Published February 26, 2026, 01:45 PM MST
After 18 months of dedicated development and countless hours of meticulous work within the innovative Outside Lab at CU Denver, a groundbreaking advancement in snow sports gear evaluation is set to redefine industry standards. The Outside Lab Ski and Snowboard Test Machine is officially unveiled, poised to revolutionize how the flex profiles of skis and snowboards are measured and reported, offering consumers unprecedented clarity and comparability in their purchasing decisions. This new apparatus signifies a pivotal shift from subjective assessments to objective, data-driven analysis, particularly for products where standardized testing has historically been insufficient.
The challenges inherent in rigorously testing snow sports equipment have long been a subject of discussion within the industry. While certain products benefit from established performance and safety testing protocols, a significant gap exists for others, especially those whose development and evaluation have traditionally relied heavily on the accumulated experience and qualitative feedback of expert testers in real-world conditions. It is precisely within this latter category that the Outside Lab’s initiative to develop a standardized, objective measurement system for flex profiles has yielded such significant results.
Historically, the assessment of a ski or snowboard’s flex—its inherent stiffness and how it behaves under pressure—has been a nuanced art. This has often involved subjective methods, such as the "shop hand" bend test, where a salesperson might manually flex a ski to give a general idea of its stiffness. While valuable for conveying a basic feel, this approach lacks the precision and consistency required for accurate, cross-brand comparisons. The absence of industry-wide standards for measuring and reporting flex profiles, including torsional stiffness (crucial for edge engagement and turn initiation) and longitudinal flex along the entire length of the ski or board, has presented a hurdle for both manufacturers and consumers. The Outside Lab’s new machine aims to bridge this gap by providing a single, unified method for assessing these critical characteristics across the entire spectrum of snow sports equipment.
The genesis of this project lies in the recognition by the engineering team at the Outside Lab that a critical need existed for quantifiable data regarding ski and snowboard flex. By meticulously researching current industry practices, identifying prevailing deficiencies, and collaborating with leading engineers, the team embarked on a journey to design a solution. The result of this intensive research and development is the Outside Ski Test Machine, a sophisticated piece of engineering designed to provide objective, reproducible data that will fundamentally enhance product reviews and consumer understanding.
In a candid discussion about the machine’s development, Trevor Young, Ph.D., Research Services Program Manager and the lead engineer from CU Denver collaborating with the Outside Lab, detailed the intricate process. "As a lab team, we convened with the editorial staff at SKI magazine, part of Outside, to pinpoint the areas where they observed information gaps regarding ski and snowboard performance," Dr. Young explained. "What became evident was that bending stiffness, commonly referred to as flex, and the stiffness associated with edge engagement—the force required to initiate a turn—were areas where the industry lacked comprehensive, objective understanding. Our machine was conceived to address this by capturing precise, lab-based data points on flex and edge engagement. This data will be invaluable, not only for informing consumers but also for providing manufacturers with the insights they need to refine the performance characteristics of their products."
The machine’s capabilities extend beyond simple flex measurements. It is engineered to capture detailed geometric profiles, including sidecut radius and variations in sidecut along the length of the ski or snowboard. These geometric features significantly influence how a product feels and performs on the snow, and by quantifying them, the Outside Lab aims to provide a more holistic understanding of each piece of gear. "This machine allows us to move beyond the subjective ‘shop hand’ bend test and instead provide concrete numerical values," Adam Trenkamp, Lab Test Editor at the Outside Lab, emphasized. "This means we can compare skis and snowboards on a genuine stiffness scale, offering an apples-to-apples comparison that has been sorely missing."
The design and construction of the Outside Ski Test Machine represent a significant undertaking, highlighting a commitment to innovation. The development process involved close collaboration between the Outside Lab’s internal team and external engineering specialists. "We approached this as a completely novel design challenge," Dr. Young stated. "Our internal lab team, alongside direct consultations with manufacturers within the industry, worked to define the key performance metrics that matter most. We went through three to four distinct design iterations before arriving at the final prototype, which we believe offers unparalleled flexibility in testing capabilities."
The physical construction of the machine was a collaborative effort, with the initial design and component specification handled in-house. The final assembly of the intricate mechanical components was then expertly managed by Dave Cleveland and his team at Custom Engineering Solutions in Granby, Colorado. This partnership ensured that a cutting-edge design was brought to life by experienced fabricators, situated in the heart of ski country, a fitting location for such an endeavor. "The advantage of outsourcing the build to a specialized firm like Custom Engineering Solutions was ensuring the highest quality of mechanical execution," Trenkamp added. "It’s a Colorado-designed and Colorado-built machine, born from a deep understanding of the very sports it’s intended to evaluate."
The data points that the Outside Ski Test Machine is capable of capturing are comprehensive and multi-faceted. The machine is highly adaptable, allowing engineers to adjust virtually every component to define specific testing parameters. This includes a wide range of bending tests, applicable to both the tip and tail sections of skis and snowboards. Crucially, it can also perform edge engagement tests, simulating the forces experienced when a rider engages an edge during a turn.
"We can conduct tests that isolate bending stiffness along the length of the ski or snowboard, as well as tests that measure the torsional stiffness, which is directly related to how effectively an edge bites into the snow," Dr. Young elaborated. "Furthermore, we can perform combined tests where we bend or twist each side of the ski or snowboard independently, or in conjunction with each other. This allows for a nuanced understanding of how the entire structure responds to various forces."
Beyond stiffness, the machine is equipped with advanced geometric scanning capabilities. This laser measurement system, boasting precision down to less than one-tenth of a millimeter, meticulously maps the contours of skis and snowboards. "This laser scanner allows us to capture detailed geometric measurements at predefined points along the entire length of the equipment, from contact point to contact point," Dr. Young explained. "By collecting this data, we can then perform post-processing to accurately calculate metrics like sidecut radius, and even analyze the camber profile and overall thickness distribution."
The implications of this advanced geometric analysis are significant. Understanding the precise shape of a ski or snowboard is as crucial to its performance as its flex. The sidecut, the inward curve of the ski’s edges, dictates how readily it will carve a turn. By quantifying this, along with other geometric nuances, the Outside Lab can provide a level of detail that allows riders to better understand how a specific shape will translate to their on-snow experience.
The development of the Outside Lab Ski and Snowboard Test Machine represents a significant leap forward for the snow sports industry, particularly in the realm of product evaluation and consumer education. While specialized testing equipment exists for certain aspects of ski and snowboard performance, the holistic approach and dual-purpose design of the Outside Lab’s machine—capable of testing both skis and snowboards with equal rigor—sets it apart.
"What we’ve achieved here is a greater capacity to test across diverse load cases and equipment sizes," Dr. Young noted. "Many existing machines are either highly specialized for skis, excluding snowboards entirely, or lack the flexibility to accommodate the full range of snow sports equipment. Our design was intentionally inclusive, ensuring we could provide this level of objective data for both skiers and snowboarders."
The direct impact of this technological advancement on consumers is profound. With objective data on flex profiles and geometry, shoppers can make more informed decisions when purchasing their next pair of skis or snowboards. Instead of relying solely on marketing descriptions or subjective reviews, they will have access to quantifiable metrics that directly relate to how a product will perform and feel on the mountain.
"We can now offer comparisons not only within a single brand’s product line but also across different brands," Trenkamp stated. "When a consumer has a specific idea of how they want their ride to feel—whether they prefer a stiff, responsive ski for aggressive carving or a more forgiving board for playful riding—we can guide them towards products that align with those preferences, based on actual, measurable data. This will be invaluable for anyone looking to demo equipment, as it helps narrow down the options to those most likely to meet their specific performance needs."
The inclusion of this detailed data in upcoming ski and snowboard reviews from the Outside Lab is anticipated to set a new benchmark for the industry. This commitment to scientific rigor and transparency promises to empower consumers, manufacturers, and retailers alike. The machine’s ability to provide consistent, reproducible data will foster greater confidence in product testing and ultimately lead to a more satisfying experience for all snow sports enthusiasts.
The project’s timeline, spanning 18 months from conception to unveiling, underscores the dedication and methodical approach undertaken by the Outside Lab and its partners. This period involved extensive research, iterative design, prototyping, and rigorous validation, all aimed at creating a tool that would genuinely advance the field of snow sports gear evaluation.
The introduction of the Outside Lab Ski and Snowboard Test Machine is more than just the launch of a new piece of equipment; it represents a paradigm shift in how snow sports gear is understood and assessed. By replacing subjective interpretations with objective, measurable data, the Outside Lab is paving the way for a future where consumers can confidently choose equipment that perfectly matches their skills, preferences, and riding styles. The promise of looking for this detailed, data-driven information in future reviews is an exciting prospect for the entire snow sports community.