Ski Development & Ski Testing with AJ Kruajitch & Jake Stevens (Ep.202)

Few people spend as many days as we do testing skis on snow. But Rossignol’s AJ Kruajitch definitely does. So I spent a day at Les Deux Alpes going through AJ’s testing process, and then sat down with him and Jake Stevens to discuss the similarities and differences in our approaches.

TOPICS & TIMES:

  • Introducing Jake & AJ (2:51)
  • Brand development since 1907 (17:13)
  • The testing process: similarities & differences (20:17)
  • “Band of Tasters” (40:10)
  • Accounting for different tastes (48:05)
  • What We’re Celebrating (56:10)

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2 comments on “Ski Development & Ski Testing with AJ Kruajitch & Jake Stevens (Ep.202)”

  1. Very interesting podcast on how Rosi’s are developed. Would love to ask them how binding mount point is settled on “ie. the mfg boot mid-sole line”

  2. Two questions for AJ, but I suspect Jonathan can answer them here, because he participated in AJ’s tests.

    AJ said, “The goal first is to find the right balance.” He emphasized “balance” 6 times in the podcast, and Jonathan mentioned it 4 times.

    QUESTION 1: What does AJ mean by the “right balance” of a ski?
    Does he mean fore/aft balance? Or maybe balance between many on-snow performance metrics? Or maybe balance between all the precise goals written in the design brief? Or what?

    Whatever it is, AJ said he evaluates “balance” by testing only 3-4 turns on ice…

    Next, I believe AJ didn’t mention “speed” in the podcast.

    QUESTION 2: Does AJ perform his on-snow tests at only one speed?
    Considering that these tests are only 3-4 turns, is AJ testing only at medium speed every time? Or only at high speed? Only slow speed? Or at all 3 speeds for each ski? Or only at the one speed that is most appropriate for the given ski design & target customer? Or what?

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