Icelantic skis.

• Author: Peterson, Eric
• Position: COLORADO COOL STUFF SMALL biz

Ben Anderson knew he wanted to make skis when he was 14. He was 20 when he started making them in his parents' garage in Evergreen, after a stint studying engineering in Washington state. In 2006, Anderson launched Icelantic, and the company instantly won notice for its innovative designs and stunning graphics. Its ascent has been steep.

"Going into a stagnant industry, we've grown by leaps and bounds," says Anderson, citing a 2010 production run of 2,800 pairs. "We've pretty much doubled annually."

Made at the Never Summer Snowboards factory in Denver and featuring different distinctive art by...