Elan’s factory in Begunje na Gorenjskem has been making skis for over seventy years with passion and love by people with capable hands and sharp minds. To those making them, the skis are a source of pride and satisfaction. And that is why Elan is the ultimate innovator.
You can see mountains from just about every window of the Elan factory in Begunje. The steep slopes of the Julian Alps rise in the distance, crowned by Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s 2864 meter national pride.When the windows open, our lungs fill with the fresh alpine air that always carries a reminiscence of skiing, no matter whatthe weather. Perhaps that is why Begunjeis home to so many skiing enthusiasts. Conquering the white steeps had sucha strong impact on people that they needed to start making their own skis.And skis were always considered special. They are an inspiration, joy, satisfaction. They are made using the head, and the profound insight of a sharp mind.They are made with hands, heart and soul. They are made with love and passion. That is why they are among the best in the world. That is why the many
All these years of tradition start with one man, Rudi Finžgar. He started making skis before the war, at first for himself and his friends. During the war, he made skis for the partisan fighters and went on to start the company and Elan brand immediately after the war. His vision paved the way for the modern company we have today and it appears that his successors seventy years later still carry the same ability to take a different approach and view things differently than others. Elan quality is an accomplished combination of a sharp mind and skillful hands. After all, a head is no good if the hands cannot make what it comes up with.
Elan’s products are born from a close cooperation between the R&D department and master craftsmen who can bring ideas to life. The process is not always straightforward as certain advanced design concepts pose major challenges and may even seem impossible at first. But Elan is home to some of the greatest masters of their craft. Just about every designer, engineer and craftsman is an accomplished skier in their own right, so they know exactly what to do and which materials to select for a ski to act a certain way.
That is why Elan skis proudly bear the tiny inscription: “Handmade in Slovenia”. These three words define their very essence. Careful hands-on work has been the cornerstone of success of Elan's products since the beginning. In spite of the advent of modern technology and production techniques used to help craftsmen, the main steps in the manufacturing process are still done by hand. This is the only way to achieve the highest standards. Elan has also always produced all the main elements of the skis in-house using the best available materials. Wood is still used as the core of most of the company’s skis. Beech and poplar are the main typesof wood used in racing ski cores while several exotic woods are used on skis that demand extra light weight. Edges are made of high-grade steel and reinforcements are made of titanium, the most expensive part of the ski. The light and stiff metal alloy adds stiffness, torsional stability and a controlled flex.
Call us old fashioned, but we are still sworn to a sandwich construction.It may be one of the oldest methods of making a ski, but it remains the most efficient and still the best way to put together a good ski. The roles of cheese, veggies and sausage in the ski sandwich are assumed by the above materials that take on their final form after being squeezed together for 25 minutes in a press.
It is a real treat to watch Elan's skilled workers doing what they do best - performing the same procedures they have done thousands of times in their years of work, with all the dedication, accuracy and love of a master craftsman taking profound pride in their work.
The process of making a ski has many interesting steps. The press is certainly one,but the most visually exciting is certainly the grinding of the edges where the skis sparklike an iron foundry. The hall where the woodis kept smells the best and meticulously assembled sections of the core provide an interesting
It is interesting to note that Elan makes skis by starting with the top sheet graphics. For several years now, they start with silk screening the design, logo and unique ID code onto the transparent top sheet. As each ski progresses through the manufacturing process, the unique identification code bears the signatures of all the persons that touchedthe ski during production.
The halls of Elan’s factory hold an eternity’s worth of legendary skiing tales.Of course, the most important ones haveto do with the racers that won World Cups, Championships and Olympic Games. Racing always had a special meaning for Elan and the company always knew how to listen to racers' wishes and needs. Sponsored racers receive skis custom tailored to their individual style. If Filip Flisar wishes for a GS racer with improved tail grip, that is exactly what he gets.
The company’s work ethic is firmly rooted in technology and design innovation, and its achievements have received many prestigious international awards. In the last decade alone, Elan has received more than 45 prestigious international awards, and was named the most innovative brand in sports twice. We are always flattered when our products get attention from award commitees and loyal users. The new 16/17 ski collection has already received several important affirmations that they are the hot products for the next winter season.
