zai

zai skis hit the sweet spot between innovative design, traditional craftsmanship and excellent performance. In other words, these skis are what you’ll want to have clipped onto your feet as you come down the slopes of 1850, St Anton or the Silvretta glacier – regardless of your ability, you’ll feel the confidence of quality assuredness.

Made from wood, stone, natural rubber and zai’s own designed carbon fibre composite, the aim is durable function via stylish aesthetic with a nod to Switzerland’s iconic ski heritage. Working with designers at the cutting edge of ski endurance alongside the experience of the zai team, the skis come in a range of types and finishes. Traditionalist may like the ‘classic’ ski, which has a beautifully retro walnut veneer, although you could also choose smoked oak or marble. ‘Disruptor’ comes in vivid orange and promises a ‘dynamic starting point to the world of zai’.

Branching out into ski apparel was a natural step – and in line with the ‘zai way’, clothing is practical, turning away from trends and scientifically designed to be as functional as possible in challenging conditions. Materials are chosen for their reactiveness to weather and performance – ski jackets and trousers are insulating, water repellent and hardwearing.

Enter zai – which translates as ‘strong’ in the dialect of the Disentis canton in Switzerland, where the workshop is based – focusing on freedom and movement with the latest technology and scientific research in partnership with HSR University of Technology in Rapperswil, Innosuisse and the Hightech Centre Aargau. Bold decisions and ground-breaking innovation quickly saw zai taking its share of the luxury ski market, leading to pertinent collaborations with winter sports giants such as Moncler, Saint Laurent and Bentley.