From the Mountains, For the Mountains

Our Story

Advent Wood Products wasn't born in a boardroom; it was born on a race course.

I'm Barry, and I've spent 47 years (and counting) living for the mountains. I started ski racing as a kid and never stopped. I could see the local artificial ski slope on the outskirts of Edinburgh from my bedroom window.  Through university, I raced competitively and ran our ski club for 7 years—even after graduating, because the mountains had me hooked ... and the après wasn't too bad either.  For a while I switched to just snow-boarding for 6 years until it became apparent "shaped skis" weren't just a fad.

At 17, I started teaching skiing qualifying first in Scotland, later getting my Telemark certification & then much later qualifying in Canada. I spent a full 6 month season in the French Alps during which time I ran my own website about Alps life as a "seasonnaire". For decades, I've explored every corner of BC's mountains—from Whistler's legendary terrain to Big White's champagne powder.

*Mountain Host @ Whistler Blackcomb for 5 seasons (and village host for 3 summers)*

As a ski instructor and racer, I've always been drawn to the iconic trail signs that guide our adventures. They're more than just directions; they're symbols of challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable moments. After thousands of days on the slopes, I asked myself: what if those memories didn't have to stay on the hill?

*Racing since age 12 - skiing has always been my life*

That's when I combined my two passions—a lifetime in the mountains and the craft of woodworking. Advent Wood Products was born not as a business opportunity, but as a way to capture what those of us who live for skiing actually feel.

Every sign I create comes from real experience. When I carve a ski trail sign, I can visualise looking over the edge and what lies ahead. When I design a mountain chalet sign, I've woken up in those chalets with incredible breathtaking views at every turn. When I recommend a piece for your ski house, it's because I know what belongs on those walls.  After almost 5 decades on the slopes I still get chills as winter approaches each year & I still walk around the house with my ski boots on when the first snow falls.

This isn't a trend I'm chasing. It's a life I've lived—now captured in wood.

The Craft

Every sign we create is an echo of that idea. We don't just print words on wood. We use modern CNC technology to carve your stories deep into solid, locally-sourced timber. Each piece is then finished by hand, ensuring that the final product feels as authentic and timeless as the memories it represents.

From a single, solid block of wood, we can carve a sign and its frame in one seamless piece—a testament to quality and a passion for true craftsmanship.

More Than a Product, It's a Story

Whether it's a sign for the ski run where you finally found your courage, the family name for your cabin, or a custom piece for your mountain home, you're not just buying a piece of wood. You're commissioning a piece of your own story—designed by someone who's spent 47+ years living that same story.

From the race course to the instructor's jacket, from the French Alps to BC backcountry, every mountain experience has shaped the work I do today.

THE STORYTELLER

Long before Instagram, before "content creator" was even a term, I was documenting the mountain experience.

In 2001, during a season in Méribel, French Alps, I ran a daily blog called "raveaboutit.com" - sharing snow reports, weather updates, and that indescribable feeling of waking up every day to ski.

I didn't earn a cent from it. I did it because I couldn't NOT share that passion.

25 years later, I'm still telling mountain stories - just in a different medium. Now I carve them into wood.

Every custom sign continues that journey of capturing what it means to live for the mountains.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your mountain story.

— Barry Thomson
Ski instructor, racer, mountain adventurer, woodworker
BC, Canada