Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis

A Boyne City Business SUCCESS STORY

Sept. 21, 2014

Photos by Michael Poehlman Photography

Like most kids, Jeff and Jonathon Thompson loved taking things apart and putting them back together. But they never thought that inquisitiveness would lead to a successful family business.

In 2005, having cut apart a pair of Dynastar skis the winter before to make a ski bike, they decided to try building a pair of skis. It wasn’t a very successful start.

"We built them in a barn that was about 40 degrees and discovered that it needs to be warmer for the skis to cure in the press. My brother took them to the UP for a race after they were made, and they dismantled before he got them on the slopes," laughed Jeff.

Fast-forward to the present, and you see that what started as a hobby has now morphed into a full-time family business. currently employs Jeff, his father John, and his mother Shari. Father and son handle the ski making and Shari manages bookkeeping, ordering materials and sales (brother Jonathon moved to Colorado in 2012 for a new career).

"This winter we plan on making over 200 pairs of skis," John proudly pointed out. "We were just short of that last season. We’ve made over 1,000 production skis since that first mistake." Due to the boom, the family plans to add another full-time ski maker in the near future.

Before the economic downturn of 2007, the family had a successful construction business downstate, building as many as 300 homes per year.

"We vacationed for years in the Boyne City area and, as the ski business picked up and construction slowed in southern Michigan, we decided to move up here in 2010 from South Lyons and start manufacturing skis full time," John said.

"One of the reasons we decided to move up here, in addition to having wonderful testing facilities nearby with the Boynes and Nub’s Nob, is that the heart of our ski–ash and beech wood–is milled just down the road at Metalski Lumber," added the skilled carpenter.

Each ski takes eight to 10 hours to construct, laminate, cure and fine-tune. The company offers 10 different models of skis for sale and also makes custom models commissioned by customers. Prices for a pair of Shaggy skis range from approximately $600 to $800.

They’ve come a long way since the teenage brothers took over an extra bedroom in their parents’ basement, ripped up the carpeting, and set up a ski construction shop.

Jeff has since earned his degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University and is incorporating what he learned there–how to measure physical and geometric performance--into making a top ski for Midwest and Michigan conditions.

"Our All Mountain ski has a tighter radius that works well in Midwest conditions, but it’s also a great ski for the mountains," he explained. "The Tubby, one of our best selling skis, is great for powder and soft spring conditions, but also provides an excellent ride on Michigan’s hard pack surface."

The company is at the forefront of a custom ski making market that’s taking hold nationwide. Last winter, a portion of the Snowsports Industries annual trade show was devoted to small ski and snowboard makers for the first time ever.

"We went to the show and were one of the larger manufacturers in that segment. Many small companies were only producing 50 to 100 pairs annually. We got a lot of interest in our skis and sold a few at the show. This winter our skis will be available through Michigan MC Sports for the first time," Jeff said.

"We didn’t anticipate the demand last season. Normally it slows down in January and February. Skiers have made their purchases  for the season. With the long winter we were still selling skis and getting orders in March. That’s one of the reasons we want to add an employee for production this winter."

A homegrown theme is demonstrated throughout the product line. The state of Michigan is pictured in the ski design and many models are named after Michigan locations. The company’s name, while Jeff ’s idea, is also a nod to their home state. Years ago, his great uncle, Shaggy Lehto, was a blacksmith in the Keweenaw Peninsula and his hobby was building hand-carved skis. "He made a pair for my dad’s mom that’s become a family heirloom and I thought, "˜what a great name for the company: Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis,’" recalled Jeff. "It’s uniquely Michigan."

For more information log onto sccskis.com.