fresh tracks all day. For most here, powder is a chore, not a delight - the mindset seems crazy, but being at the receiving end of infinte pow, I’m not complaining.

Here are a few pics:

Serb military installment bombed out by NATO bombing campaign.

Cyrillic sign next to a pizzeria that does not serve pizza but which covered its walls with nudie pictures of Balkan women. Surprising in so many ways.

The most recent addition to Jahorina: a few boxes and rails. . . I’ve yet to see anyone hit any of them.

One of my favorite things about skiing here, is seeing capitalism at its best in this former socialist nation. At each of the lifts several vendors sell an assortment of items from soft drinks, energy drinks, candy bars, beer, shots of rakija, and plum brandy to gloves and goggles. One vendor even posts a sign that his plum brandy will not give you a head ache.

My buddy and guide Dejan. He has become a huge fan of Bluehouse. Notice the traditional Serbian pose.

This Saturday, Bluehouse and the Utah Freeskier Society will host the Urban Classic Slopestyle Competition at Brighton Ski Resort. This is a chance to enjoy a session with your friends, score some swag, and maybe even walk away with some serious prizes.

Pre-registration for the event is $15 and can be completed by emailing dan@bluehouseskis.com. Day-of registration is $20.

We hope to see you there.

I’m no expert on global warming but there sure has been some crazy weather lately. While Utah has been pounded by one of the snowiest years ever, I just returned from a trip in the High Pyrenees in France where things could not have been different. My friends live in a small ski town not far from the resort la Mongie. From their description, the valley in which they live is perpetually covered in snow during the winter. However during my visit, trees were already in spring bloom and only the highest peaks were capped in snow. The mountains just looked so sad, with the dirt showing through the shallow ice covered bumps. I have to say though I was very impressed with the masses competing for turns. I mean why would you not fight for 16 inches of fresh dirt over jagged rocks. Epic.

Picture of la Mongie ski resort in France. Sad.

These snowshoers were determined to get their money’s worth out of the snowshoe rental. It was close to 50 degrees that day. At the ski resort Pont D’Espagne.

This is a view of the ski map for Pont D’Espagne. Clearly no snow.

I’m glad to be back in Sarajevo where has snowed 8 inches in the valley today. Now all I have to do is avoid land mines while skiing in the Bosnian backcountry.