"When we started Simply, if you had asked me to pick any rider out there and add him to the team, it would have been Daniel Loosli. He’s the perfect fit, bringing his own brand of creativity as well as business acumen. I don’t know of anyone who can switch from the visionary mindset to a business plan quite like Daniel.

He brings a wealth of skills to the team, including a unique approach to skiing and photography and a wealth of experience in the industry as the leading light of the for- ward-thinking style of skiing that we are looking for at Simply. He has inspired us, and we hope our brand direction has inspired him to take his vision even further.

The first time I skied with Daniel was summer shredding in Zermatt five or six years ago. I had just joined 686 & asked Daniel to shoot some pictures for the announce- ment. I’ve always been a big fan of Daniel’s photography, and we got some incredible shots... he even coached me through taking some great photos of him as well.

Years later, and we’re back in Zermatt to shred together & try the new skis. Our visions of skiing had grown closer over the years and it seemed a perfect full circle to be back on the glacier shooting photos. Only this time, it was me taking photos (with some coaching) for his welcome to the team announcement. It feels like a natural fit and I’m so thankful and truly happy that he’s joining the adventure. We asked Daniel a few questions about where he’s at in life and what he thinks about joining our club." - Laurent DeMartin

Daniel, Welcome to Simply! We couldn’t be more stoked to see you on the team. For those who don’t know, what are you up to these days?

Skiing is one of my greatest joys in life, but I don’t see it as my only passion these days. I don’t think any one thing could be truly fulfilling without all the variety life has to offer. For me, combining my passions has brought me more satisfaction than any one of them could individually. My growing interest in design, photography, and also pursuing my career in business development has helped me to develop a ski-life balance, and of course, to support my ski career.

I think it’s super important for me to have a job. Skiing is all well and good, but at some point, I won’t be able to do it anymore. Thanks to my job, and now also Simply, I will be able to continue to enjoy the joys of the ski scene for the foreseeable future.

How did you meet Laurent?

It feels like I’ve known Laurent for ages, or known of him. When I started freestyle skiing, fifteen or so years ago now, Laurent was already well-known in the Swiss ski scene. As he withdrew from the competition scene and pushed skiing in a different direction, I became a huge fan of his riding. I was so excited when he asked me to shoot with him all those years ago, and now he’s one of my favorite skiers to work with.

Let’s get to some product questions – when and how was your first shred on Simply skis?

It was last winter that I first tested the Recreation. At first, I was a bit surprised, thinking to myself “Wow, the ski is softer than I expected.” But when I made my first turns, I was even more surprised. In fact, these skis made me question my own understanding of skis and how they perform. The ski had incredibly good grip and I was able to make long and deep turns straight away, despite the soft flex. For me, it was great to be able to do everything with the ski, rip turns, hit rails, shred park and powder. I also like simple designs, so obviously, these hit that spot too.

What’s your thought on the shape of the skis?

Fishtails, what can I say? I love them, even if they are of no practical benefit. They just look cool and I feel comfy with them. The same goes for my clothes, if they don’t fit, I feel weird when I’m skiing. I’ve always liked asymmetric skis because the look is also important.

But moving away from the design and onto the shape, these skis are a dream. 100mm underfoot with a maximum radius of 15 meters and a lightweight construction - that’s the perfect all-around geometry for me. What’s more, the whole thing is produced in Switzerland. Whether everyone likes the asymmetric design or the fishtails remains to be seen, but it’s clear to me that you can truly do anything with this ski. And let’s be honest, it looks sick.

We just dropped the Carver – What do you think about it?

I’ve only skied the new ski once for a couple of runs, but it is a ski that is very well- made for European skiing. I’d describe it as a better alternative to a Stöckli ski, one which comes in a modern and simple design. Above all, I like that it is stiff and solid, which complements the existing Recreation ski very well. It is clear that you want to ski fast and remain agile with this ski, and it feels great for that. The ski is a little less playful than the Recreation, but that’s a tradeoff you have to make. These feel like a performance ski that anyone could ride, and still have some fun too.

And finally, what convinced to you join the Simply adventure?

Laurent is still a great source of inspiration and certainly one of the reasons why I switched to Simply. He has been trying to convince me to ride for Simply for over a year now, and it’s finally happening. Of course, I fit in very well with the style of the brand and the skiing they are looking to explore. Simply has already had a certain influence on my skiing, and I like to think I have had an influence on the Simply crew too. I also find it super exciting to be involved in the foundation and development of a new ski company. We’re a group of people with a similar vision of skiing, joining forces to show relatable skiing for all people, in all areas and all snow conditions. It’s the perfect fit.

We’re delighted to welcome you to our Recreation Club, Daniel, and very excited to see what you get up to with Laurent, Sampo, Alice & the crew this winter. We have no doubt your vision will bring a whole new flavor to our film and photo projects and can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve. Daniel will be skiing on the 180cm Recreation and 180cm Carver this season, as well as working with us on something bigger too.