Yes, we make every ski in our small factory in Jindabyne, NSW.

We build in small batches for efficiency and quality control.

Desert Skis began in Western Australia (WA) at a time in our lives when we were working 'real' jobs. Making skis in our spare time was our way to stay connected to what we love, skiing. WA has vast desert regions covering most of the state therefore our name is a nod to our beginnings, a crazy idea, who would make skis in a desert?

It's an echidna!

Echidnas are uniquely Australian and is considered our most widespread animal. They live in every biome of the country from the alpine regions to the large deserts in the centre. They're solitary animals that like to dig and can live up to 50 years! They're amazing to see in the wild and have a funny demeanour when spotted. JP reckons they're his spirit animal.

We support local businesses whenever we can.

All the timber is grown in Australia.

• Alpine ash is sourced from Eden, NSW
• Paulownia from Southern QLD
• Jarrah from Albany, WA

The veneers are manufactured on the Sunshine Coast, QLD from Australian grown timber.

All fibreglass and composites are Australian made in Sydney, NSW.

Our resin was developed in Newcastle, NSW and is manufactured on the Central Coast, NSW.

There are no manufacturers in Australia for base and edge so these we have to import.

The type of veneer you choose will be the same but there will be some variations in the appearance a we are working with a natural wood veneer.

This can be changes in colour and patterns seen in the wood. It most definitely does not affect the ski performance but as we all know: look good, feel good, ski good. :)

So, if you have concerns then reach out and we can show you all the options and make sure you end up with a product you are stoked with.

Once your pair is in the build queue, the build process takes approximately 12 weeks. We can arrange delivery once the skis are completed.

Because we are a small team, building in batches outside of winter is how we keep our quality high. During the winter we run demos, develop new skis, and spend time out there skiing ourselves. The rest of the year we build. We feel if we were trying to do both at once we would have to compromise one or the other, and we're not willing to let it be the skis.

You're welcome to order any time of the year. Orders placed after April 1 go into the following season's build schedule and deliver before the next winter. We'll confirm your delivery window when you order so there are no surprises.

Occasionally. We try to add a few extra when we are batch-building. Contact us to ask what we (might) have in stock.

You will need to use a 3.5mm x 9.5mm drill bit.

Yes! All skis come tuned, ready to ski.

Yes, natural wood likes to be oiled. We apply 3-4 coats of a tung oil blend at the finish of each build. To keep sidewalls and topsheet in good condition re-apply a small amount of the supplied oil at least twice a season. Once at the start and once before you pack your skis away for summer. If you ski alot, oiling more frequently won't hurt! Make sure to get the exposed timber around the tip a bit of extra attention.

As with all sandwich style construction, your skis will get dings and chips throughout normal use. Desert Skis can can be easily repaired with simple hand tools; sandpaper, sanding block, and sidewall oil.

Start with 240 grit sandpaper, then work up to 400 grit.

Hold the sanding block at a 45-degree angle to avoid sanding the top sheet.

Once finished with the repair, re-oil the area over multiple days.

Desert Skis are tuned like any other pair of skis. However, because we have exposed timber and finish the skis with natural oils, you should be mindful when getting your skis tuned up.

The liquid emulsion used in ski tuning machines can leave marks on the timber. Simply ask your ski-tech to remove any the liquid emulsion once your skis are tuned.

For sure! If you want your skis cleaned up but are short on time we can look after them for a refresh.

Plus, we would love to hear about your latest ski adventures :)

There is no charge for demoing skis. Come in and we will set you up for the grand price of $0.

About 3, if you love them and want to keep them longer this maybe ok depends on how many people are wanting to demo them too.

Yes! We have tech/pin bindings with adjustable toe pieces to suit all sizes of boots.

Skins inlcuded and locally made Laughing Stock Poles.

We have skis with Telemark bindings. Get in touch and we can see if there is something which suits.