German-born Hanno Schwab grew up with a love for nature and the mountains. Ever since he was three years old, he was skiing, and his affinity for mountain activities only grew stronger from that point on.
In 2007, a paragliding accident almost cost Schwab his life, and after almost having to say goodbye to the world he loved so much, he used a newfound lease on life to relentlessly pursue his dreams. Those dreams: use his passion for skiing and desire to leave this planet a better place to do good.
The Creation of earlybird skis
Schwab wanted to create the perfect freeride ski, but he wanted to think green when doing so. He experimented with different materials and chemicals, often to his own detriment, until he found the right solution. In 2012, Schwab produced his first pair of sustainable skis, and in 2014 he founded earlybird skis in Bern, Switzerland, the first ever collection of eco-friendly freeride touring skis.
Not only did Schwab create one of the best freeride skis on the market, he also created the world’s most sustainable and first fully recyclable ski collection on the market. All of the hours spent working on and testing his craft earned Schwab an ISPO Gold Award, one of the highest award one can receive in the sports innovation world.
“Earlybird ECOTECH is a game changer for the whole skiing industry. The ski’s materials can be completely separated at the end of its lifetime: It is the world’s first circular economy ski. It also comes with sustainable materials and is produced 100% carbon neutral. We believe, that earlybird skis not only sets an example, but even provides a vision for the whole industry.”
– Marion Sebald, industrial engineer, freerider and instructor
The Science Behind the Product
All earlybird skis are made with the planet and the future in mind. The skis are 100% carbon neutral, made from recyclable materials, and their production uses renewable energy.
Earlybird skis use a bio-based top sheet made from wood or natural castor beans, a bio-based, recyclable epoxy resin, bio-based ski wax, and sustainably sourced wood according to FSC-standards.
Ian Gundersen
