It is one of my dreams to one day own a Bentley. While the means for that to occur are hopefully somewhere in the future, for right now, myself and other Bentley aficionados can load up on other goods offered by the car manufacturer. If you can’t cruise the streets in a Bentley, you may be able to cruise resort slopes in the meantime.

Bentley recently announced the launch of ‘one-of-a-kind’ zai for Bentley Supersport skis, handmade in Switzerland with collaboration from the Styling Studio in Crewe, the home of Bentley Motors.

The handmade skis, poles and ski bag have been designed exclusively for Bentley, with design input from Bentley’s own team. Most excitingly, unique and patented technology confirms the product range is truly ‘one-of-a-kind’. New materials deployed in the skis will be a world first.

The skis will be a limited edition of 250 numbered pairs. Zaiìra is a novel composite material containing carbon fibres specially developed by zai in co-operation with a partner. Zaiìra is used on the skis’ top layer in combination with natural rubber in the central part as well as carbon fabric in composition with chrome steel in the torsion part. Additionally, long carbon fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites are being used in the zai for Bentley Supersport skis.

The ski poles also demonstrate a new technology, ExoGrid, used solely for the first time in the Bentley skis. A unique combination of the materials titan and carbon fabric reduces weight and guarantees high stability, and is currently used for golf shafts. The ski bag is also custom-designed and custom-manufactured by zai.

Zai was formed in 2004, based in the Swiss village of Disentis. The high-end manufacturer of ski products, helmets and goggles, with a focus on hand built craftsmanship and the use of unique materials and patented technology.

Zai launched the world’s first and only skis containing a stone core, “zai Spada”, followed by ‘Hublot All Black by zai’ skis featuring a natural rubber top layer.

In 2008-9, the company sold 900 pairs of skis (’09 season) and this year is expecting to sell 1,000 pairs. About 20 per cent of all sales are direct from the factory with a focus on offering a factory tour, after sales service and insight into the production process.

The zai for Bentley ski range will be a limited quantity only, numbered 1/250. The skis will be priced as follows: 6,800 EUR,  9,800 CHF, 9,800 USD,  5,900 GBP. The skis will be available to order in January 2010 and retailed via zai distributors.

To learn more, visit www.zaiforbentley.com

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