SELINSGROVE, Pa. — November 18, 2022, is a date the team at Gilson Snow will never forget. The company's factory outside New Berlin was destroyed by fire. A few months later, the ski and snowboard manufacturing company is up and running again in Selinsgrove.
"We were running infrastructure and electrical while we were starting to turn on production and now, we are finally here, several months later, full-scale production finally up and running," said Nick Gilson of Gilson Snow.
Nick Gilson and Austin Royer founded Gilson Snow in central Pennsylvania 11 years ago. The company uses all Pennsylvania products for its skis and snowboards.
"We had a shipment delayed of ink, and because that ink was not coming from China, it was coming from York, Pennsylvania, he got in the car and just picked it up. And that is what keeps production running," Gilson said.
That's something that caught the eye of Gov. Josh Shapiro.
"Utilizing Pennsylvania poplar, Pennsylvania hardwood to create some of the most extraordinarily beautiful and terrific snowboards and skis right here in Pennsylvania," Gov. Shapiro said during a visit to the facility on Wednesday.
Gov. Shapiro called Gilson one of the most exciting companies in Pennsylvania. He toured the new manufacturing plant and launched the Pennsylvania Outdoor Business Alliance.
"Seeing the spotlight getting shown on outdoor recreation is really meaningful. The Outdoor Business Alliance is something I'm deeply excited about, and the fact that this announcement was hosted from Gilson is something I am really proud and honored to have been a part of," Gilson said.
Gilson says that since the fire, production has been stronger than before and has grown fast.
Gilson Snow recently launched skateboards and plans to make wakesurf boards.