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10 Weird (and Sometimes Shocking) Vintage Ski Ads That’ll Leave You Scratching Your Head

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 2:59 PM ET

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Modern ski advertisements are, for the most part, safe and sanitized.

This wasn’t always the case, though. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, sex jokes and other less politically correct material were used to sell skis and other products in the pages of POWDER. Other outdated advertisements were just plain bizarre, referring to cults and long-dead Roman emperors.

To find the weirdest of the bunch, we rifled through the POWDER archives, pulling out the spreads that were either shocking or hilarious—in some cases, it was both. These are ten of those advertisements, ranked based on weird they are.

One word of warning: the advertisements shown here are, without a doubt, from a different time. They teeter into questionable territory on more than one occasion.

This piece is part of POWDER's Summer of Ski Nostalgia content series. Stay tuned in daily for more nostalgic articles, and keep an eye out for the upcoming Summer of Ski Nostalgia badge to identify future content.

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10. Feeling the Breeze Between Your Knees

Baring it all has, for years, been a persistent theme in skiing. The fabled butt naked run—affectionately known as a “BN”—is a rite of passage that marries silliness and a true test of will. Falling in the snow while nude is, as you might expect, pretty uncomfortable.

Of course, the fascination with nudity extends beyond feats of strength into the world of advertising, both in and outside of skiing. A bit (or a lot) of skin is provocative, eye-catching, and, if anything, memorable.

With this ad, there’s no clear explanation as to why the featured racers aren’t clothed, but it certainly makes an impression. The only issue is that viewers might be so distracted by the naked skiers that they forget what ski boots are on sale (they’re Nordicas, in case you missed it).

9. Join the Cult

Is skiing a cult? It can be. Or, at least, that’s what this ad suggests with some provocative marketing copy. “Perhaps it’s time to give up the sport,” the ad reads. “And join the cult.” One caveat: the cult in question isn’t skiing at large. Instead, this cult is all about sliding downhill with the combination of Kastle skis and Nordica boots.

As intense as the ad’s main thrust is—racer Doug Lewis’ stare could probably melt ice—a smaller line of text that references the gear on display may be its strongest and silliest point: “Legal Enhancement Of The Human Body.” Whoever wrote that bold proclamation deserves a raise.

8. Snowcats and Poodles

This ad may be weird, but God, does it work. Comparing groomer-obsessed ski resorts to overly manicured poodles was a clever leap from Jackson Hole that paid off. If there’s one ad from the past that should make a comeback, it’s this.

7. Ave Caesar—and Buy Some Ski Goggles

Gordini’s historical attempt at selling goggles is a bit dated, but it isn’t questionable or politically incorrect. Instead, it’s downright weird in a 1990s kind of way, featuring famed Roman emperor Julius Caesar rather than a modern skier. Caesar wasn’t a skier, but he did have a knack for words, which Gordini seized on its repackaging of the emperor’s famous quote, “veni, vidi, vici.”

Does the Roman throwback work? Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, there is something to be said for finding a way to work an ancient bust into an advertisement for ski gear—that’s an accomplishment.

6. The Sunglasses Stay On

When the lights go down and the Marvin Gaye starts playing, what’s the one clothing item that should stick around? Sunglasses, says Sun Cloud. While cataracts aren’t a risk commonly noted in sex ed classes, it is true that an extra layer of protection never hurts. You may as well put some sunblock on, too, while you’re at it.

5. A Sign of the Times

If this list were titled, “Advertisements That Never Should’ve Been Published,” the above spread may have earned the top spot. It’s not only confusing—this is an ad for Sprint, the telecommunications company—but arresting, in a bad way.

The theme of “serious mental health PSA” doesn’t convey the basic tenets of skiing like fun or freedom, even as a joke. Instead, the ad feels weighty, intense, and far too flippant to elicit a laugh. The only humorous aspect is that an advertisement this absurd was created and actually landed in a print magazine.

We’re talking about the 1990s, though, which, when it came to advertisements, was the Wild West. Companies were throwing literally anything at the wall to see what might stick. That’ll be even clearer when you take a look at the next few offerings.

4. French Kiss Who?

You’ve just taken a sip of strong, sweetened liquor. The booze boils down your throat, leaving a sticky, aromatic flavor behind. Afterwards, you might rush to grab a swig of something softer.

What analogy feels most apt to describe this experience? If you answered, “Ah, that reminded me of French kissing my grandmother,” you’d be in good company with whoever pitched this Goldschlager advertisement. You might also be on a list.

3. A Good Point—a Bad Approach

“Technomumbo. Bindingjumbo.” At first brush, this ad is bizarre and even feels culturally insensitive. The point Look is ultimately making, though, is a good one. Stop with the technical jargon, the binding company posits, and, instead, make a simple promise: our gear works and will keep you safe—not everyone needs to know all the technical specifications.

But, the fact is, Look could’ve communicated that sentiment without the effigy as an unfortunate visual gag. We much prefer their contemporary take on silly advertisements. They’re hilarious and offbeat, but they don’t punch down.

2. When You Really Love Your Skis

Skiers do have metaphorical love affairs with their equipment. For Fischer, though, taking those flings literally was the basis of an advertisement that ran in the 1990s. Featuring racer Bernie Gstrein, the ad suggested that a pair of Fischer skis could provide a calmer, clearer mind. Then, to make the innuendo more obvious, it placed a satisfied-looking Gstrein shirtless in bed, alongside his planks.

1. These Skis Are What?

It’s difficult to know where to start with this ad. There is, for one, a misunderstanding of how a serious mental health condition works. Then, there is the use of the same serious mental health condition as a way to describe—and, ideally, sell—skis. Neither are great.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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