Erik Thostenson's fascination with composite materials grew out of his love for downhill skiing. "I was intrigued that the performance characteristics of various skis could be remarkably different, yet the skis themselves could look identical," he says. "The same basic materials — graphite, carbon, and Kevlar — are used in most high-tech skis, but advanced composite technology enables mogul skis to be flexible while racing skis are stiff."