Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Peters.
Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started skiing when I was 2 years old and started working in the ski industry as a ski instructor at Snowshoe in WV. I worked at Snowshoe Mountain for 3 years in the terrain park, tuning skis and other mountain jobs. In 2004 I started competing in freestyle/freeride skiing and worked my way up a little to be in some semi-pro competitions just having fun with it. I moved to Winter Park, CO for more snow and elevation than I could get from the east coast and a small mountain town community I could see myself living in. I became a ski tester and athlete for a startup colorado ski company when I moved to Colorado and learned a lot about materials and ski construction from them, I continued working tuning and repairing skis for years, also worked as a sales representative for a couple snowsports companies before a friend asked if I would ever be interest in making skis and at the time, I said it was too much work but later decided it was just what I wanted to do with my life. I first started 7 Mile Skis and after a couple of years of being underfunded, not getting enough traction in sales, and getting rent hiked we decided to pack things up. A few years later I met Byron Johnson skiing through a mutual friend and began a business partnership that started CRSP customs making durable, affordable and one of a kind skis, splits and boards. We started CRSP in Winter Park in the beginning of the pandemic and have since moved our production to Lakewood where we have more than twice the space and can pump out even more custom skis, boards, and splits direct to the consumer. We also plan to launch production models next season and will continue to offer one of a kind custom builds.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We started our business in the beginning of the pandemic and when we started testing product the resorts closed followed by the stay-at-home order and things were put on hold. This season we have finally been able to organize some events and attend demo events where people can try our skis and boards out. The pandemic has also made it challenging to find materials and while we have not had to sacrifice our quality or change our recipe it has not been easy to deal with the supply shortages. It is awesome though how small companies in the US have been trading and selling materials to one another to keep business going and while you might think a lot of small companies would be in competition we are really all just competing with the corporate brands that mostly don’t even make their own product.
As you know, we’re big fans of CRSP Customs. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Offering the most durable, affordable, and customizable skis, boards, and splits made in Colorado. We also offer tuning and repair services to the public in our factory and factory tours on every first Friday of the month or by appointments. You can also stop in and pick up a demo board or pair of skis to try out and get us your feedback. Developing new shapes with the help of new customers and our professional athletes we are growing our collection to have something for everyone.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Skiing can be risky but a good day of skiing is always rewarding. Getting into the snow sports industry especially in manufacturing hardwoods is a big risk. It is a seasonal, unpredictable, and mostly flooded market. So why take the risk? We have a real passion at CRSP for the product we make and we know that the more people try our product the word of mouth will travel and grow our grassroots company into a worldwide brand that will continue to offer a one-of-a-kind American handmade product.
Pricing:
- Custom skis starting at $1000
- Custom snowboard starting at $750
- Custom split board starting at $1050
- Full tune-up $60
- Hot wax $20
Contact Info:
- Email: chris@crspskis.com
- Website: crspskis.com
- Instagram: @crspskis
- Facebook: Facebook/CRSPskis
- Youtube: CRSP Customs
Image Credits:
Chris Peters
Parks Thomson
Nick Zigich
AJ Wix
Lady Dog
Russell
