Madshus (Nor)

Madshus, of Biri (over the bridge and down the road from Lillehammer), is one of the few Norwegian ski producers that survived the fiberglass apolcalypse that hit the industry in the early 70s.  While not a major player in racing in the 60s and 70s, Madshus is now seen very often on the feet of world cup skiers, as well as mortals.

The company was founded in the 1930s by a rebel group of workers from the Gjøvik Skifabrikk (a wee bit south) who were unhappy about the switch from Coke to Pepsi in the company cafeteria, or some other change in working conditions.  The factory in Biri is still in the same location, and the old wood sheds that held raw materials in the olden days can be seen behind the modern manufacturing facility.

If you do a drive by, keep your eyes open because the folks at Madshus aren't as big on signage as their wax buddies at Swix a bit north of Lillehammer (hard to miss that one!)