The Finnish Ski – from Ski Smith to Industrial Designer

The Finnish Ski exhibition ran for nearly 17 months. It portrayed the unique long tradition of Finnish skis, from home workshops to industrial production. Challenging natural conditions, varying uses and different forms of terrain have influenced the development of the types of skis that are used here in Finland. The exhibition put a special focus on Finnish ski designers and innovators. 

The Finnish ski industry was going strong again, thanks to snowy winters, innovative product development, design and graphic design. The exhibition focused on ski-making craftsmanship, an area that was practically unstudied until then. Traditional craftsmen created humble, practical objects, whereas the design in the modern-day factory production of skis focuses mainly on external elements, such as the graphical features visible on the skis. Skis may have reached their pinnacle in terms of form, but innovations in their surface design and performance continue to bring the world improvements. 

The museum’s partner for this exhibition was Peltonen Ski Oy, and the museum had the opportunity to document the company’s production. Peltonen Ski Oy is an example of modern Finnish ski production and design. 

The publication Finnish Ski – from Ski Smith to Industrial Designer describes the relationship between sports and design. 

The book is included in the Ski Museum’s publication series.