The History of HEXCEL Snow Skis

In the world of vintage skis, few names conjure up images of space-age innovation like HEXCEL. This wasn't a ski company that got into aerospace; it was an aerospace company that got into skis. Here at LongSkisTruck.com, finding a pair of Hexcels is like finding a piece of the Apollo program you can ski on. They were a brilliant, flawed, and short-lived experiment that pushed the boundaries of what a ski could be.

From the Moon to the Mountains (1948-1971)

The Hexcel Corporation was founded in 1948, building lightweight, high-strength composite materials for the aerospace industry. Their most famous contribution? The **aluminum honeycomb** landing pads on the Apollo 11 lunar module that took humanity to the moon in 1969. But even before that, in the 1960s, ski pioneers like Dave McCoy were experimenting with Hexcel's materials to build lighter, stronger skis.

In 1971, Hexcel decided to get into the ski business themselves, releasing a ski with a revolutionary **aluminum honeycomb core**. This was similar to the honeycomb concepts that Howard Head experimented with in the late 1940s, but abandoned due to durability limits of the era. Hexcel, with their aerospace expertise, managed to make it work. The result was a ski that was less than half the weight of its competitors.

The Honeycomb Revolution (1971-1981)

Hexcel skis were a sensation. They were incredibly light, quick from edge to edge, and packed with energy. Racers loved them, and they saw success on the pro tour. But they were also notoriously difficult to work with. Mounting bindings required a multi-step process of drilling, breaking away the honeycomb core, injecting epoxy, and letting it cure overnight. They were also expensive to manufacture and prone to breaking, bending, and delaminating, especially the early models with a "cracked edge" at the tip.

By the late 1970s, Hexcel decided to exit the ski business and focus on its core aerospace market. The ski division was sold to **Hanson**, best known for its rear-entry ski boots. Hanson continued to produce the skis for a few years, but went bankrupt in 1981, bringing the Hexcel ski story to an end.

Why Collectors Care About Vintage HEXCEL Skis

• The Honeycomb Core: The defining feature of Hexcel skis. Any ski with the visible honeycomb pattern is a piece of history.
• The Aerospace Connection: The fact that these skis were made by the same company that built parts for the Apollo moon lander makes them incredibly unique.
• The Weight: Picking up a pair of Hexcels is a revelation. They feel impossibly light, even by today's standards.
• The Rarity: With only a decade of production, Hexcel skis are much harder to find than their contemporaries.

Got Vintage HEXCEL Skis? I Want to Hear From You

Here at LongSkisTruck.com, I'm passionate about preserving the history of innovative and unusual brands like HEXCEL. If you have a pair of vintage Hexcels, I would love to see them.

Particularly interested in:

• Hexcel Comp models (especially with the original "cracked edge")
• Hexcel Firelight mogul skis
• Any skis with the visible honeycomb core
• Hanson-branded honeycomb skis

Email me at: mike@longskistruck.com

A few quick photos from your phone are all I need. Let me know the model, length, and any story you have about them. Every pair has a history, and I’m here to help you tell it.