Luckily, I had none other than Tall T Dan to guide me around.
“Let’s check out Vishnu.”
Never heard of them, but I was definitely down to check out some micro ski companies.
They told me a bit, but here is the lot.
Emmett and Kale; PC: Spencer Liautaud
- Tell me about the brand.
Who are the brains behind the operation?
Who are the riders?
Kale Cimperman:Vishnu is a street skiing brand.
Founded by Emmett Davis, Dylan Manley and myself.
Emmett and I handle the day-to-day operations, but everyone involved has input.
The team is made up of kids we have been skiing with for a while.
Emmett Davis:I like to film and shovel and I attempt to ski every day.
Spencer Liautaud is our film intern.
Serge Du Preez and Dylan Head help.
Dylan Manley:Vishnu is a very tight knit operation.
Everyone from the owners to the riders were all homies before it began.
Its an honor to be part of a ski company were the vision is promoting unconventional skiing.
Fill me in again.
Kale:Vishnu is a Hindu deity.
At one point he quotes a Hindu holy book called the Bhagavad-Gita.
Thats pretty much it, although the dead fly can mean whatever you want, really.
The V, however, is Illuminati mind control.
Dont look at it directly.
Dylan:A fly has lifespan of 24 hours.
The V logo just looks good.
Ive got a thing for pagan imagery.
- Tell me about the ski.
Emmett:Its called the Wet and its extremely chill.
The idea at first was that we wanted a ski that you could catch tranny down anything on.
Jersey barriers, dumpsters, whatever.
Kale:The Wet is made in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Whats important is that our skis are quality, durable, and fun.
Emmett, Dylan, and I designed the ski, with the style of riding we enjoy in mind.
The ski is symmetrical in shape and flex.
Heavily rockered in the tip and tail, cambered underfoot.
The flex in the tip and tails of the Wet is the softest you will find on the market.
This flex pattern allows you to butter, press, and match transition better than any other ski.
You wont wash out if you land properly.
Something light, symmetrical, durable, strong underfoot but with insane flex patterns at bow and stern.
As noodley as the tips may strike you, they charge through any condition.
Definitely recommend to anyone who wants the flexiest and most playful ski to date.
Were the current products in the industry not meeting your needs?
Emmett:Kale and I were skiing on a flow deal for a large, multi-national ski brand.
It was very frustrating that any and all input we gave for improving their freestyle program was completely ignored.
Kale:In terms of product, no skis were soft enough.
Our skis are ready to bend right out of the box.
Aside from that, there was no Street Skiing brand.
As skiing grows, the sub genres, for want of better term, become more defined.
This has also become the case in skiing (thank you Stept), but not without some resistance.
Unlike other action sports, skiing developed without a sole focus on freestyle riding.
The idea that some things arent real skiing is complete shit.
How do you guys separate yourselves from the rest of the urban crews that are out there?
Emmett:Hey thanks.
Stay tuned for that.
Is the focus going to be on creating video projects and a solid team?
Do you want the brand to explode in size or will it stay as more of a micro brand?
Dylan:Fortune 500.
As a brand, we dont care about anything else.
Vishnu will be seen in the country club as well as the nightclub.
The Kid will be seen drinking hip hop soda and wearing gold teefs.
Look for several video projects from us in the future, hopefully produced in cooperation with Newschoolers!
Emmett:Park skiing is just practice for street skiing, so yes.
Dylan:Kids gotta learn how to pop.
Kale:I think urban style parks are great, so much fun.
- Thanks a bunch guys!
Anything else you would like to add?
Kale:Thank you man!
Id like to shout out SPHC and all the homies at 7 Springs.
Emmett:Try hard and believe in yourself.
A wise man named Bran Lan once told me to ski for myself.
Dave Crichtons opening segment from Forward in 2003 is the best part ever.
Dylan:Shouts to the 716 and keep an eye for the Vishnu post-season video coming soon!
