Carlo Salmini

Shred and Slytech began with a friendship and a shared commitment to enhancing their time in the mountains. And through the years, they’ve remained true to these roots.I first met Carlo in the winter of 2005. When not working as a materials engineer, he raced for fun and tapped his extensive experience with carbon fiber to develop his own skiequipment. As someone who constantly tinkered with his own gear, I was intrigued by Carlo’s work. Consequently, they quickly became friends and began collaborating on prototypes. Soon, some of the best skiers in the world began sporting his shinguards. And within a year of working together, I was able to take these products to the top of the Olympic podium. From this momentum and thirst for innovation, Slytech Protection was born.Immediately, they began turning heads. Yet their vision transcended the race course. I was part of a new generation of skiers who raced but didn’t wish to be defined or constrained by it. They loved hitting the park, slashing pow turns, and hucking cliffs. Like many of my friends, I was just as influenced by freeskiing and snowboarding as I was by racing. Consequently, Carlo and I aimed to embrace and unite all snowsports. At the time, this approach was as unique as it was raw.In the fall of 2006, they debuted Shred Optics. As with Slytech, their plans were simple. They wanted to develop products that looked as good as they performed—and not just on the race course, but also in the park and backcountry. Their inaugural collection consisted of a single goggle frame, available in a healthy dose of neon. Iconic, original, loud—whatever you called them, their goggles were visible from across the valley. About this same time, they also launched the first soft back protector with Slytech, which was soon worn by top freeskiers, snowboarders, and racers.With hustle and grit, they worked to further refine their vision for Shred and Slytech. When not slaving away over R&D inside a garage, Carlo hijacked a corner of his father’s office in Venice, Italy for their global headquarters. Meanwhile, they ran their US operations out of my attic in Park City, enlisting their friends as sales reps. They didn’t have a business plan, but they had plenty of ambition.Today, they have a few more products to their name, but their commitment to innovation is stronger than ever. Whether developing helmets, back protectors, sunglasses, or goggles, they’re pioneering fresh technology and emerging as a market leader—while proudly maintaining their status as underdogs. By blending performance and style, Slytech and Shred help you have fun, stay safe, and push your limits. And ten years in, they’re still building the products of their dreams.