Goode Skis Manufacturing Comes Home From China To Ogden

The makers of the nation's first carbon-fiber skis and poles have decided to bring all their operations under one Utah roof.

Goode Ski Technologies announced Feb. 14 that the Ogden-based company would relocate its manufacturing arm from China to Ogden. Company officials told the Ogden Standard-Examiner the move will give the firm greater control over production and permit prototypes to be quickly tested at nearby Snowbasin and Powder Mountain resorts.

Ogden city officials lauded the move, especially when Goode said it would put "Made in Ogden" stickers on each set of skis. Manufacturing of ski poles will remain in China for the time being, according to news reports, despite government policies that restrict movement of workers.

The firm, which introduced carbon composite ski poles in 1990, moved its corporate offices and water ski manufacturing operations from Michigan to Ogden in 1995. Skis have been produced in China since 1998. The company bought the assets of Volant Ski in 2001, and now makes 20 carbon fiber ski models.

Goode Ski will purchase about $1 million worth of equipment to gear up snow ski production, which can be up to 100 pairs of skis a day, and add up to 30 employees, President Dave Goode told the newspaper.

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See related story on Goode Skis by Brett Buckles on trends from the recent snow sports trade show.