Jimi Hendrix and Bob Ross as design motifs for J Skis

American ski manufacturers often place great emphasis on artistic designs, as has been frequently reported in the past. This year, J Skis from Vermont is drawing our attention to two unusual models, offered in limited quantities for the upcoming winter. One is the "The Flight – Purple Haze" model, dedicated to the 1960s music legend Jimi Hendrix, and the other is the "The Masterblaster – The Joy of Skiing 5" model, featuring the American painter Bob Ross.

Bob Ross motif

J Skis writes that the biggest challenge in creating the Bob Ross ski design was selecting the iconic motif. After days of research in his archives, they decided to transfer a high-resolution scan of the original painting precisely onto the ski shape. No editing, no color correction – the painting in all its beauty. This motif is taken from Season 6, Episode 8, titled "Horizons West." Bob uses his legendary wet-on-wet technique, applying new layers of paint to still-wet ones. With this method, he can complete entire paintings in as little as 30 minutes using a brush and palette knife, transforming simple splashes of color into richly detailed landscapes in seconds. This is J Skis' fifth collaboration with Bob Ross, and only 400 pairs were produced.

Jimi Hendrix Motif

The most famous guitarist of the 1960s is honored on the cover of Purple Haze. J Skis writes: “This ski is a tribute to the greatest guitarist of all time. When people see these skis on the slopes, they’re going to go crazy! Jimi Hendrix revolutionized guitar playing. He pioneered the use of feedback, distortion, and the wah-wah pedal as means of expression rather than accidental effects, and his performance at Woodstock in 1969 is still analyzed today. Songs like ‘Purple Haze’ didn’t just storm the charts; they changed all of rock, blues, and funk music forever. Rolling Stone named him the greatest guitarist of all time. He was self-taught, left-handed, played a right-handed guitar—and made it look incredibly effortless. We worked directly with Jimi Hendrix’s sister, Janie, to ensure the design was authentic.” Fank designed the entire artwork from scratch, drawing inspiration from song lyrics and vintage psychedelic rock posters that defined the era. It's a multi-layered, color-intensive visual experience, reminiscent of a 1968 concert poster. On the underside of the ski, we've inscribed "Scuse me while I kiss the sky," his famous line from the 1967 song "Purple Haze." It symbolizes a moment of transcending the constraints of everyday life or entering an expanded state of consciousness. Jimi's music was psychedelic, explosive, and transcendent all at once—more alive than anything around him. That energy lives on in this limited-edition ski. J Skis produced only 300 pairs, each one hand-signed and numbered by founder J Lev. 

Nicht nur für Liebhaber von Jimi Hendrix und Bob Ross sind die Modelle absolute Leckerbissen mit unverkennbarer und einzigartiger Note. Skifahren kann mehr sein, als lediglich den Berg runter zu rutschen. Mit den Skiern verkörpert man als Skifahrer auch einen einzigartigen Spirit! Gute Arbeit J Skis!