Hexcel Sundance II

The Story

The Hexcel Sundance II is the kind of ski that makes people stop and ask, "What is that?" Long before carbon fiber became the standard, Hexcel was borrowing technology from the aerospace industry to build one of the lightest, most advanced skis of its era. Inside is an aluminum honeycomb core, the same engineering used in jet aircraft and even the Apollo lunar program, making these skis decades ahead of their time.

Built during the heart of the 1970s ski boom, the Sundance II quickly earned a reputation for being incredibly light, quick edge-to-edge, and a favorite among slalom racers. They weren't just high-performance skis, they were a status symbol on the mountain. Their unique construction even made mounting bindings an adventure, requiring technicians to fill portions of the hollow honeycomb core with epoxy before installation.

The story behind Hexcel is just as interesting. Originally an aerospace materials company founded in 1948, Hexcel entered the ski world after licensing an innovative lightweight ski design from engineering student Hub Zemke Jr. Production began in Livermore, California, in a former World War II explosives factory, a fittingly unconventional birthplace for one of skiing's most futuristic designs.

Today, the Sundance II is prized by collectors and ski enthusiasts who appreciate its blend of innovation, history, and unmistakable 1970s style. Every scratch and weathered edge tells the story of a ski that was built to fly down the mountain. Once it's illuminated with LED neon, those signs of adventure quietly fade into the background, while the ski's iconic graphics and remarkable history take center stage.