on tracks since 1945

In August 1945, young Toivo Peltonen made a decision that would leave a permanent mark in the history of skis and skiing; he founded a company to make skis in a village named Hartola in Finland. Before founding the company, Topi worked for a while at Järvinen's ski factory. It is said that Esko Järvinen himself was amazed by the young man's immense interest in learning all the tricks of ski manufacturing. Now, as we approach the 80-year mark of our operations, we are still following the path set by Topi, eager and curious, reflecting on our work with fresh perspectives every day.

EARLY YEARS IN HARTOLA

Handmade skis started to gain a reputation first locally and then skiers from neighboring towns traveled to Hartola in search of skis. From then on, the demand grew, and Topi grew out of his first shop. He kept developing methods and as a result, the products were getting better and better as well as more industrially produced. Wooden skis were pieces of art at their peak. Their weight matched the weight of today's top-of-the-line skis and they were skilfully carved and beautifully finished products.

1970's

In the 1970s ski making was a serious industry as well as an important employer nationally. So was Topi's Hartolan Suksi, the company name back then. After the greatest Finnish long-distance skier of all time, Pauli Siitonen won the famous 90 km Vasaloppet race in 1973 on a pair of wooden Peltonen's, its sales in Sweden grew exponentially.

What happened next would shape the ski industry forever. Glassfibre ski was introduced in 1974. This took almost all producers by surprise. Suddenly nobody wanted to ski on wood skis anymore, because plastics-glass fiber construction was so superior.

Something had to be done, quickly. Topi's perseverance and resilience were tested, and Peltonen came out of the turmoil and into the 1980s as a survivor, a winner. The late 70s saw a lot of ski makers crashing down. Most of the companies that survived then are still in the game today. So are we. Today, we cherish this resilience and being clever when things get hard. This persistence, SISU is in our DNA very much still today.

1980's

After the survival game of the late 1970s, the strong ones prevailed and ski manufacturing became more automated and streamlined. Efficient machinery took place for production phases that were previously made by hand.

The 1980s was a decade of innovation. For example, we first experimented with ski skins to achieve grip already then - a feature that took the ski industry by storm not until 30 years later. The time was not right but this tells a lot about us - we think ahead. Furthermore, our ZETA waxless technology was introduced, a feature that can still be found on some of our very special skis for the most difficult conditions.

Graphic design was first introduced to the whole ski industry by Peltonen in the mid-1980s. Until then, the designs consisted of just a bunch of colored lines and brand names but after we pointed the way, every other manufacturer soon followed. Once again we were on the forefront of ski innovation.

1990's

Ski racing has been in our nature from the get-go. In 1992 Marjut Lukkarinen won an Olympic gold medal on a pair of Peltonen's. The beginning of the 1990's treated us well. Manufacturers switched to cap technology one after another in the mid-90s. Cap allowed ski graphics to be applied not only on top of the ski but seamlessly to the sides as well. This technology has been an industry standard ever since.

Technology did not stop us from innovating. During the late 1990s and into the first years of the new millennium we developed and manufactured a full carbon fiber constructed ski, which was lighter and stiffer than anything on the market before, even after. Unfortunately, this amazing ski was just a little bit too big of a bite for a small manufacturer like us. But, never say never...

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2000 onwards

The first years of the new century were not the easiest ones in our history. We have always been very lucky to have a faithful long-lasting workforce, ordinary people from nearby towns and villages bringing their best to the workplace day after day. With their help, together, we sailed through rough seas and prevailed. We kept going through turbulent times and after a few speed bumps in the ownership, Peltonen Ski became part of Rapala VMC Corporation in 2005.

Innovations, oh yes, they kept coming. As they say; once you pop you can't stop. We were the first ones to introduce nanotechnology in skis. Once again, the small one from Finland pointed the way.

MOVING TO HEINOLA

In 2011 we made a big move, literally. We packed our bags together with our saws, knives hammers, and paintbrushes and took off to Heinola. There, we built a state-of-the-art ski factory where we have been operating ever since in a larger, cleaner, and more comfortable setting that is more fit into our current operations. There we employ dozens of dedicated skimakers and work hard every day to bring food to the tables' of large numbers of families.

2020'S

Covid took us by surprise. Not only was everything suddenly more difficult in day-to-day operations, but our production was at full speed. We cracked the production records for several years in a row.

Now, the industry and ski market is having a bit of a post-covid hangover, recuperating and repositioning itself. Skiing has never been more popular.

Even now, we are showing the way. Innovations are literally pouring from Finland! We have launched a new production method which is the biggest change in manufacturing for us since the introduction of Cap-technology. The new method, developed for nearly 4 years, is a testament to what we stand for: Quality products with the intention to show the rest how it is done. The new production method allows us to present products that show such attention to detail that no other is currently able to achieve.

What is ahead of us? In 2025 we are celebrating our 80th anniversary in ski making. While we cherish the past, we very much look forward to the future. We predict that there will be a revolution in skiing during the next 5-15 years. Peltonen will stay at innovation forefront. We, crazy Finns who love skis and skiing, still have a lot to show to the rest of the skiing world. Are you ready? Buckle up!

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