TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — Skiers, start your engines!
Last week, leading ski magazine Powder published an article that dives into the technology behind ski tunes, and specifically, Nomad Sports’ new Wintersteiger Jupiter machine in Teton Village.
According to Powder, the Jupiter is a state-of-the-art “fully-automated behemoth that is among the most technologically advanced ski tuning machines in the world.” Wintersteiger is an Austrian machinery company that touts itself as the world market leader in service and rental solutions for the entire ski and snowboard sport.
Nomad Founder Gov Carrigan knows a thing or two about ski tuning, and Powder says that his shop has become a go-to spot for elite-level equipment services. The Jupiter is described as a 30-foot modular unit with a large computer screen for selecting and customizing tune programs, base grinds, base and side edge bevels, and more. The machine has pre-programmed tunes for certain snow conditions, and can even reset a pair of sticks back to factory specs. Nomad employees still check all skis for accuracy post-tune, but the machine’s precision has rendered that check a simple formality.
Powder Gear Editor Max Ritter explains in the article that ski tuning can be done by hand, but the quality of the work will depend on numerous factors including, “the tech’s level of experience, the steadiness of their hand, the quality and state of their tools, and (in all seriousness) the sobriety of whoever is sending your skis across the stone at 3 a.m. after an epic powder day.”
The Jupiter can tune a pair of skis in about five minutes. Every tune is able to be replicated again and again in this machine, which cost nearly $750,000 to purchase, install and equip.
“That’s a lot of money going to simply tuning skis,” writes Ritter. “However, would you bring your car into a mechanic who only works with a hammer and a screwdriver?”
In the article, Carrigan also acknowledged that working on equipment in a ski shop has historically not been very healthy, given the amount of fumes and plastic dust that can linger. The Jupiter is self-contained and ventilated, allowing both customers and ski techs to breathe easy.
