The PUSU story
When Jani Ahvenainen and Ilkka Helenius planned a ski trip, they built skis for the snow they expected to find. Their first pair was ready in 2009. We still start with the same question. Where do you want to ski?
Tuesday nights in Valkeakoski
Every Tuesday for a winter, Jani and Ilkka drove from Jyväskylä to Valkeakoski to learn how to build skis. They set up shop in Ilkka’s father’s garage in Puuppola. The room they used for laminating was so small that they had to take the mold outside to turn it around.
They skied the early pairs at their local hill, Riihivuori. Once friends started skiing them too, people in the lift line wanted to know where they could get a pair. In 2016, Jani founded Puuppolan Suksi.
What wood feels like in a turn
Jani grew up working with wood. His grandfather made him a little workshop in the family’s old lakeside sauna. Building skis gave him a different way to judge a piece of wood. What would a skier feel underfoot?
In a 2024 interview, Jani described three reasons for choosing wood. It gives a ski rebound, helps damp vibration and stands up to repeated use.
Read Jani’s interview (in Finnish)
We use ash cores in our current alpine skis. The core bends as you load the ski and springs back as you ease off. We design the core, the surrounding fibers and the shape together. The same wood can be at the heart of a Piste that feels settled on firm snow and a Kajo that bends more readily.
Our workshop in Laukaa
In 2022 we moved into a former prison in Vuontee, Laukaa. That same year, the earlier Loska SPINNOVA® earned an ISPO Award. Today we build our entire alpine ski line in this workshop.
On the surface you see real wood veneer. Piste is finished in oak and Aurora in flamed birch. The grain is different on every pair. When the skis show signs of wear, you can bring them back to us. We’ll look over the bases, edges and veneer and recommend the work they need.
Where do you want to ski?
If you like catching the first chair for laps on firm groomers, start with Piste and Kajo. If you go looking for soft snow, compare Loska and Aurora. You can also try a pair and feel the difference for yourself.