JASON'S PLAN FOR LINE

JLev

JLev

Member
Hey guys,

I’ve been reading your comments, good or bad, I really appreciate the fact that all of you care enough about Line to spend time discussing what this could mean for its future. I thought I’d lay out my thoughts for you to think about before Monday’s live chat.

From day one, Line has always had one mission: To help grow and rejuvenate the sport of skiing by building innovative product that supports the progression of the sport. That mission will never change, but how we accomplish it, will always change. Progression requires change and over time this change is required on all levels. Not only in the product and how you ride it, but also in the behind the scenes business workings. This is what this new deal is all about. This change will long term enable us to take skiing to where we otherwise may have never have gotten.

As the founder of Line, I’ve got 11 years of pure heart and soul work invested into making it happen through good and bad times. No one cares more about Line’s future than me and I see this as the best thing that could have ever possibly happened not only for Line, but for the sport at this time.

It all comes down to the fact that business is extremely competitive and difficult for a small company like us to do certain things. No matter how cool, progressive and popular a brand like us or any of the other start-ups look, there are always limits to what you can do on your own. Think of me trying to grow Line, no different then if you were trying to grow a career as a pro skier. Obviously the more support you get from a sponsor, family, friends etc. the more you are able to do and better chance you have to take it where you want. This situation is no different for me with Line. Even after 11 years, I have very big dreams for what Line can someday be and do for our sport. To put it simply, this requires a level of support in many new areas that simply could not be achieved as we were.

At this point, Line simply needs the support of a larger company with a whole new level of resources in order for us to grow and continue to progress, like you all would like to see. This is only a good thing; people that say otherwise don't understand what it truly takes to do what we all would like to see Line or any smaller ski company do.

I personally really appreciate the support each of you have given to our brand over the years. K2 believes in Line's future because of everything they've seen us accomplish thanks to your help. I am officially continuing working as the Line Brand Director (a.k.a. Rebel Command) so nothing is changing as far as what Line’s mission is, or my part in it.

Monday night I'll be doing the live chat on this message board at 10:00pm eastern time. I really look forward to answering any questions you have relating to this and anything else you’d like to talk about.

J
 
Well. I'm going to save all my questions and everyone else should save them also till the interview. Just read what the man's gotta say for now...
 
He's signing off. Or going away. Just wait 'till the 5th to really start this. Just take this and gather more questions.
 
PMS much? I mean I don't care if you voice your opinion but you are being a real dick about it. To get people to change you should be nice not an asshole and say how line is only in it for the money. Thats just a dick thing to do. Anyway things happen and there isn't much we can do.
 
i really dont see why everyone is bitchin about this. for one k2 is an awsome company and owns like half the ski mareket to begin with. second a company like k2 will be able to help line grow, its not a bad thing, line is still gonna be line he even said hes still the director. stop bitchin kids and support the company thats been keepin it real for so long.

Also think of the lost riders, the late arrival of skis, and other problems from last year. with k2 this wont happen
 
word.

people need to stop complaining. It's not like if K2 bought Line and hired Bode Miller to run the company for christ's sake...I bet no one will see a goddamn change in the way the company is being run, except that we will probably see more shops carying line skis and more line publicity.

call him a sell-out if you want, but any of you would have made the same fucking thing !!

In most cases, skiing or anything else, when you start a project, you'll never be able to make it reach the point you would like it to reach without the help of someone else.

line made the right move, and everyone will notice it soon I guess.
 
Wow, what next man? Another one of your rants on how evil and unholy gay people are? You're a piece of trash, who's still in high school, and should figure out that you don't know shit about shit.
 
For all of few who are more concerned with being CORE and supporting the inner-industry are all blind. K2 is a sick company. K2 is not some outside source coming into skiing and selling out.

I doubt Line was bought just to make money. First off, Line will have a larger budget now and be able to make better products and more of them. We're not going to see mainstream graphics and shitty products from them. If Line was bought and then disappeared, then I'd be upset but it doesn't seem like K2 is trying to change them as a company. K2 now just profits from their sales. You guys don't know jack about financing and the way a business works. I don't think Levin will "sell out" skiing. And as far as I'm concerned that word has no meaning anymore. I mean Bishop said it right. Take a look at the other companies we all buy from. You think Rossi sells out? Armada has some unofficial tie to Oakley which is I might add a sick company, but nonetheless mainstream. You guys need to chill. Don't think skiing is turning mainstream and will become worse. Because if anything, the more money this tiny sport makes, the better at this point. We will always be different, always be our own niche. Don't try to ruin that.
 
i gotta say at first i was stoked to hear it, line is gonna grow leaps and bounds forsure, but it seems like the easy way out. sometimes you gotta struggle when your doing what you love, so if J.Lev's love is making skis and being that small dope brand maybe he should have put up with the struggle, whos knows this run on sentence is all i have to say for now.
 
thank you. someone finally knows how industries work. most of the companies you know and use are in colaboration and no one even notices.
 
Stowebum, this really is the best move for Line, K2, and our industry and the move was made not to line Jason's pockets, but to keep Line moving in a positive direction. As a person who worked with J side by side for five years and am now working with Surface skis I can tell you that fact for a surety. Additionally, EVERY ski COMPANY is about making a profit, including Surface. The differrence is what is the motivation? Is Line trying to make money by doing anything and selling anything or are they trying to make money by contributing innovative and creative product to the marketplace that ultimately influences the product landscape?

As far as I know, there's not a single ski company that isn't driven by PROFIT, and there are no not-for-profit charity ski companies that don't care if they lose a million dollars, so long as one kid got to see the mountains (insert a tear dripping down your cheek).

The bottom line is if you like a companies product, the way it performs, the value you felt like you got when you purchased it, and hopefully what the company has contributed to the sport (which Line has done plenty of, if not more so than any other company, in terms of progressive freestyle and all mountain riding) then you should buy skis from that company. If not, buy skis from somebody else you identify with, but certainly don't fault a company for being acquired by a larger company that intends to give that company more support than it has ever gotten, or could have gotten where they currently were, all while keeping the same goal in mind.

Now if K2 bought Line, Jason quit, bought an island, never skied again, and Line started making carving skis to be sold at Dick's you might have a point. Until then...
 
Every decision that everyone makes, unless compelely arbitrary, is feuled by some sort of INTERESTS/PROFIT. It's economics, they teach it in high school.

In this case, it could be an increase in JLev's monetary profits, or, he could be making no extra money and in fact be profiting from the fact that his dream for the last 12 to 13 years of his life is not dying.
 
Also, everyone should look at how much better volkl has become under K2's watchful eye.
 
Just because k2 bought them doesn't mean anything will change. Line is still really its own company, they do what they want to their skis and what not, its just that money they make goes to k2. its really not as big of a deal as you guys think it is
 
i hate ski drama... you are all speculating shit,

but so far i agree with the guy i am quoting. but just wait, and see how shit plays out
 
And I have to add that Jason's dream that I am referring to would be essentially inventing the means to participate in the sport we all love today.
 
Just think of the funding line will be getting to better research and better make the reactor. So then the binding industry will change and only good will come from this.
 
i respect ur opinion totally, but if u think about it, what is the whole point of starting a business and making business investments?? to MAKE MONEY, sure money isnt everything, but like J Lev. said, he's put in 11 years bustin his ass to make line what it is, and if he now decides that he's gotta start makin some money and feels that this is the way to do it, then more power to him, he's still gunna be the head of line and such so i dont see how this can be bad if it simply gives line more resources to work with, because they obviously have the know how and the creative thinking, but without money that will get you nowhere
 
K2 is amazing, Line is amazing, K2 helping Line ultimate amazing...and also line is pretty much one of the reasons why we are here so let Line do there thing and they will keep helping the sport progress
 
Maybe this will give them the funding to get the Reactor idea to work. That would be so sick to have only one pair of bindings.....
 
god yes ! i really really hope that Line does that... fuck so many kid's seasons could be saved by a really good binding

they just need it lighter, and stronger, and not pre relese
 
yeah, that was the first thing i thought, was that maybe they'd finally get the funding to make the reactor into a legit DOPE binding, cuz the idea is certainly great. also, moving to k2's factory will help their durability as well. as long as line maintains its identity, i see this as being a good thing.
 
look none of us know shit, until then reserve judgement. yes of course it could be gay, but it might be good, although i doubt it. judgement w/o information sucks. im pretty sure line was owned/funded by a larger company before anyways so kill yourself. (classi ns soundoff...had to)
 
***DISCLAIMER 1*** Long post alert:

So much bullshit in this thread you need a snorkel to get to the bottom so you don't drown in poop.

I can't believe how many people know so little about running a business and how close minded some of you guys can be. (I'm not even going to mention how upsetting and emotionally disturbing I find it that you feel you can disrespect the Oracle in such a way...kids these days...really...)

A lot of people think that Line has been struggling financially recently (the decision to cut pro-team down to 2 riders and not to retail/improve the reactor for 05-06 season being two of the most obvious signs of late). Obviously none of us actually know, it's all speculation. The other explanation is that although not bankrupt, Jason did not have the $$$ he needed to push the sport to where he wants it to go. Either way, a need for money (for Line)is clearly the biggest factor in this deal.

***DISCLAIMER 2***: The following is speculation and personal opinion only. I am no more informed on the matter than anyone else on this site.

Anyone can see that J likes a gamble; if he thinks a new technology will improve our sport he'll go ahead and create it. Unfortunately it seems that some of Line's more recent gambles haven't paid off (no need to mention which ones). Inevitably this, along with this season's alleged quality issues, has had a huge impact on Line's finances. J isn't (or at least wasn't (although I know nothing about the deal so can't comment, but I hope he now is...he certainly deserves it)) a multi-millionaire and last I heard he hadn't quite found the perfect formula for alchemy yet (I hear that's what he's had most of the Line R&D team working on in the last few years) so sadly he can't just magic money out of the air.

Even a 5 year old hermaphrodite with learning difficulties and halitosis could tell you that a when a company runs out of money or doesn't have the money it needs to acheive its goals it has 2 options:

1) Close down: bye bye Line and everything Jason has worked his balls off for these last 11 years.

2) Sell to a bigger company: Hello Line and Mr Jason, good to still have you around. Oooh, I am LOVING all this new technology you've created with your new found $$$ gifted to you from lovely K2. Good job.

Perhaps one of you whiners knows some deep dark secrets about business that us mortals are ignorant of. Please tell me how a company in such a financial predicament can substantially improve it's economic situation without selling to a bigger company?

When I first read the news my heart sank...I'm sad that Line hasn't been able to stay afloat on its own accord. But then I stopped to think about it and I thought thank fuck Line is still afloat at all. And then after a little more furrowing of my brow I was actually quite pleased. If Line had to sell (and I'm sure it did) then thank fuck it sold to K2 which is just as "core" in my mind as any other ski company. "Core" for me is about ideals, and K2 has done more for this sport than most other companies (Back Nine and ski graphics that give even my grandpa a slight stirring of the loins for example) and keeping Line alive is just the latest in a long line of things.

I'm actually shitting my pants with excitement just thinking about all the awesome stuff that could come from this merger. If K2 play it right then we are going to be some fucking lucky skiers in the next few years. I can't think of a better company Jason could have sold to than K2 and I challenge you to name one.

People really need to get over the whole "selling out" bullshit. Go hug some trees and kiss a hippy It seems that people have just started brandishing this little phrase 'willy nilly' on this site because it's the cool thing to do. What a load of BS some of you guys chat.

So I'll finish with this: Phil, Taylor and the rest of you who consider this to be a bad thing. Please explain to me why (and DON'T, I implore you, DON'T DON'T just tell me Line "sold the fuck out" because that means jackshit. I want real reasons as to why this is a bad thing, and at the same time perhaps you could enlighten us all by suggesting what else Jason could have done?

And J, if you read this: Congratulations and thank you. Best of luck with K2 and in Washinton. Don't listen to the haters, the just haven't hugged and bunnies recently.

Let's just hope the big-wigs at K2 are brave enough to let J keep on doing his thing without interfering too much. If Line can achieve what it has done in 11 years imagine what the future holds with so much more $$$ in it's pockets for R&D. Oh god, I'm getting excited, I think I'm gonna poop myself again.

Let's give this thing a chance, it could just be amazing. And if it proves itself not to be...well then you can start the bitching.

Rich out.
 
damn it, I knew i'd fuck that bold tagging up. Any mods fancy deleting that post and this one? I'll repost it again with correct tagging (I hope).

Cheers.
 
***DISCLAIMER 1*** Long post alert:

So much bullshit in this thread you need a snorkel to get to the bottom so you don't drown in poop.

I can't believe how many people know so little about running a business and how close minded some of you guys can be. (I'm not even going to mention how upsetting and emotionally disturbing I find it that you feel you can disrespect the Oracle in such a way...kids these days...really...)

A lot of people think that Line has been struggling financially recently (the decision to cut pro-team down to 2 riders and not to retail/improve the reactor for 05-06 season being two of the most obvious signs of late). Obviously none of us actually know, it's all speculation. The other explanation is that although not bankrupt, Jason did not have the $$$ he needed to push the sport to where he wants it to go. Either way, a need for money (for Line)is clearly the biggest factor in this deal.

***DISCLAIMER 2***: The following is speculation and personal opinion only. I am no more informed on the matter than anyone else on this site.

Anyone can see that J likes a gamble; if he thinks a new technology will improve our sport he'll go ahead and create it. Unfortunately it seems that some of Line's more recent gambles haven't paid off (no need to mention which ones). Inevitably this, along with this season's alleged quality issues, has had a huge impact on Line's finances. J isn't (or at least wasn't (although I know nothing about the deal so can't comment, but I hope he now is...he certainly deserves it)) a multi-millionaire and last I heard he hadn't quite found the perfect formula for alchemy yet (I hear that's what he's had most of the Line R&D team working on in the last few years) so sadly he can't just magic money out of the air.

Even a 5 year old hermaphrodite with learning difficulties and halitosis could tell you that a when a company runs out of money or doesn't have the money it needs to acheive its goals it has 2 options:

1) Close down: bye bye Line and everything Jason has worked his balls off for these last 11 years.

2) Sell to a bigger company: Hello Line and Mr Jason, good to still have you around. Oooh, I am LOVING all this new technology you've created with your new found $$$ gifted to you from lovely K2. Good job.

Perhaps one of you whiners knows some deep dark secrets about business that us mortals are ignorant of. Please tell me how a company in such a financial predicament can substantially improve it's economic situation without selling to a bigger company?

When I first read the news my heart sank...I'm sad that Line hasn't been able to stay afloat on its own accord. But then I stopped to think about it and I thought thank fuck Line is still afloat at all. And then after a little more furrowing of my brow I was actually quite pleased. If Line had to sell (and I'm sure it did) then thank fuck it sold to K2 which is just as "core" in my mind as any other ski company. "Core" for me is about ideals, and K2 has done more for this sport than most other companies (Back Nine and ski graphics that give even my grandpa a slight stirring of the loins for example) and keeping Line alive is just the latest in a long line of things.

I'm actually shitting my pants with excitement just thinking about all the awesome stuff that could come from this merger. If K2 play it right then we are going to be some fucking lucky skiers in the next few years. I can't think of a better company Jason could have sold to than K2 and I challenge you to name one.

People really need to get over the whole "selling out" bullshit. Go hug some trees and kiss a hippy It seems that people have just started brandishing this little phrase 'willy nilly' on this site because it's the cool thing to do. What a load of BS some of you guys chat.

So I'll finish with this: Phil, Taylor and the rest of you who consider this to be a bad thing. Please explain to me why (and DON'T, I implore you, DON'T DON'T just tell me Line "sold the fuck out" because that means jackshit. I want real reasons as to why this is a bad thing, and at the same time perhaps you could enlighten us all by suggesting what else Jason could have done?

And J, if you read this: Congratulations and thank you. Best of luck with K2 and in Washinton. Don't listen to the haters, the just haven't hugged and bunnies recently.

Let's just hope the big-wigs at K2 are brave enough to let J keep on doing his thing without interfering too much. If Line can achieve what it has done in 11 years imagine what the future holds with so much more $$$ in it's pockets for R&D. Oh god, I'm getting excited, I think I'm gonna poop myself again.

Let's give this thing a chance, it could just be amazing. And if it proves itself not to be...well then you can start the bitching.

Rich out.
 
Regardless of what any of us consumers feel about this move- it was J's decision and I'm sure he considered the negative response as an inevitable reaction by some. It's just a choice he had to make- sometimes you have to sacrifice things for growth and you will most definitely lose customers but i'm sure there's a bigger business plan that will more than likely in the end amount in line skis getting more exposure, demand, and most importantly: profit. The sad thing is, us supporters of independent local business... no matter how much you support their brand, their company, team et cetera it's just not enough to keep the ball rolling. I am waiting to see how things will change, if i'll still see the line guys on the sunny D at the bush every weekend. or telling a kid with a busted binding to go up to the factory and they will help him out... i doubt it. I am pretty bummed out that I won't be buying line skis anymore. It was a good run while it lasted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top