"I ski because it makes me feel happy. Skiing pushes me and allows me to express who I am. It drives my need to overcome fear and everyday challenges. My journey as a professional athlete has allowed me to ski in some of the greatest places on earth - Skiing is my love and from this foundation, Planks was born."
- Jim Adlington / Founder of Planks Clothing

History

“I first fell in love with skiing at a 50 metre long dry slope in Kidsgrove, UK. For over a decade, I honed my skills as a skier there, dreaming about seasons in the Alps. At 18, I set out on my first winter season in Val d’Isère and took any job that allowed me to ski every day. In 1998, I was sponsored by Salomon, Oakley and Vans, and a new journey as a professional skier began.

This allowed me to travel the globe and ski with some of the world’s best freestyle skiers such as Candide Thovex, Tanner Hall and Jon Olsson. Along the way, I acquired many friends, contacts and experiences in the industry that would later become the platform for Planks to flourish and become the company it is today.

Whilst living in Val d’Isère, I began to notice a clear shift in popularity from snowboarding to free-skiing, and with it came the need for a skier’s brand.

Since establishing Planks, this shift in the industry has exceeded all of my expectations. Free-skiing is now a World Cup sport and takes centre stage at the Winter Olympics; terrain parks are dominated by young skiers and the emergence of backcountry freestyle has been remarkable.” - Jim

 


 A collection of images from Jim's career as a pro skier.

 

We love skiing - Drop Cliffs Not Bombs!

At Planks, we feel very fortunate for every moment we get to spend in the mountains. Skiing can provide an amazing sense of freedom & creativity. It allows us to express ourselves in any way we like - how we ski, where we go, who we're with & what we wear. It gives us so many opportunities to explore and satisfy our need for adventure and, ultimately, to have the most fun we can!

This is the lifeblood of Planks. We believe that enjoyment and a sense of adventure should be evident in everything we produce. This forms the basis of the brand - allowing everyone to have as much fun as possible, on and off the hill.

 

The Company

Planks is a rider-owned clothing company born out of three decades absorbed in skiing and having fun in the mountains. We’re a close-knit group of skiers, driven by our own personal experiences; taking inspiration from British design, mountain lifestyle and street culture. Our passion is to ensure the garments we produce exceed the expectations of riders worldwide. We pride ourselves on working with some of the world’s best skiers and they remain integral to our brand, forever pushing the envelope of free-skiing.

We are constantly adapting in order to understand the needs of our customers, no matter how you choose to enjoy the mountains. Whether you're hitting backcountry kickers, ripping big-mountain lines, shredding endless park laps or cruising the mountain with friends - we aim to make great products for everyone to enjoy! 

"At Planks we don’t believe in exclusivity, we believe in great products that everyone should be able to enjoy."

Product philosophy

We are skiers! The functionality of our products is at the forefront of everything we do. We strive to make simple, practical garments that can be enjoyed on or off the hill. Our products first and foremost must ‘work’ for you: they must be able to endure everyday mountain life. Our passion is to make the highest quality products we can, whilst still being accessible to everyone who loves the mountains. 

Live. Ski. Enjoy.

#DropCliffsNotBombs