Split Skis started because of a problem that a Polish parachute unit faced: jumping from an airplane into a winter alpine environment was often inefficient to do so with skis. The skis had to be dropped from the airplane in a separate crate and could easily get lost and land kilometers away from the paratrooper. In theory, it would be much easier if the troops could parachute down with the skis attached on their person, however, flying down with traditional skis in this way is cumbersome and dangerous. But then a ski instructor who worked with the Polish parachute unit and who also happened to work at a local ski factory figured it out.
Upon convincing from other paratrooper ski instructors in his unit, Jakub Wesołowski invented a ski that folds at the waist which could then lock into a uniform ski for the descent. Wesołowski invented a tool. “We were the ski instructors for our local parachute unit in military,” Wesołowski said. “That was also the time when I worked in a ski factory, and they asked us to create the foldable skis for winter actions.”
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Built for Paratroopers, Perfected for Freeriders
The first prototypes didn’t last long. “The first five broke,” Wesołowski said with a laugh during a call with SnowBrains. But he kept building. In total, he went through 20 versions—each one refined, rebalanced, and stress-tested. Early on, the skis were built to survive brutal durability machines, the same ones used for large-scale production. The benchmark: a standard ski survives a level 7 out of 10 before breaking. After years of iteration, the skis were able to smoothly split in two, then lock back into a uniform ski. Wesołowski’s “Split Skis” were born.
Because of the team’s origins in the Polish parachute division, durability was a non-negotiable fundamental. When you’re dropping into an operation with skis on your back, there’s no room for fragile equipment. Traditional skis were shipped in bulky boxes, each one on its own parachute. Sometimes they’d crash into rocks or disappear in deep snow. Sometimes the wind would change and they’d land far away. The foldable version changed everything: skis could now be packed directly with the soldier, cutting weight, reducing damage, and speeding up deployment, making operations more efficient. But when the pair began showing their prototypes at trade shows, they realized something: civilians—aka, normal skiers like you and I—wanted them too.
“At first, we only thought of the military,” Wesołowski said. “But when we saw people’s reaction, we decided to try for the outdoor market as well.”
From Kiteboards to Snowy Mountains
The skis’ folding mechanism wasn’t designed from scratch. It came from an unexpected place—kiteboards. Before this project, Wesołowski helped develop split kiteboards that could travel easily without sacrificing flex or strength. The concept translated: make a clean, reliable joint strong enough to handle repeated flex under pressure—but this time for the mountains.
The ski version was much more complicated. Kiteboards are wide, short, and used on water. Skis are narrow, loaded with torque, and subject to rock, ice, and temperature changes. “The idea came from the same technology,” Split Skis Marketing Manager Maciej Roth explained. “But we had to make it much stronger and more precise.”
Each ski folds in half at the waist, locking together with a reinforced mid-body connection that’s designed to feel invisible on snow. It’s a true folding ski, not two detachable halves. When stowed, the pair measures roughly 3 feet long—small enough to fit inside a compact car or even a small apartment closet.
“Not a Gadget”
Wesołowski is quick to emphasize what his skis are not. “It’s not a gadget,” he said plainly. “It’s real equipment.” The foldable mechanism isn’t meant to attract attention; it’s meant to solve problems.
For climbers and alpinists, shorter packed length means less wind resistance on the climb up when skis are attached to their packs, fewer snags on rock, and an overall safer climb. For everyday skiers, it means no more roof racks, ski boxes, or oversized bags—you can just slide them in the trunk or a large suitcase. The skis are built with a 100 mm waist, versatile enough for freeride or touring, with a 175 centimeter length and a 19-meter radius. They ride, in Wesołowski’s words, “like a normal ski.” The feedback from the first public testers backs that up. “After a year of testing, we had very good reviews,” he said. “You can’t feel the difference.”
He also left the design open-ended for bindings. The folding mechanism is isolated from the binding zone, allowing users to mount any system they prefer—touring, hybrid, or alpine. That flexibility is a quiet but important feature: it keeps the ski adaptable to any skier’s setup.
Recognition, Awards, and Small Wins
The company formally launched in 2020, after two quiet years of prototype work. Funding came from a European Union innovation grant, which allowed Split Skis to test and refine the connection system in proper labs instead of garage benches. The first big debut came at the ISPO Munich 2019 trade show, where the company received a Brand New Award for promising startups. Four years later, Wesołowski took home an Innovation Award in Salt Lake City in 2023—a sign that his design resonated in both Europe and the U.S. That trip to Utah also convinced him that the American market might be his best chance at growth. “In Europe, people need fifteen minutes to understand what it is for,” he said. “In Salt Lake City, they immediately knew the problem it solves.”
Ready for the Market
After five years and twenty prototypes, the team is finally ready to sell. The first commercial run will roll out in December 2025, priced at €1,500 (about $1,600 USD). The initial focus will be direct sales through their website, supported by small demo hubs. Split Skis’ first U.S. partner is Mountain Chalet in Colorado Springs, where skiers can test before buying. Additional testing centers are planned for Austria and Poland, with hopes to expand each season.
Production remains local. The skis are pressed and assembled in Poland in Bielsko-Biała, the same factory that has built boards for Swiss, French, and even Burton snowboard brands. Wesołowski says that staying close to their manufacturing partners allows Split Skis to refine details fast—a critical factor for a startup operating in a niche of its own making.
Built for the Field, Aimed at the Mountains
Despite the long journey, Wesołowski is more like an engineer than a marketer. He talks about durability levels, connection geometry, and torsional balance, not “innovation storytelling.” But the story is there—a ski instructor-turned-designer who built something functional enough for soldiers and versatile enough for skiers. Split Skis is not chasing mass adoption. Instead, they’re targeting those who will appreciate what the design makes possible: climbers, freeriders, expedition travelers, and rescue teams who value simplicity and reliability over hype. And Wesołowski and his team are skiers themselves, often riding their local slopes of Szczyrk in Poland, thinking and tinkering with and fine-tuning their ideas on-snow. The passion is evidently there. So maybe, somewhere down the line, that original spirit—of skis built for a parachute drop into the snow—will find new life in powder, couloirs, and alpine traverses around the world.
“Soldiers don’t look for gadgets,” Wesołowski said, pausing at the end of our call. “If they trust it, it means it’s good enough for everyone else.”
Ready to Buy & Where to Try
- Price: €1,500 (about US $1,600)
- Made in Poland
- Availability: Direct-to-consumer via Split Skis’ website; first demo point in the U.S. at Mountain Chalet, Colorado Springs.
- Target Launch: December (online) with additional test hubs in Austria and Poland.
- Who it’s for: Ski tourers, ski-travelers, climbers, compact kit enthusiasts.
- Durability: Survives level 7/10 stress test—same as standard skis.
- Available sizes: 100 mm waist, 165 and 175 cm length for Free Tour, 170 and 180 cm for Alpine Tour model.
- Bindings: Compatible with all systems (touring, hybrid, alpine).
Talk is easy. But when skiing gear comes out of military demands, kite-board engineering, and two dozen failed prototypes, it earns credibility. The result is equipment that folds, locks, and performs. It fits in small spaces, travels lightly, and holds up under pressure.
When winter arrives, you simply unfold it and go.
