Composites & VDS for your Ski or Snowboard

Composites

Composites are fiber-reinforced fabrics that are saturated with epoxy during layup. They add stiffness and strength while allowing you to tailor the ride characteristics of your ski or snowboard.

Fiberglass

  • Most common composite used in skis and boards.
  • Provides a balance of strength, torsional stiffness, and damping.
  • Available in different fiber orientations (use non-woven, it will last much longer under the strain and vibration of skiing):
    • Biaxial (±45°) – adds torsional rigidity, helps hold an edge.
    • Triaxial – combines 0° and ±45° fibers for both longitudinal and torsional stiffness.
    • Unidirectional – all fibers run one way; good for reinforcing specific zones.

Products: Vectorsports E-TLX

Carbon Fiber

  • Much stiffer and lighter than fiberglass.
  • Used for reinforcement strips, stringers, or full layers when a snappier, more responsive flex is desired.
  • Downsides: can feel harsh/demanding, less damp than fiberglass.

Products: Unidirectional Carbon Tape

Natural Fibers (Optional)

  • Some builders experiment with flax, basalt, or hemp fabrics for damping and eco-friendliness.

VDS Rubber (Vibration Damping Strip)

VDS is a thin rubber sheet that dampens the ride but more importantly bonds the metal edges to other materials.

Placement

  • Typically laid between the edge + fiberglass layer all around the ski perimeter.
  • Can also be added in strips above or below the core for extra damping.
  • Cut slightly oversized, then trimmed back after pressing.

Balancing Composites and VDS

The art of ski building is deciding how much stiffness vs. damping you want:

  • Resort skis → often use heavier fiberglass layups + VDS to keep them smooth and stable at speed.
  • Touring skis → lighter layups with more carbon, less fiberglass, sometimes less VDS to keep weight down.
  • Playful park skis → more forgiving fiberglass layup, sometimes reinforced with carbon stringers underfoot.