The Wagner Custom Promise: More Fun

We don’t all ski the same way. A ski that’s built just for you will perform exactly the way you want it to, everywhere you take it.

We know you have a lot of options when it comes to skis—and there are a lot of good ones out there. So why should you buy custom skis from Wagner? It all boils down to versatility.

Mainstream ski brands have one primary goal: to produce skis that will serve most people at the cheapest cost for them. They’re pretty good at it, too, with some higher-end models that most ski testers agree are going to work for a lot of different skiers. But because they’re designed for a common denominator, those models are generalists: capable for all but masters of none.

And the skis designed for lesser experts? They are cheaper because they’re made with low-end and low-performing materials that don’t stand the test of time and won’t grow with you as you improve.

The problem with buying skis designed to suit the masses is that we are not all the same. Some of us prefer that stuck-to-the-snow feeling of a damper ski that has calming metal in it. Others prefer a lively and responsive ski that snaps off tight turns. You may want to plow through crud; I might like to surf above it. That is where Wagner Custom comes in.

Founder Pete Wagner putting down a big turn in Chile

Wagner is the only company that custom designs and builds 100% of the ski just for you. We tailor the length, width, sidecut, tip and tail shape, camber, rocker, flex pattern, stiffness, graphics, and more than 1,000 combinations of materials to your body mechanics, terrain preference, ability level, and style to create your perfect ski.

Your perfect ski will be exactly what you want—guaranteed. It will perform exactly like you want it to in every kind of terrain. You can’t always predict the conditions, but you can predict how you ski them. And having a ski that suits you means it will improve your performance, give you more confidence, and be more versatile. All that adds up to more fun, which is, last we checked, the whole point of this sport.

These are the qualities you will find in Wagner Custom skis that add up to more versatility.

Performance

We build our skis to match your skiing style, terrain preferences, and ability level. That helps you get better, faster. We also use top-of-the-line materials in every ski, which increases durability and makes the ski perform better in every condition and for every ability level. It’s kind of like the difference between a well-built luxury vehicle and a crappy rental car—you don’t need to be a race car driver to feel that the former drives better than the latter.

Each Wagner has a custom combination of materials and layers tailored specifically for their owner.

Craftsmanship

Every ski Wagner makes boasts a classic sandwich construction with a wood core and vertical sidewall, which is the best—and most expensive—way to build a ski. They are all hand-built in our Telluride factory, too, with craftsmanship and attention to detail you just don’t get with mainstream brands. Each ski takes roughly 10 hours per pair of labor.

Comfort

Skis built for you—and only you—mean less strain on knees, ankles, hips, and knees. Each design element works in your favor. Getting the flex pattern alone right makes a huge difference, giving you better balance, comfort, and control.

Longevity

Our materials are superior, therefore they last longer. Sure, Wagners might be more expensive than mainstream models, but because you won’t need to replace them every few seasons, they end up ultimately saving you money. We also guarantee every pair we make, so if they’re not perfect, we’ll remake them until they are. And if you’re still learning (who isn’t), our skis also grow with you, meaning that you won’t need to upgrade once you improve.

From big mountain to backcountry, our athletes put our customs through the ringer year-after-year.

Better versatility is why the founder, Pete Wagner, built this business in the first place. He bought a pair of skis that were all wrong for him, and he wanted to develop a better ski-buying process and better product. We bring that to you, one pair of beautiful, handcrafted, custom skis at a time.

Call our ski designers today, and let them walk you through getting your perfect pair!

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Article by Kimberly Beekman 

Kimberly Beekman is the former editor-in-chief of the late, great Skiing Magazine (RIP), and a longtime editor of SKI Magazine before that. She currently uses the title of “freelancer” as a beard to ski powder all over the world. She lives in Steamboat, Colorado, with her wonderful daughter and terrible cat.