Canyon Sargent, a senior multi-disciplinary design student at the University of Utah, is creating a new niche in the ski equipment industry. He is the founder of Shifties, a startup that is opening the door to greater self-expression on the slopes.
Growing up around the Cottonwood Canyons, skiing has always been a big part of Sargent’s life. The idea for Shifties was sparked while he was teaching kids lessons at Snowbird. When one of his students started bringing a shark helmet, which then became his identifying feature, Sargent noticed the underdeveloped area of self-expression in ski gear.
Shifties allows skiers to modify the look of their goggles with numerous different designs, using durable vinyl stickers that retain visibility and enhance expression.
Sargent attributes his success largely to the Doman Innovation Studio, which has helped him build the skills and network that have been crucial to his success. The Doman Innovation Studio is a business incubator on campus that provides mentorship and community to aid students in bringing their startups to a higher level, helping them tackle their most prominent challenges. Sargent’s participation in this program also contributes credits toward his degree.
Recently having started this endeavor, Sargent says his biggest accomplishment so far has been getting the opportunity to go to China and work with manufacturers to develop the first sample of his goggles. Currently, Shifties is selling original goggles and two types of designs — one cut to fit the Shifties goggles, and one that can be cut to fit any brand.
Looking towards the future, Sargent has already started working on his next version to get into the market. His biggest goals are to work with the University of Utah ski team and maybe even someday with the U.S. Olympic team to brand the athletes’ goggles.
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