Before Kent Outdoors, the parent company of HO Sports, Hyperlite, and Connelly, opened its lakeside, state-of-the-art water ski factory in Arlington, Washington, the company’s innovation and production team had to commute to take its products for a test run.

Now that they have a new facility right on the site of the company’s man-made lake designed for waterskiing, the team at Kent has an optimal environment to design and test new products. The advanced facility will serve as the hub for innovation and production of HO Sports’ high-performance water ski products, including the HO Sports Syndicate water skis and Connelly’s tournament level skis.

“This lake is among the best in the country, purpose-built for water skiing, enabling us to test new designs immediately after production,” said Dave Wingerter, vice president of product management and global brand director at HO Sports Company. “This proximity allows for quicker iterations, more frequent testing, and an overall accelerated innovation cycle for HO Sports and Connelly products.”

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For the latest installment of The Daily’s series focused on product innovation, Wingerter shared more about how the facility will help his team usher in new developments in water ski design.

Could you describe your team and the roles involved in new product development at Kent Outdoors? Are you working across multiple brands?

Dave Wingerter: Our product development team at Kent Outdoors brings together a diverse group of experts. This includes artists and industrial designers who conceptualize the initial aesthetics and functionality, as well as engineers who bring those concepts to life through precise technical specifications. We work collaboratively across several brands under Kent Outdoors, such as HO Sports, Hyperlite, and Connelly, ensuring that the unique vision and high standards of each brand are maintained. Each role is critical in turning innovative ideas into high-performance products, blending creativity and engineering precision to produce industry-leading watersports equipment.

What methods and metrics are used to evaluate new water ski designs?

Dave Wingerter: Our testing process is rigorous and involves both laboratory and on-water phases. In the lab, we measure metrics like three-point bending strength, torsional strength, stiffness, and break tolerance through a three-point break test. We also assess the weight of each ski to ensure an optimal balance of strength and performance. On the water, our world-champion ski team rigorously tests each design in competitive conditions to gather qualitative insights alongside these quantitative metrics. This dual approach ensures that our products perform excellently in both controlled and real-world settings.

Are you investing in any new equipment or resources that will enhance R&D?

Dave Wingerter: Yes, we’re making significant investments in automation for water ski manufacturing, all of which will be managed domestically. By automating key parts of the manufacturing process, we can increase precision, reduce production times, and maintain consistent quality across our product lines. This automation also supports our commitment to sustainability by reducing waste, enhancing productivity, and allowing us to manufacture closer to our end consumers.

Kent brands are focused on eliminating unnecessarily complicated features and focusing on the essential elements of water skis. Could you share a specific example of this in action?

Dave Wingerter: One example is our commitment to reducing excess plastic in our products. We carefully examine each component to determine whether it’s essential. If a component can’t be eliminated, we seek ways to make it more sustainable. This streamlined approach is evident in our latest designs, where we emphasize durability and functionality without unnecessary embellishments. By focusing on what truly enhances the skiing experience, we’re able to create more responsible, high-performance products that align with our sustainability goals.

Is there a recent innovation in water ski design that you’re particularly proud of?

Dave Wingerter: One of our recent breakthroughs is the clean-edge technology applied to some of our high-performance racing skis, like the Omni series. This innovation reduces drag, making the skis faster and more efficient in the water. Additionally, we’re integrating sustainability-focused design elements into these high-performance models, creating a product that performs at an elite level while aligning with our environmental goals.

Are there specific challenges you’re looking to address with the new facility?

Dave Wingerter: Our primary goals with the new facility are to improve product quality, reduce our environmental footprint, and increase sustainability. By expanding our automation capabilities, we aim to increase productivity, reduce costs, and make more products within the United States. This local production minimizes our reliance on overseas manufacturing, reducing shipping-related emissions and ensuring tighter quality control.