The creator of Starr Surf Skis, Jason Starr started trying out different skis and wave skiing techniques six years ago in the rivers of Colorado. After a move to Vermont, he fully developed the idea and started his company. He thinks the ideal candidate for the sport is someone who is both a surfer and a skier because he thinks of the waves as a “terrain” similar to a mountain, but knows that it’s important to be familiar with the surf.

Starr currently manufactures two different types of skis: The Longboard and The Rocket. The Longboard is a stand up paddle ski designed for flatwater, whitewater, and surf. The Rocket is a custom made ski used for tow-in wave skiing or wakesurfing. It’s what Douglas, Townsend, and Patterson skied on. Starr has also designed what he calls “a high performance binding system,” that he believes is the water ski equivalent to downhill bindings.