Freestyle champ begins building signature skis – December 25, 2006

Eight-time freestyle world champion Eric Malone recently unveiled the secret to his success. Sure, much of it is a wealth of talent, but according to Malone, much of it is also his fully custom stand-up skis, models that the Pennsylvania native is now offering to the public through his company, Eric Malone Enterprises (EME).
The EME skis are virtual duplicates of the machines Malone has been campaigning over the last year. The hull is similar to the Kawasaki 800SXR, while the top deck is modeled on the now-defunct Polaris Octane. Both have been modified, in part to physically match up and in part to offer their own unique style of handling. The ski has been shortened lengthwise, a nod to freestyle’s constant flips and spins. Other exterior mods include a heavy-duty aluminum handlepole, baffled hood system that keeps water from entering the engine compartment during submarine maneuvers, and dual-direction handgrips in the hood. In the tray, Malone has carved out footgrips into each inwale to offer a better hold. EME also will customize the cutouts to each owner’s individual footwear. Other mods include a trigger on the left handgrip that pivots the steering nozzle upward, giving more thrust for tricks like the backflip, as well as a quick-steer modification to the steering to increase handling response. A fiberglass ride plate also acts as a form of shock-absorber during surf jumping, replacing the rigid metal alternatives.
Under the hood, much of the engine’s core is based on the Polaris Octane. EME continues to procure parts through the manufacturer, despite the fact Polaris has exited the PWC business. EME developed the signature ski’s dry exhaust in conjunction with Factory Pipe, and numerous other parts are made in house, all of which when combined give this ski brutal low-end acceleration. Rather unique is the one-gallon gas tank, chosen not only for its drastic weight reduction, but also to keep fuel from sloshing and starving the engine during inverted or twisting aerials.
The company will produce the skis in tune with public demand, although Malone admits they’re already backlogged. The company’s initial focus for the next few years will be on the elite freestyle crowd, much of which is overseas. He hopes giving riders the opportunity to experience the advantages of the skis will help build that class’ overall strength and depth. As an example, he points to riders who had tried endlessly to pull off the flat-water back flip, only to quickly nail the trick once they tried his own ski.
“I knew what I wanted,” said Malone, who says he had a vision of what he wanted to accomplish and set out to create the ski that would make it possible. “Working with the right people, we pulled everything together. I’ve done a lot of trial and error every time, but it’s not about the trial and error, it’s about the formula you put together and going in and doing the work, fine tuning.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize what they want. They know their current ski’s not right, but they don’t know what they want to do to make it work. That’s what this is.”
Malone offers two variations on the ski, an 800cc and 1000cc, both of which are being produced in his home state of Pennsylvania. Each unit is hand produced. “Everything’s just so specialized. The other guys will ride the Super Jets and Kawis and the parts are already made. This thing, the heads we get made, and the intakes we get made. It’s not like we’ve got the whole world making the same part. It’s just specialized parts, so it has its individual parts and it takes a lot of time.”
The 800 will likely be the bigger seller, despite its $29,000 price tag. Riders who master it and feel they are ready for the next level can take on the 1000, which sells for a cool 10 grand more. Buyers will not only get the ski, but also Malone’s personal attention, through both e-mail and one-on-one instruction.
Interested parties can reach Malone through his Web site, www.ericmalone.com. psb