I N S P I R E D B Y A D V E N T U R E + B U I LT F O R T H E J O U R N E Y
w22
WINTER 2022 Ben Smith x Andrew Mildenberger
RMUOUTDOORS
WINTER
2022
Contents 4 who we are RMU Outdoors is an employee-owned brand that values sustainable innovation and maximizing opportunities, for outdoors endeavors through creation of thoughtful, innovative and authentic adventure products.
8 what we do We are Skiers, Mountain Bikers, and outdoor folks, and embrace the culture of living in the mountains. We created the RMU lifestyle for every adventure and design to facilitate experiences. We build to exceed our own expectations, and stand by our quality Skis, Equipment, and the experience of visiting one of our retail locations in Breckenridge, CO or Whistler Blackcomb.
14 new products We’ve been working on some new products for year-round adventures. Take a look at the latest and greatest for mountain biking and skiing.
24 our process It all starts on the trail...and sometimes off of it. We are inspired by the adventure, and that leads us to our ideas. Descents with friends, routes with locals, conversation with athletes; our brand is our community and our products reflect that. We’re proud of our grassroots background, and we design, create and test each product thoroughly, the devil is in the details. We build for the journey, whatever it might be.
WWW.RMUOUTDOORS.COM 2
photo of RMU Whistler Blackcomb location by Graeme Meiklejohn
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We are skiers. We are mountain bikers. We are a mountain company.
There is a Often, this seems to be the natural progression for many skiers, as they begin to move beyond the individualized passion for the sport, and become engaged in the behind-the-scenes; more interested in the products themselves, how they are put together, and the technology behind them. Our goal from the start was not to start an international company; little did we know the extent of the lessons that the industry had in store for us. Rather, our goal from the beginning, as skiers, was simply to understand more about the industry,skis, skiing, and design for our own purposes. Just like every skier we wanted to know more about the process so we began researching the process, equipment, and materials necessary with the same passion that we had previously brought to the table when researching new lines to ski, snow conditions, and weather patterns. We’d love to tell you that our skis were amazing right from the first pair off the press-but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The first pair we pressed we could not even ski on. The flex was way off, the shape was a little asymmetrical... knowing what we know now, even if we had been able to mount it, there wasn’t enough fiberglass in the ski to retain the bindings! This was the challenge we had been looking for; we now had a starting point. So we picked up some wood charts, reworked our flex patterns, and built another pair. This one was skiable... or at least, it looked to be. The tuning equipment we were using in the garage those days wasn’t state of the art, but the ski itself had a decent flex, the right amount of binding retention, and it looked almost like a real ski (except for the wooden sidewalls and cloth graphic). After a week or two of skiing this pair, we were eager to try again, make new improvements, and implement what we had learned. As long-time locals to Summit County, it was only a matter of time until our friends became interested and wanted to try our ridiculous skis. This process continued for what must have been 15 pairs of skis before we got our first inquiry call. “Hey, I have been looking for someone to make me a pair of 176 underfoot pure powder sticks and I heard you guys had a press down in your basement.” Not understanding at the time what we were embarking on, we offered to build the pair for 30 beers and the cost of materials. Before we knew it, we had built about 50 pairs of what we’re slowly starting to become decent skis for friends at a price range of 30 beers to a couple hundred bucks... and the word was out. If you need something built, go see the rocky mountain underground guys. The name was given to us literally because we were pressing skis underground in the rocky mountains, not because we had some well thought out business plan and branding. Right: Upper photo by Jeremy Allen X Frances Courtois, Graeme Meiklejohn in Whistler, postride libations, RMU Tavern in Breckenridge.
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Sk
Photo by Jeremy Allen
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kis
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SKIS 2022
Apostle 3.0
Apostle 3.0
Apostle 3.0
Apostle 3.0
Apostle 3.0
96
96
106
106
106
(Carbon) Tour
(Carbon) Tour
New! 8
(Metal) Pro
Valh
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halla
97
Valhalla
Valhalla
NS YLE pro
NS YLE pro
Rippah
107
107
110
118
98
(Carbon) Tour
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. Carbon Neutral 2025
RMU is more than just a mountain culture company, we have a shared vision and passion for the environment and the mountains we love so dearly. We want to create a shared legacy where we protect and nurture the natural environment for many years to come. Because we want our children to still be able to enjoy ripping up the slopes when we’re gone. With this in mind, RMU created a ‘Carbon Neutral 2025’ pledge to our customer base and all our stakeholders. We ratified this pledge with a signed document outlining the climate goals we will strive to meet over the next 5 years. We aim to be totally carbon neutral come 2025, if not sooner. We’ve split out our carbon neutral objectives into 4 main focus areas: 1. Carbon Neutrality 2. Plastic Free/Zero Waste 3. Locally Sourced 4. Employee/Stakeholder Initiatives
Right: Are Skidfabrik in Sweden laying up some YLE pro 110’s...photos by Klas Hagelbeck
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WOOD CONSTRUCTION SKIS
(1) ICP 8210 PI19 Nylon Top Sheet (2) Extra Thick ABS Sidewall 8.5MM (3) 26 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty Triax Fiberglass (4) Poplar Wood Core With Beech Mounting Plate (5) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (6) ABS Tip And Tail Spacer (7) 26 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty Triax Fiberglass (8) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (9) Full Wrap Rubber VDS For Superior Dampening (10) Extra Thick Steel Edges 2.3MM (11) Okulen 7150 C Graphite Race Base
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METAL CONSTRUCTION SKIS
(1) ICP 8210 PI19 Nylon Top Sheet (2) Extra Thick ABS Sidewall 8.5MM (3) 26 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty Triax Fiberglass (4) 70mm Titanal Sheet (5)Poplar Wood Core With Beech Mounting Plate (6) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (7) ABS Tip And Tail Spacer (8) 70mm Titanal Sheet (9) 26 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty Triax Fiberglass (10) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (11) Full Wrap Rubber VDS For Superior Dampening (12) Extra Thick Steel Edges 2.3MM (13) Okulen 7150 C Graphite Race Base 14
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CARBON CONSTRUCTION SKIS
(1) ICP 8210 PI19 Nylon Top Sheet (2) Extra Thick ABS Sidewall 8.5MM (3) AeroSpace Carbon Fiber (4) 18 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty biax Fiberglass (5)Paulownia and Poplar Wood Core With Beech Mounting Plate (6) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (7) ABS Tip And Tail Spacer (8) AeroSpace Carbon Fiber (9) 26 Oz Pre Preg Heavy Duty Triax Fiberglass (10) Thin Felt to Increase Adhesion Between Unlike Materials (11) Full Wrap Rubber VDS For Superior Dampening (12) Extra Thick Steel Edges 2.3MM (13) Okulen 7150 C Graphite Race Base 16
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APOSTLE 3.0
Jeremy Allen x Frances Courtois
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APOSTLE 3.0 96 ALL MOUNTAIN
The new Apostle 3.0 series breathes new life into one of RMU’s longest standing models. On its 10th year in production, a new age for the Apostle begins with freeride touring at the forefront of its ethos. Don’t be fooled by the word touring because these skis are designed for the down, with subtle tweaks that make it more touring friendly. With subtle tweaks that make it more touring friendly. The Apostle 3.0 employs a longer effective edge to ensure grip and power through its turns. Matched with its new low-rise rocker in the tip and tail, the 3.0 can smear and surf at will. The Apostle 3.0 also moves to a blended directional radius, ensuring any turn at any speed. The 96 holds a tighter radius through the length of the ski as well as a longer effective edge. This ensure its performance on hard pack days in the resort and out in the backcountry. The 96 will be available in 2 constructions: Wood and Tour (Carbon). The Apostles Wood construction goes unchanged from previous years, with poplar/beech core and reinforced triax fiberglass. The new Tour (Carbon) construction is a new standard for downhill performance on a carbon layup ski. We have added a unique vibration dampening tip, to decrease carbon chatter that disrupts variable snow performance. The 3.0 will also use a lighter biax fiberglass mixed with reinforced aerospace carbon. This increases ski fore and aft flex but maintains torsional rigidity. The sum of these parts equals a lighter carbon ski, with dampness to power through any condition.
5-POINT SHAPE ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
2 CONSTRUCTIONS
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Painting by Juli Watson
Apostle
Apostle
96
96
Wood
(Carbon) Tour
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APOSTLE 3.0 106 BIG MOUNTAIN
The new Apostle 3.0 series breathes new life into one of RMU’s longest standing models. On its 10th year in production, a new age for the Apostle begins with freeride touring at the forefront of its ethos. Don’t be fooled by the word touring because these skis are designed for the down, with subtle tweaks that make it more touring friendly. With subtle tweaks that make it more touring friendly. The Apostle 3.0 employs a longer effective edge to ensure grip and power through its turns. Matched with its new low-rise rocker in the tip and tail, the 3.0 can smear and surf at will. The Apostle 3.0 also moves to a blended directional radius, ensuring any turn at any speed. The 106 holds a tighter radius through the length of the ski as well as a longer effective edge. This ensure its performance on hard pack days in the resort and out in the backcountry. The 106 will be available in 3 constructions: Wood, Pro (Metal) , and Tour (Carbon). The Apostles Wood construction goes unchanged from previous years, with poplar/beech core and reinforced triax fiberglass. Our new Pro construction adds (x2) 70mm stringers of Titanal, to ensure speed and dampness. The new Tour construction is a new standard for downhill performance on a carbon layup ski. We have added a unique vibration dampening tip, to decrease carbon chatter that disrupts variable snow performance. The 3.0 will also use a lighter biax fiberglass mixed with reinforced aerospace carbon. This increases ski fore and aft flex but maintains torsional rigidity. The sum of these parts equals a lighter carbon ski, with dampness to power through any condition.
5-POINT SHAPE ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
3 CONSTRUCTIONS
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Painting by Juli Watson
Apostle
Apostle
Apostle
106
106
106
(Carbon) Tour
Wood
(Metal) Pro
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VALHALLA
Keri Herman x Rachel Levin
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VALHALLA 97 ALL MOUNTAIN
Keri Herman, 5-time X-games medalist, Olympian and RMU athlete, worked with the RMU design team to fine-tune the women’s specific Valhalla line, culminating in the Valhalla 97 and Valhalla 107. The Valhalla 97 and 107 have added longer radius and more effective edge from predecessors, the Valhalla 95 and 104 respectively, to increase stability and speed. New low rise rocker allows them to slash powder and carve groomers from top to bottom. RMU enlisted the help of Keri Herman and female skiers of the local Breckenridge community to design these big mountain skis perfect for any condition.
5-POINT SHAPE ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
1 CONSTRUCTION
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Valhalla 97 Right: Painting by Juli Watson
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VALHALLA 107 BIG MOUNTAIN
Keri Herman, 5-time X-games medalist, Olympian and RMU athlete, worked with the RMU design team to fine-tune the women’s specific Valhalla line, culminating in the Valhalla 97 and Valhalla 107. The Valhalla 97 and 107 have added longer radius and more effective edge from predecessors, the Valhalla 95 and 104 respectively, to increase stability and speed. New low rise rocker allows them to slash powder and carve groomers from top to bottom. RMU enlisted the help of Keri Herman and female skiers of the local Breckenridge community to design these big mountain skis perfect for any condition.
5-POINT SHAPE ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
2 CONSTRUCTIONS
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Valhalla
Valhalla
107
107
Right: Painting by
(Carbon) Tour
Juli Watson
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RIPPAH PARK
Ethan Swadburg
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RIPPAH PARK
A core freestyle ski, from its construction to its shape, the Rippah embodies an instrument designed for creative expression. A lightweight poplar core provides the platform for low swing-weight and playfulness. Responsive flex while burly construction holds up to over-flexing, hitting rails and the occasional concrete wall ride.
TRUE TWIN TIP ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
1 CONSTRUCTION
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Painting by Juli Watson
Rippah 98 185
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NORTH SHORE/YLE PRO POWDER SURF
Wiley Miller x Craig Barker
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NORTH SHORE/YLE PRO 118 POWDER SURF
Named for Wiley Miller, RMU athlete pro-skier, the YLE collection launched in 2019 with a 110 and 118 Pro edition. The addition of the 2020 110 YLE Metal with supercharged capabilities and performance, showcases RMU’s focus on athlete-driven design insights and consumer needs. “The YLE 110 is a perfect balance of play and drive. Built for those days when you may encounter some variable snow, a bit of pow, a few laps cutting up the groomers, and perhaps even a lap through the park at the end of the day” said Wiley Miller, RMU athlete and ski collaborator. Wiley Miller also teamed up with RMU to develop the YLE 118 Pro, a playful, surf inspired powder ski for a big mountain experience with responsive poplar wood core and indestructible beechwood mounting plate.
ASYM SHAPE ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
1 CONSTRUCTION
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NS YLE pro 118 Right: Painting by Juli Watson
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NORTH SHORE/YLE PRO 110 POWDER SURF
Named for Wiley Miller, RMU athlete pro-skier, the YLE collection launched in 2019 with a 110 and 118 Pro edition. The addition of the 2020 110 YLE Metal with supercharged capabilities and performance, showcases RMU’s focus on athlete-driven design insights and consumer needs. “The YLE 110 is a perfect balance of play and drive. Built for those days when you may encounter some variable snow, a bit of pow, a few laps cutting up the groomers, and perhaps even a lap through the park at the end of the day” said Wiley Miller, RMU athlete and ski collaborator. Wiley Miller also teamed up with RMU to develop the YLE 118 Pro, a playful, surf inspired powder ski for a big mountain experience with responsive poplar wood core and indestructible beechwood mounting plate.
ROCKER TIP/CAMBER UNDERFOOT/ROCKER TAIL
1 CONSTRUCTION
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NS YLE pro 110 Right: Painting by Juli Watson
178 +186
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Equip
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pment
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EQUIPMENT SPECS
Co r e Pack 35
Core Pa ck 25
B R F C S35. 50
Ad ven ture Skii ng
EDC + R AS
Boo t Bag
6 30d Ny lon
630 d N y l on
630d N y l o n
4 2 0 d
Deep Oc ea n
Te c h B l a c k
Te c h B l a c k /
Te c h B
4.5 lbs
3.0 l bs
Waxe d C anvas
2 2”x 12” x 6”
21”x 12” x 4”
4.5 l bs
New!
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22” x 12” x 6- 9”
C o r e Pa
M T B /Sk
2 . 5 l 1 8 . 5 ” x 1
a ck 1 5
E n duro Belt
E nd uro F a nny 5L
Ta i l g a t e L o c k e r 2 . 0
kii ng
MTB
MT B
MT B
Ny l o
4 w a y stretch
420d N y l o n
840d N y l o n
Bla c k
Te c h B l a c k
Te c h B l a c k
Te c h B l a c k
2 8” - 44” wa ist
28” - 44” w ais t
L ar g e + S mal l
0. 5 lbs
1.5 l bs
5.4 l bs
12”x 5” x 0. 5”
12” x 6” x 3”
61” x 22” x 6” ( L g)
l bs 1” x 4 ”
54” x 18” x 6” ( Sm )
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CORE PACK 25 EDC + RAS
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CORE PACK 25
FREERIDE TOURING PACK
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The Core Pack 25 takes everything that we’ve learned over the years and puts in into a 25L vessel, designed to work all day in the backcountry or resort. This uses a ballistic nylon front panel, stowable ski carry + helmet sling, avy pocket,top + backpanel access, and our signature waistbelt with bottle pocket. Ski carry, plenty of access, and bomber construction make this your go to bag daily.
Right: Keri Herman taking the long way up for some product testing with an early prototype.
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CORE PACK 35L
FREERIDE TOURING PACK
Jeremy Allen
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Core Pack 35
The Core Pack 35 is the go anywhere travel pack for the outdoor enthusiast. No matter what situation you are in, you will have a pack ready to handle the environment. From climbing in Indian Creek to skiing in Chamonix, we have created technical designs to encourage your adventure. The core pack has 35L of capacity but can still fit in an overhead compartment on any flight. Built with the most durable waterproof fabric we could find it can be tossed around under any jet as well. Once you make it to your destination the core pack is incredibly feature rich for any season and any activity.
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MOUNTAIN BRIEFCASE ADVENTURE TRAVEL PACK
Jason Laabs
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The Mountain Briefcase is the adventure travel pack for travelers and mountain enthusiasts. As passionate travelers, who view the world as our oyster, and seek simplicity while on the road, we built the Mountain Briefcase to be the ideal partner for those journeys. The Mountain Briefcase is an adventure travel solution that is not only built to last but built for the most functional pack in the world. The expandable 35L design fits the smallest airline carry-on rules, while the accordion-style expansion brings the pack’s capacity to multi-week compatible 50L.
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CORE PACK 15L
MTB PACK + UTILITY BET
Jeremy Allen x Javier Munoz Santos
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Specifically designed for trail sports, the Core Pack 15L is a hydration quiver killer built for the journey + adventure. Innovative features and best-in-class quality deliver the ultimate day pack. Durable but light(er) 420d nylon fabric with weatherproofing lasts a lifetime. Reinforced tool organization fits a reservoir, tools, extra jacket, and first aid kit. An aluminum perimeter frame and RMU signature CNC buckles & hardware keep things in place, and a breathable vest-style harness securely carries any load. Easily fits a laptop for the days in-between the adventures. Removable Utility Belt for shorter rides and easy carry while traveling light. A fleece lined pocket brings scratch-free protection to delicate items.
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CORE MTB UTILITY PACK 25BELT EDC ESSENTIALS + RAS ONLY
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MTB UTILITY BELT ESSENTIALS ONLY
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The MTB Utility Belt was built for the necessities, and to avoid wearing a backpack. We tried to cram as many features as possible into the Enduro Fanny 5L while still keeping things light. Check out the features list below to find out whats in the nooks and crannies. The 420D Nylon has a Carbonate + PU coating to waterproof the fabric and to stand up against abrasion. Fleece lining keeps your screen scratch free, and the reflective screenprints and zipper pulls get you noticed at night. Aluminum hardware on the (offset) main belt buckle and Nylon seatbelt webbing round out Right: Luke “Ocho� Allen taking the
the fabric.
high road in the Enchanted Forest with the Utility Belt.
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ENDURO FANNY 5L TOOLS + HYDRATION
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The Enduro Fanny 5L was built for the necessities, and to avoid wearing a backpack. We tried to cram as many features as possible into the Enduro Fanny 5L while still keeping things light. Check out the features list below to find out whats in the nooks and crannies. The 420D Nylon has a Carbonate + PU coating to waterproof the fabric and to stand up against abrasion. Fleece lining keeps your screen scratch free, and the reflective screenprints and zipper pulls get you noticed at night. Aluminum hardware on the (offset) main belt buckle and Nylon seatbelt webbing round out Right: Christine pedaling with the
the fabric.
Enduro Fanny 5L.
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TAILGATE LOCKER 2.0 BIKE + BEER + TOOLS
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Tailgate Locker 2.0
The
Tailgate Locker 2.0
comes in the
same sizes as the previous model, with a more minimal approach. The weatherproof 840D Nylon with Carbonate + PU coating hold up to the elements, and (x4) Aluminum buckles keep things secure. The food grade liner in the beer pocket keeps the funk out, and locking zippers allow you to prevent sticky fingers. Available in Standard (54” x 18”) Fits small and mid-sized pickups (ie Tacoma, Frontier). XL (61” x 20”) gives full coverage on the biggest trucks (ie Tundra, F250).
Left: Photo by Christie Fitzpatrick
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W22 EQUIPMENT
Enduro Fanny 5L Core Pack 15
Core Pack 25
Enduro Belt
BRFCS35-50 Core Pack 35
Tailgate Locker 2.0 62
-waxed canvas-
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Form follows function
design
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Right: iterations of the Enduro Fanny 5 being sampled at the factory.
development + testing
Travel is inherently part of the adventure and is filled with all kinds of obstacles along the way. We’ve learned to embrace the problems as an opportunity to grow, and solving for those issues are part of the fun. This is what gets us inspired, motivated, and excited to work everyday. Our design philosophy revolves around the need for better solutions. Asking the right questions, and failing early are part of our process. This allows us the opportunity for plenty of field testing with professionals, and fine tuning. Working with our athletes, ambassadors, and Amigos provides us the ability to make smart design choices. We start with a conversation and some doodles on paper to start any project. Exploring more
A lot of time goes into the design process, whether it be Skis or Equipment...paper gets a lot done for us before moving into production. Our products are manufactured in some of the best facilities in the world. The majority of our ski line is built in a geothermal factory, reducing our carbon footprint as well as providing proper testing grounds.
conceptual ideas eventually leads to more feasible options. A rough prototype is built, so we can evaluate and refine several times before reaching out to manufacturing. A lot of the process relies on paper...whether its sketching out concepts, building prototypes, or looking at topsheet graphics.
“A lot of time goes into the design process, whether it be Skis or Equipment...� 65
employee owned.
As of today, RMU employs over 40 Staff members internationally.
We have realized
that growth is necessary for our brand. We have implemented an employee ownership program, used our skis to donate and raise funds for several nonprofits, and continue to maintain a “50+ days on snow� policy as a job requirement for our employees. We are faced with new challenges every day, and as we take steps towards the future of RMU and towards creating the brand we are setting out to build, our goal is to build a business in which our entire staff is afforded the opportunity to live comfortably, ski, and pursue the lifestyle that has connected us all.
If we can continue to
shape our company this way and adhere to the values we are built on while maintaining a reputation of innovation and providing value for our customers, we are fulfilling our goals.
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