To create a core 40 percent lighter and 30 percent stronger than traditional hardwood, Wagner engineers pressure-soak soft, light East Coast timber in a epoxy resin derived from paper mill waste. When hardened, the resin turns the wood into a plasticized block. A double helix of carbon fiber woven around the core adds even more lateral (i.e., turning) strength. The resulting skis are so light they could offer relief from hip-and-knee-straining hardwood models, and so versatile they could replace stacks of skis in lodges and garages.
WAGNER CUSTOM 2-4 ULTRALIGHT CORE SKIS
Weight: 3.8 pounds (70.9-inch ski) Price: $1,900
