RD (RESEARCH DYNAMICS) Brand Snow Skis:

TL;DR — For Collectors

• Independent American ski brand founded in 1975—garage-built roots and hands-on craftsmanship
• Founder Mike Brunetto blended racing insight with engineering-driven design philosophy
• Known for bold, memorable models: Coyote, Bad Dog / Bad Bitch / Rad Dog, Heli Dog, Valdez Extreme
• Small-run heritage and hard-used survivors make clean examples increasingly scarce
• RD has a lasting cult following—collectors prize the “Sun Valley Soul” and independent spirit

From a Racer’s Garage to Cult Status: The RD Story

In the rich tapestry of American ski manufacturing, few brands embody independent, hands-on innovation better than Research Dynamics—better known simply as RD. Born in a Sun Valley garage in 1975, RD was the brainchild of Mike Brunetto, a ski designer who valued craftsmanship over corporate scale. For roughly two decades, RD produced some of the most talked-about skis in the boutique performance world, and today those skis remain prized possessions for collectors who appreciate their unique history and real-skiing credibility.

RD’s appeal isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a tangible connection to a time when small operations could still move the needle in ski design. The brand’s culture leaned rebellious and practical: build the ski, ski the ski, refine the ski. That DNA is why RD continues to show up in collector conversations, especially when rare models surface in unusually clean condition.

Mike Brunetto: Independent by Nature

The soul of RD was its founder, Mike Brunetto—a former ski racer with engineering and physics training. Before RD, Brunetto had already contributed design work for major industry names, but he remained skeptical of marketing-driven fads. His philosophy was famously direct: “If it’s turned up at one end, it’s a good ski.” In 1975, he committed to building skis his way—small, personal, and built for skiers first.

From Garage to Growth

RD’s reputation grew quickly, and by the early 1980s the operation expanded beyond the garage phase. In 1982, Brunetto partnered with Chuck Ferries and Tim Kohl (associated with the PRE and Scott orbit), creating a split that let Brunetto focus on building skis while the business side handled marketing and sales. At its peak, RD reportedly sold around 25,000 pairs per year—big numbers for an independent-root brand.

Departure and the Brand’s Late Era

Growth also changed the brand’s feel. In the late 1980s, Brunetto sold his interest and moved on to his next venture, Wolf Ski. RD continued into the mid-to-late 1990s under Tim Kohl’s leadership. Like many boutique U.S. labels in that era, manufacturing realities shifted over time, and the brand eventually faded from production.

Collector's Guide: Key RD (Research Dynamics) Models

Why Collectors Care

Collectors care about RD because the brand represents independent American ski manufacturing at a time when personality still mattered as much as scale. RD skis feel like artifacts from a builder’s bench, not a marketing brief.

RD also earns respect for its design intent: skis built to be skied hard, refined through practical experience, and grounded in a founder’s strong point of view. That shows up in the way RD models are still talked about—often by name, often with a story attached.

Another factor is scarcity. Many RD skis lived real lives: hard use, mountain storage, and decades of wear. That means clean survivors—straight, structurally sound, with intact graphics—are increasingly uncommon.

Finally, RD’s story is a classic boutique arc: garage origins, growth pressure, founder departure, and eventual fade-out. That narrative depth makes RD skis compelling beyond their specs.

If you collect brands with true “place” identity, RD’s Sun Valley / Ketchum roots give it a cultural fingerprint that’s hard to duplicate.

Got Vintage RD Skis?

LongSkisTruck.com is dedicated to preserving the history of skiing’s most iconic and obscure brands. If you have a pair of vintage RD (Research Dynamics) skis you’d like to sell, have appraised, or document for the archive, we want to hear from you.

Email us: mike@longskistruck.com

Please include clear photos (top, base, tips, tails, bindings, and any serial markings) plus any known provenance such as where they were skied or purchased.

Provenance & Authenticity

RD skis often change hands with incomplete backstories, so provenance matters. When evaluating vintage RD skis, focus on verifiable markers and condition cues.

• Serial markings and production stamps: Look for any stamped codes, hand markings, or factory identifiers and photograph them clearly.
• Construction details: Note core material, laminate layers, metal presence (if any), and sidewall/cap style—construction clues can help date the pair.
• Binding compatibility: Original bindings, mount patterns, and hole spacing can signal era and intended use (race vs. all-mountain vs. powder).
• Graphics and branding: RD graphics and naming conventions are often era-specific; compare typography, logos, and model names to known examples.
• Athlete or shop provenance: Any connection to Sun Valley-area shops, racers, or known owners increases historical value—document it if you have it.
• Condition: Collectors prize intact edges, minimal delamination, clean bases, and preserved topsheet graphics—especially on skis that were commonly used hard.

If you’re unsure what you have, reach out. We’re happy to help document, identify, and place your RD skis in context within the LongSkisTruck™ archive.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Research Dynamics (RD) founded, and who started it?

Research Dynamics (RD) was founded in 1975 by ski designer Mike Brunetto in the Sun Valley/Ketchum, Idaho orbit. RD began as a small, hands-on operation focused on craftsmanship and performance rather than corporate scale.

What makes RD skis so collectible today?

RD skis are collectible because they represent independent American ski design with small-run production, distinctive model identities, and strong performance reputations. Surviving examples—especially iconic models like the Coyote, Bad Bitch, Heli Dog, and Valdez Extreme—are increasingly hard to find in clean, original condition.

What are the most iconic RD ski models collectors look for?

Collectors commonly seek the RD Coyote (flagship all-around), the Bad Dog / Bad Bitch / Rad Dog family (including an early women-specific performance ski), the Heli Dog (an early powder concept for deep snow use), and the Valdez Extreme race skis built for speed in long lengths.

Is there a connection between RD and Wolf Ski?

Yes. After departing RD, founder Mike Brunetto went on to build Wolf Ski, another small and personal ski venture that many collectors consider a spiritual successor to RD’s original garage-built philosophy.

Sources & Further Reading

• Collector-authored RD model notes, period catalogs, and artifact documentation (as available)
• Sun Valley / Ketchum-area ski community oral history and shop recollections (verify with photos and markings)
• LongSkisTruck.com archive notes and incoming submissions from collectors
• Wolf Ski: follow-on context for Brunetto’s post-RD design work (see internal link below)

Explore Related Brands

• Wolf Ski — Brunetto’s later small-run venture often viewed as RD’s philosophical successor
• Scott — Linked in RD’s growth-era business orbit (performance ski industry context)
• K2 — Major U.S. brand associated with Brunetto’s broader design-era context
• HEAD — Another major brand associated with Brunetto’s wider design-era context
• Elan — Important in the broader 1990s boutique-brand manufacturing landscape