Parlor Skis

When I first started this blog, I had vague notions about becoming a mega-successful, ultra-powerful, real-life ski designer (ok, maybe not as vague as they were pompous). I always tend to get carried away when I start out on a promising project or endeavor (e.g. when I started re-learning how to ice skate at age 17 and got complimented by the instructor on my "great sense of balance", I immediately had visions of competing in the next Olympics). However, these farfetched imaginings have inevitably faded as time after time, I realize that I don't have the ginormous resolve required to make them come even a little bit true. 

This time, things haven't taken the usual, fizzling route. A few months ago, thanks to a series of fortunate events (such as meeting my dear friend MARY!), I was put in touch with the guys behind Parlor Skis. Parlor is a small, passion-driven company that's new to the ski game, and its attitude toward the skiing experience really coincides with my own. 

Blah blah blah, I'll get to the point: One fine day, the Parlor dudes, for one reason or another, decided to give me a chance. They had recently decided that their demo fleet for the upcoming ski season would be based on birds, and as such they asked me to do some bird-related mockups. At the time, I didn't know if this would amount to anything, and I decided to treat it as a fun (and immensely exciting!) challenge. Then I got super panicked because I had never actually done real design work before. And because I was in the thick of my Surgery Rotation, notorious for its 4 am mornings. Yeah, I felt really dumb. 

In any event, a zillion man hours and panic attacks and revisions later, I've completed two designs for Parlor, and they are both in production. Yes people, I've managed to design some real skis!!! I wanted to wait until both skis were completely finished to announce this project, but I just couldn't help myself anymore. 

Dun dun dun....

Meet Heron: 

And its real-life counterpart: 

Meet Sparrow: 

I don't have any photos of Sparrow IRL yet, but will share when one becomes available.

My deepest gratitude to Mary and the Parlor guys for making this gal an OFFICIAL SKI DESIGNER! WHOOOOOOOOOOT!

Party party party. 

Have a great weekend, 

Dr. Quinn, (Ski-Designing) Medicine Woman