Vintage Short Skis: The Complete Story of Clif Taylor, Scorpian, Gauer, and Bstinger

Found some short skis in your attic, basement, or garage? You might be sitting on a piece of skiing history. "The Three C's - Don't Criticize, Don't Condemn or Complain" -Clif Taylor

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The Short Ski Revolution

Between the 1950s and 2000s, short skis changed how people learned to ski, created new sports like ski dancing, and gave experienced skiers new ways to ski technical terrain. These compact, maneuverable skis ranged from 3 to 5 feet long and served different purposes depending on who designed them.

If you've got a pair stored away somewhere, here's the complete story of what you have.

Clif Taylor: The Original Short Ski Pioneer (1950s-1960s)

Clif Taylor was a 10th Mountain Division veteran who earned a Purple Heart at the Battle of Riva Ridge. After the war, he became a ski instructor at Mad River Glen, Vermont in 1948. While teaching, he noticed that students who struggled on traditional long skis learned faster on shorter "goon skis."

Taylor took this observation and built an entire business around it.

The Birth of Short-ee Skis

Starting in 1955, while teaching at Hogback Mountain and the Brattleboro Outing Club, Taylor began experimenting by cutting down full-length skis. He started with 5-foot skis, then went progressively shorter until he reached 3 feet long.

In 1961, Taylor left his job at the Brattleboro Reformer newspaper and founded Short-ee Skis, Incorporated with partial financing from Lawrence Rockefeller. He contracted with Paris Manufacturing Company in Maine to produce his skis. By winter 1960-61, Short-ee Skis were shipping to customers across the US, Canada, Alaska, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Brattleboro Reformer wrote in January 1960: "Clif Taylor's ski skates continue to amaze even their producer, as well as goggle-eyed skiers to whom the tiny skis look like some sort of joke. They are no joke to those who have skied on them... there is no doubt that a beginner can learn to ski parallel on them in a matter of minutes."

The Graduated Length Method (GLM)

Taylor created an entire teaching methodology called the Graduated Length Method (GLM). Working with Killington Mountain Resort, he developed a five-day program where students started on 3-foot skis Monday and progressed to 5-foot skis by Friday. The method was franchised and taught at over 300 ski schools worldwide.

Between 1960 and 1970, the average ski length in the United States dropped nearly 12 inches. The Professional Ski Teachers Association (PSIA) developed the American Teaching Method based largely on Taylor's GLM approach.

Identifying Short-ee Skis:

• Length: 3 to 5 feet (91-152cm)
• Marked "Short-ee" or "Clif Taylor"
• Manufactured in the 1960s
• Wooden construction
• May have vintage "Thunder" bindings

Taylor wrote three books—"Instant Skiing" (1961), "Ski in a Day" (1964), and "GLM: The New Way to Ski" (1973)—and produced 20 ski instruction videos. He taught celebrities including Art Linkletter, Jack Paar, Lowell Thomas, and Tim Conway. He was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame (1979), Colorado Ski Hall of Fame (1999), and Vermont Ski Hall of Fame (2003). Taylor passed away in 2005 at age 83.

These skis are difficult to find today, particularly in good condition.

Richard Gauer: Ski Dancing and the Gauer 360 (1980s-1990s)

In 1985, Cheryl Malfetti injured her knee on the first day of a Colorado ski vacation. Her husband Charles helped her ski down beginner slopes by skiing "hip to hip" together. After her knee healed, they wanted to continue skiing together in this way.

Cheryl, who had a background in ballroom dancing, met inventor Richard Gauer who was testing a new short ski design. His skis featured excellent rotational mobility and stability at high speeds.

Ski Dancing

Ski Dancing was defined as the art of dancing with a partner while skiing down a slope. The shorter skis provided maneuverability, the partner provided support (eliminating the need for poles), and skiers could perform dance-like movements on snow.

The Gauer 360

Gauer's most recognized creation was the Gauer 360—named for the inventor and its ability to perform 360-degree turns. By 1993, when the New York Times featured short skis in "Short Skis Come Back Into Style," the Gauer 360 was in limited production.

Modern Gauer Blades continue this design—80cm skiboards with full rocker, designed for dancing and tricks with a partner.

In 1992, Cheryl and Charles Malfetti established the United States Ski Dancing Association, later renamed the International Ski Dancing Association (ISDA). The organization grew to over 200 members in the United States, with additional members in Canada, Japan, and Great Britain.

Identifying Gauer Skis:

• Length: Typically 80-100cm
• Marked "Gauer," "Gauer 360," or "Gauer Blades"
• Full rocker design
• Often feature bright, distinctive graphics
• 1980s-1990s vintage models

Vintage Gauer 360s from the original production run are rare.

Scorpian/Lynx/Sarver: Performance Short Skis (Late 1970s-1980s)

While Taylor focused on teaching and Gauer created ski dancing, designer Sarver took a different approach—performance skiing in technical terrain.

His original design was called Lynx, but a naming conflict with a golf company forced a rebrand to Scorpian (sometimes spelled "Scorpion"). These skis developed a strong following, particularly in the Western United States.

Scorpian Design Features

These skis were built for experienced skiers who wanted agility in moguls and tight trees:

• Tailless or pintail design - the most distinctive feature
• Length: 90-120cm
• Reverse camber on many models
• Rear-set bindings (approximately 7 inches from tail)
• Designed for technical terrain

Sun Valley, Idaho named a ski run "Scorpion" in honor of these skis.

The Scorpian Nationals

Around 2007, locals at Sun Valley created the Scorpian Nationals, a closing-day tradition. Participants use vintage Scorpian skis to race down the mountain's final strip of snow, then sprint to Apple's Bar. This event has become one of Sun Valley's regular closing-day traditions.

Identifying Scorpian/Lynx/Sarver Skis:

• Length: 90-120cm
• Tailless or pintail design
• Marked "Scorpian," "Scorpion," "Lynx," or "Sarver"
• Bindings set back approximately 7 inches from tail
• Late 1970s to early 1980s construction
• Fiberglass or early composite materials

These are among the more sought-after vintage short skis.

Bstinger: The Modern Revival (Early 2000s)

In the early 2000s, Brian Dani, owner of CBS Boardshop in Lake Forest, California, observed that approximately 90% of new skiers never returned for a second time. He decided to revive the short ski concept with Bstinger skis.

Dani stated: "I think the most important thing about this product is that people who have gotten on them are still skiing. They don't drop out of the sport. They just keep having fun."

Bstinger Design

The Bstinger was designed as a modern interpretation of the classic Scorpian tailless design. Dani believed this proven design from the late 1970s and early 1980s could help reduce the dropout rate among new skiers.

Bstinger Specifications:

• Model: B-Star.01 Bstinger
• Length: 110cm
• Scorpian-style tailless design
• Manufactured in USA
• Typically blue and white

Bstinger skis are no longer in production. The brand is listed among "deceased" companies on ExoticSkis.com.

Identifying Bstinger Skis:

• Marked "Bstinger" or "B-Star"
• 110cm length
• Modern construction (2000s era)
• Blue and white color scheme common
• Tailless design

Identification Guide

If you've found short skis and want to identify them, check these features:

Feature	What It Indicates
Length	Short-ee: 91-152cm / Gauer: 80-100cm / Scorpian: 90-120cm / Bstinger: 110cm
Tail Design	Tailless or pintail = Scorpian or Bstinger / Small tail = Short-ee / Varies = Gauer
Brand Markings	Look for "Short-ee," "Clif Taylor," "Gauer," "Scorpian," "Scorpion," "Lynx," "Sarver," or "Bstinger"
Binding Position	Rear-set (7" from tail) = Scorpian / More centered = Short-ee or Gauer
Construction	Wood = 1950s-60s / Fiberglass = 1970s-80s / Modern composite = 1990s-2000s
Rocker/Camber	Full rocker = Gauer Blades / Reverse camber = Scorpian / Traditional = Short-ee

Timeline

1950s-1960s: Clif Taylor - Short-ee
Purpose: Teaching
Length: 91-152cm
Key Feature: Wooden construction, GLM method

Late 1970s-1980s: Sarver - Lynx/Scorpian
Purpose: Performance
Length: 90-120cm
Key Feature: Tailless design, built for moguls

1980s-1990s: Richard Gauer - Gauer 360/Blades
Purpose: Ski Dancing
Length: 80-100cm
Key Feature: Full rocker, tricks and dancing

Early 2000s: Brian Dani - Bstinger
Purpose: Teaching
Length: 110cm
Key Feature: Modern Scorpian replica

Contact

If you've discovered any of these skis, I'd be interested in hearing about them.

As a collector of vintage skis, I'm always looking to learn about what's out there. Whether your skis are in excellent condition or have seen heavy use, whether you have a complete pair or a single ski—I'm interested.

I'm particularly looking for:

• Clif Taylor Short-ee skis from the 1960s
• Scorpian, Lynx, or Sarver skis from the late 1970s-1980s
• Richard Gauer 360 skis
• Bstinger skis
• Any short skis with documented history

These skis are becoming harder to find. Most were used extensively, stored improperly, or discarded years ago.

Contact: mike@longskistruck.com

Send photos if you have them—even basic cell phone pictures help with identification.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I found some short skis but I'm not sure what brand they are. Can you help identify them?
A: Yes. Send photos showing any markings, the overall length, and the top, bottom, and bindings.

Q: My skis are in rough condition. Are you still interested?
A: It depends on the brand and the extent of the damage. Send photos and I can assess them.

Q: Can these vintage short skis still be used?
A: Not recommended. Bindings may not meet current safety standards and the skis may have structural issues from age. They're better suited as collectibles.

Q: I only have one ski, not a pair. Is that still of interest?
A: Possibly, depending on the model. Contact me with details.

Q: Do you only want skis in perfect condition?
A: No. I'm interested in various conditions depending on the rarity and model.

Q: I have photos from when these skis were used. Does that matter?
A: Yes. Documentation and history add context and interest. I'd like to see the photos.

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This guide covers the history of vintage short skis from the 1950s through 2000s, including all major brands and innovations. As a collector of vintage skis, I created this resource to help people identify and learn about the short skis they may have stored away.

Last updated: December 2025