Text by Jay Bouchard
Images by Andrew Miller
Ted Eynon was on a chairlift, naturally, when it occurred to him to leave the corporate world for the ski industry. He’d recently sold his software company and was looking to start a new chapter—a chapter, he told his ski buddy in 2012, that he hoped would involve more snow and fewer spreadsheets.
About a week later, that friend sent him an article about Meier Skis, a Glenwood Springs-based company founded by Matt Cudmore in 2009. At the time, Cudmore was building hand-made skis in his garage using wood from local beetle kill pine, sourced with help from his brother, who worked for the Colorado State Forest Service. “It seemed like Matt was onto something,” Eynon remembers. “He was using a clear top sheet to show off the natural beauty of the wood. He was using all locally harvested wood.”
Eynon was intrigued enough to make a trip to Glenwood Springs, where he hopped on another chairlift—this time at nearby Sunlight Mountain Resort with Cudmore. “We skied, we had a few beers together at the end of the day, and we decided to go into business together.”
With Eynon on board, Meier Skis expanded rapidly. They pulled the business out of the garage and secured warehouse space in downtown Glenwood Springs. In addition to beetle-kill wood, which gives the skis their stunning blue hue, they incorporated Colorado-sourced aspen and poplar, as well as maple from out of state, to create their signature core. And rather than cover the skis completely with graphics, they let the wood do the talking. “We learned a lot when we were in Glenwood,” Enyon says. “We built a following there.”
Eventually, Meier outgrew its warehouse space in Glenwood Springs, and Eynon saw a bright future for the business on Colorado’s Front Range. In 2017, he moved the operation to Denver and became the sole owner of the business, as Cudmore left to pursue other interests. With more than 6,000 square feet of storefront and factory space on Broadway Street, Meier Skis has positioned itself as the industry’s first “craft skiery.”
As you walk through Meier’s doors, it’s hard to tell if you’re in a ski shop or a brewpub. Yes, there are skis everywhere—in the windows, on the walls, even on the ceiling—but there are also stools, a bar top, and complimentary local beer on tap. Behind the bar is a clear window through which customers can watch employees lay out and press new skis (and the occasional snowboard).
Looking closely, it’s apparent that Meier has set out to be one of the most eco-friendly manufacturers in the industry. Beyond building its skis from locally sourced wood, the epoxy that holds the skis together is made from plant-based resin, and Meier uses significantly less toxic ink on its top-sheet graphics compared to other companies. And when any product is ready to ship, rather than using packing paper, Meier repurposes the sublimation paper used to transfer ink onto each top-sheet. The company is also trying to cut down on its single use plastics by incorporating more biodegradable material into the process.
But don’t worry: Meier hasn’t sacrificed quality to meet its environmental goals. The company’s products are heralded by skiers of all types, including the pros. Owen Leeper, an Aspen native and professional skier now based in Jackson, Wyoming, rides Meier; he even has a signature ski, the Leeper, which is available for purchase in three sizes. Athletes across the world—from British Columbia to Switzerland—also rep Meier, proving that what was once a Glenwood Springs startup has become a sustainable force in the ski industry.
In honor of the company’s roots in Glenwood Springs, Meier Skis’ Ted Eynon names a few of his old haunts in the Roaring Fork Valley.
A Winter Adventure
“Off the backside of Ajax (Aspen Mountain), there’s a road called Little Annie that’s covered with snow in the winter and runs off the back of the mountain down to Castle Creek Road. You can either skin up and ski down Ajax or take a lift up Ajax and ski down it. It’s a trail less traveled, and it’s well worth it.”
A Shoulder-Season Ride
“Downvalley in Carbondale is Red Hill. Once you slog up the hill—it’s steep but not too far—you’ll be rewarded with flowy bike trails and incredible views while surrounded by seemingly endless red rock cliffs and formations.”
The Best Breakfast
“I’ve had many hearty breakfasts at the Hickory House in Aspen. It’s really a smoked-meat barbecue-rib joint, but they also have a great breakfast in a relaxed atmosphere. Steak and eggs, why not? You just need to get out on the mountain to burn it off after!”
The Locals Bar
“If you like it down and dirty in a ski town like I do, where you can mix with the locals and learn the secret stashes of the town, then try Zane’s Tavern in Aspen. It’s got great pub food, cold beers, and screens to catch a game. It’s actually not that divey, but hey, it’s Aspen.”
An Aspen Memory
“Back in the early ’80s when I first skied Aspen with my family, we would close out every day on the deck at The Little Nell. We’d stay for a couple of cold ones while soaking in the sun and watching skiers try to make it down the last pitch.”