Lasers and Robot Arms: How Raw Materials Become Fresh Skis
Ever wondered what it takes to make a pair of skis?
Jason Levinthal, the visionary behind early twin-tip models and owner of J Skis, has the answer.
In a recent video, he ventured to Utopie, the Quebec-based manufacturer he uses for J, to provide a look at the behind-the-scenes process that transforms raw materials into planks that are fun to ride.
Turns out, it's a bit like making a sandwich. The process starts with edges, fiberglass, wood cores, tips, and top sheet graphics being smushed together with epoxy as a topping. The wide chunk of combined materials then heads for the press.
Or, as Levinthal says, "Put the pie in the oven." Tap or click below to watch.
Inside the press, the fledging ski is exposed to high heat and pressure, locking everything into place. Some excess epoxy leaks out the sides.
When the skis emerge from the press, they aren't separate yet, instead remaining one large, rectangular shape. So, to make sure J Skis has something to sell other than weirdly-shaped snowboards, a Utopie employee cuts each individual ski out of the block, with a CNC cutter (that has lasers!) putting on the final touches.
The process isn't over yet, though. We haven't gotten to the robot arms yet. Those machines pick up the skis and run them through a series of base grinds, followed by a factory wax.
"Then, we box it up and ship it to your front door," says Levinthal.
As far as tour guides go, you probably couldn't ask for a better one than Levinthal, who founded LINE Skis and, back in the 1990s, churned out twin-tip ski boards with his one-man factory.
Levinthal's no longer involved with Line, but the company was one factor, among others, that helped revolutionize skiing and usher in the current era of ski design. Decades later, Levinthal's still in the game-he just doesn't have to rely on that one-man factory anymore.
For J Skis, the video comes weeks ahead of August 1, when the company plans to release a fresh line of limited edition skis. As of earlier this month, that meant Utopie was cranking out 200 pairs a week.
Related: Telemark Skiing Needs Its Own Media
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 3:01 PM.