Hart Ski History Timeline

55 Years of Hart - An American Tradition

1955: Hartvig, his brother Harry, and friend Ed Bjork begin producing metal-edged skis. Harry, a ski design engineer for Gregg Skis, knew that seamless metal edges, or "metal skis" were the next innovation in ski construction. With Hartvig's manufacturing techniques and Harry's ski designs—Hart Skis were born.

1960s: Hart Skis dominates the U.S. ski market. At its peak in 1967, the company achieved global brand status with 40% market share, 144,000 pairs of skis shipped and revenue approaching $14 million.  In 1966 Hart Skis produces the Javelin, one of the first metal and fiberglas skis.

1970s: With skis crafted by Hart, Olympic medalist Billy Kidd wins the World-Wide Championship Professional competition. Hart also is endorsed by other 70’s ski stars like Suzie Chaffee and Hank Kashiwa.

1980s: Throughout the 1980’s Hart Skis is a dominating force in Freestyle competitions.  In 1984 Hart introduces another ski first—the “Comp”— a design that offers great performance, lightness, and versatility. This is the first ski to be crafted with wood okume and honeycomb structure in aluminum.

1990s:  Jonny Moseley, inventor of the first ripside down aerial jump, skis for Hart Skis as he develops into an Olympic Gold Medal Skier in 1998.  Liz McIntrye wins the silver medal  on Hart’s F17 skis.  Throughout the 90's Hart athletes dominate the World of Freestyle.

Now:  Beginning in March 2008 with Hart Athlete Michael Morse winning the US Freestyle Single and Dual Mogul Championships on Hart F17s, Hart was quickly propelled to the forefront in US mogul skis. Further national visibility came for the Hart Brand when 2008 World Cup Rookie of the Year, Patrick Deneen, won the 2009 World Cup Gold Medal at the FIS World Cup Freestyle Championship in Inawashiro, Japan on March 7, 2009. At the end of March 2009, Michelle Roark (on her special Phi-nomenal F17 skis) won the US Nationals women's moguls, and Bryon Wilson won the mens. With all 4 US men on the 2010 US Olympic Men's Mogul team, and Bryon Wilson winning Bronze in Vancouver, Hart has achieved a “phi-nomenal” public awareness in the skiing community that Hart Skis are back!