Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:The first composite ski

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

The first composite ski! 

The first successful all-fiberglass ski was the Toni Sailer ski in 1959. Art Molnar and Fred Langendorf invented and built the ski in nearby Montreal. There had been other attempts to build all fiberglass (plastic) skis starting as early as 1952, but none had made it into production. This type of construction quickly replaced both wood and aluminium construction for most recreational skis. Within ten years it was the industry standard. 

Let's learn more about its inventors: 

Langendorf was an engineer who specialized in fiberglass and I have not uncovered much subsequent information about him. However, Art Molnar has a long resumé in the ski and snowboard world: Molnar fled Hungary during the 1956 Revolution and landed a job working for Langendorf in Montreal. Molnar designed the first Sailer ski and then in 1963 designed a later model with a ribbed fiberglass core where the ribs were separated by air channels. This latter design made the ski extremely light, but still strong. In 1967 Molnar left Langendorf to go to work for K2 and develop a line of skis using foam cores. Then in 1971 he moved to Lange where he helped produce the first Lange ski. 

Finally in 1973 Molnar started his own ski company utilizing the ribbed fiberglass core he initiated at Sailer. Molnar skis were light in weight with a soft flex and developed a cult following among powder skiers. Molnar was able to keep his company afloat for ten years before having to close his factory in 1983. 

Source: Retro Skiing/ #managingcomposites #thenativelab

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