Profile: Genuine by Design - Q&A with G3 engineer Cam Shute
Who are the people designing ski equipment? What makes them tick? G3’s Cam Shute, one of the Onyx’s chief architects, might be able to shed some light.
In 2002, fresh from grad school, he applied for work with G3. In April of that year, he got the gig. Shute’s knowledge of Biomechanics made him an ideal fit for understanding ski gear and ergonomics. Nelson-based Shute lives in the prime location to test out his ideas in the snowy hills near his home. This coming April he’ll be celebrating ten years with Genuine Guide Gear. We were able to pin him down and get a snapshot of what it’s like to be a mechanical designer in the ski industry.
What's your history with engineering? When did you first start wanting to work with ski products?
I did a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Alberta, and then chose to do a Master’s in Orthopedic Engineering and Biomechanics at the University of British Columbia. I’ve always been into tinkering with gear, and in my early backcountry tele skiing days (on NNN BC bindings), I cobbled together a device to help hold my heel down to the ski.
Have you always been into snow sports? Did you grow up skiing and telemarking?
I actually got into skiing a little late in life, at around 12-13 years old, beginning with Nordic skiing, then trying alpine skiing. By 17 I was fully committed to telemark, which is all I skied for close to 9 yrs. At the time in North America the tele scene was super popular, and the gear was relatively light compared to the AT offerings.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job? Best rewards?
The most challenging aspect of the job is being able to balance all the factors and compromises that come with launching a new product. I always hope to please everyone, but it’s a very difficult task to achieve. The “best rewards” for me is an easy one; it’s seeing someone using a piece of equipment I’ve designed and enjoying the outdoors. In fact, if I’ve done my job well, I find that the person doesn’t need to pay attention or devote energy to the gear, but instead can focus on enjoying the activity at hand.
How do you approach making G3 products as a general rule?
My philosophy, since I’m a consumer as well, is to only design products that I personally would want to invest my hard earned cash in. In an era of insane consumer choice and rampant consumer capitalism, I try to focus on designing high quality gear that will last for many years.
What projects are your favorite and why?
I think it’s the projects that demand the most creativity, and hard work that I tend to favor, as it’s much like a hard earned ski run or peak. If it’s too easy, “I’m left wanting”, to borrow a phrase from Raphael Slawinski. As a climber and a backcountry skier I think I’ve developed a somewhat masochistic bent, and it trickles into my approach to work as well.
What are you backcountry objectives for the coming season?
I always have too many objectives for the season, but this year’s list is special. I’m hoping to be able to ski several things in the different ranges close to my hometown of Nelson, BC. Being a new parent, I’m focusing more time and energy on my son than skiing in far-flung locales, but my backyard here in the Kootenays is a pretty amazing place to ski. I am doing a hut trip into Powder Creek this year, and I hope to get close to the leaning tower group to scope them for future missions. I’d love to summit Jumbo and Karnak further north. The rest are secret, but I’ll let you know once I hit them.
Athletes & Staff
 Cam Shute |
