Piste de résistance

Scotland's last ski-maker blends high-tech materials with Caledonian timber to create 'truly Scottish', one-off pieces of art that can cope with any type of terrain

- Joseph Phelan

RENOWNED for its ancient woodlands, rugged mountains and heather-clad moorlands, Scotland is a country committed to celebrating its traditions and protecting its cultural and natural heritage. Unsurprisingly, many Scots are passionate about safeguarding the traditions and heritage of their forebears, striving to keep artisanal skills alive and adapting them to meet contemporary demands. Some are committed to achieving this using primarily Scottish-sourced materials, ensuring their conservation efforts remain firmly rooted in the country’s natural resources. One such man is Jamie Kunka, founder of Lonely Mountain Skis in Perthshire, a micro ski manufacturer (Instagram @lonely_mountain_skis).

Referred to as ‘Scotland’s last ski-maker’, Mr Kunka became fascinated by the idea of creating something sleek and functional from natural, local materials after watching a television programme featuring woodsman Ray Mears, in which a Swedish ski-maker crafted skis from dead standing pine. When studying product design at the University of Dundee, he began experimenting. His early prototypes, Mr Kunka readily admits, were a far cry from what he is producing today. However, working on these inaugural designs made him realise that, with some tweaking and mechanical refinement, he could be on to something. After completing a final, far more accomplished design for his university honours project, he was met with a wave of interest from Scottish ski enthusiasts and quickly discovered a market for high-quality, Scottish-made skis.