It bothers me that the same people who bitch about this being some level of corporate takeover, are probably the same dudes who need the newest Siver outerwear, or brand new skis, or something so that they look "trendy" skiing. They probably aren't the ones skiing in ratty ass clothes, in skis with no edges just cause they love it. Just let it be, read it if you want, if you don't then just go back to the anti-corp companies and get your fill of grassroots company love. I say love everything skiing
"Dudes, its a 96 page K2 brochure/advertizment... its not a fucking magazine... its one time deal. Anyone else notice they didn't have an ad in freeskier... hum..."
Nah i didn't, do you read the mags to check for the ads that have or haven't been placed?
Jib This, I think your argument is ridiculous. K2 wanted to make the mag because they think the other magazines in our sector suck - I think it's a honest attempt to make something new, and give Freeze the tribute it deserves, to stoke everyone out. They're spending a hell of a lot of money on it, and if it sells them more skis, more power to them. They deserve it for giving back to the industry.
I think the argument by Jib This is well-made but a little extreme. Magazines are not in the business of manipulation, that's the government's job. I agree with kamikaze on the notion that any company with adequate resources can publish a company rag and if they want to go balls-out-96-pages then "more power to them." K2 makes and sells skis and that's their business (they do a good job, too, or they would be out of business). You can care about the sport and culture all you want but if your livelihood depends on the industry, then staying afloat comes first, especially when an "honest attempt to make something new" is going to cost you "a hell of a lot of money." So, my position is that K2 has seized a ripe oppurtunity to insert their piece into the "void" and disguise (or blend) a brilliant marketing scheme with "community outreach." I think the question is whether they are giving back to the culture or, as kamikaze says, to the industry.
What a fucking joke. K2 is not doing anybody and favors nor are they filling a void. Freeskier already has with their new magazine Ski Time, run by Matt Harvey, who without a doubt is one of the most passionate about the sport of Freeskiing. He is not out to capitalize to the extreme that K2 is, sorta how they started mass producing their skis in China! So much for craftsmanship, innovation, and skis that last. Why do you think K2's prices are so low?
although its just a k2 ad, but its a great idea, and k2 is top of the crop, so why not? 96 about some of the best riders, some of the best skis and about a company that for sure knows what the freeskee spirit is all about.