Colchester, VT—Jason Starr received a U.S. patent this past February for a new sport he invented called surf skiing, which uses waves as a force for skiing. At the core of the invention is Starr’s belief that surfing and skiing share a bond as originals in the world of action sports, both rooted in rich cultures and ancient histories, and both fueled by timeless sources of peace and power—the ocean and the mountains. They co-exist harmoniously on the snow, and the relationship now extends to the surf.
A former competitive skier, Starr, who grew up in Massachusetts, was a mogul specialist and a Junior Olympian. He competed in freestyle skiing at the University of Colorado and is still a passionate freeskier. Starr is recruiting some of New England’s best athletes from all skiing disciplines to see how their skills translate when using waves as terrain.
In addition to the patent he secured in February, Starr has a pending application on the ski and binding system used in surf skiing. In March, he formed Starr Surf Skis, LLC, which is manufacturing prototypes and planning for a year of intensive testing in 2009. Starr lives in Colchester where he designs the skis on a CAD program. The skis are made at a factory in Florida, while some are hand-shaped by surfboard shapers in New England and Montreal. He is working toward a 2010 product launch.
This summer, anyone interested in trying out the surf skis on Lake Champlain can do so at the new, Burlington-based Paddle Surf Champlain. The skis will be available alongside Starr’s Stand Up Paddle surf boards. Paddle Surf Champlain’s location and hours of operation will be announced soon. Meanwhile, visit their web site at www.paddlesurfchamplain.com (presently under construction) or contact Jason Starr at 802-881-4905 or by email at jstarr@paddlesurfchamplain.com.
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