Opnions, speak your mind

O

otherwise

New member
What's up everyone. I have the opportunity to be involved in starting a new ski company. I know you've all heard this before, so let me just start by saying the opportunity is real and the infrastructure is in place to make it happen. My purpose in coming here is to seek the opinion of the most complete and diverse gathering of skiers on the planet. If you are so inclined I would greatly appreciate some replies to the below questions. Your answers will help shape the future of a company, so please, speak your mind.

1.) Should I? With all the new companies that have been started up in the last two years, do you guys think there is room for another U.S. based ski company dedicated to the future of the sport?

2.) What is most important to you guys: team, advertising, warranty, durability, price, graphics, made in the u.s.a., shape and flex, construction, online vs. physical store availability (would you buy without seeing/flexing the ski) anything else you can think of

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee?

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

Thanks

 
no,theres too many as it is and youll just be digging yourself a hole

'I think I see blue........ He looks Glorius!' - Will Ferrel
 
Lateralis, are you saying you would rather walk in a shop and see Salomon, Rossi, Dynastar, Atomic, Fischer, Head, and maybe Line, or Armada, or 4FRNT, but probably not all three, or would you like to walk in a shop and see Armada, 4FRNT, LINE, Ninthward, and maybe a couple other choices? The cool thing that I see happening already is that all these new companies are making different constructions, flexes, price points, and shapes with unique graphic styles so you are already getting more options then ever before. I'm not talking about a clone company, but a legitimate alternative with a unique style, price structure and product offering that in the end will give you, the skier just another option in finding the right ski for you.

 
1.) Should I? With all the new companies that have been started up in the last two years, do you guys think there is room for another U.S. based ski company dedicated to the future of the sport?

yes

2.) What is most important to you guys: team, advertising, warranty, durability, price, graphics, made in the u.s.a., shape and flex, construction, online vs. physical store availability (would you buy without seeing/flexing the ski) anything else you can think of

warranty is key, unless you can really make a ski that bombproof. I have been stickin with salomon specifically because they have been awesome as far as backing their warranty. I've had to deal with them several times the past few years, and i have always gotten the replacement skis in under a week, except for once when they had to wait for the next shipment. Team and advertising are nothing compaired to word of mouth that your product is good, and as far as i am concerned, the simpler the graphic the better, because i like to put some stickers on my skis. shape and flex are all personal preference. I personally like a ski that has a longer turning radius, and that is relatively stiff, cause i ski east coast, where its always icy. That just seems to work for my style of skiing. As far as distribution, I would much rather go through a store and possibly pay a little bit more because you get to physically see the ski, and if its any kind of decent store, they will back your purchase as far as warranty and returns go.

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee?

I would have no graphic on my skis if it was up to me, just a clearcoat so you can see the core

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

Just make somethin that works and isnt near $600 like some of the other new companies. I personally would not pay that much for a company that has been in existance fewer years than i have been skiing. You need some sort of reputation before you can charge that much for a ski that isnt necesarily up to par yet.

Thats probably a lot more than you wanted, but hey, thats somethin to work with for ya, right?

Fear causes hesitation and hesitation causes your worst fears to come true
 
having a beginner twin tip model that retail at arround 300$ would be really good for the movement in my opinion cause if the ski is good beginner will buy it as a good beginner ski and might get into the movement just cause they could do it if theywabnt to without having to buy another ski.

BUT do not make just cheap as fuck skis cause that would ruin it all... lookat how tecno made a pair of 300$ twin tips that nobody would like to ride onto.

So yea, having a wider price range would help alot in my opinion cause as a sales person, i would definately sell a beginner twin tip model to a kid who is starting to ski then a same little bit better ski for the same price simply because the twin tips open way more path then the low end model from another companie.

and yea original graphics that are not looking robotic like all the non-teintip skis out there would be sweet too, even if it's simple young people (your market) will be more interested by an all black ski with a monster or something like that on the topsheet then by a super technological topsheet design like the overloaded topsheets of all the non-tentips in the industry..

cause you know, style does matter.

im offf, hope it helped

-I get head-
 
Anyone saying there are already too many ski companies can look at the snowboard industry, one we've (as freeskiers) have tried hard to imitate, through style, design, etc.... The more independent companies, the more competitive market, therefore, the more affordable, well-crafted skis. If there is 40 ski companies making twins, then you have the opportunity to choose from a lot more brands allowing you to a) shop for a well-priced ski b)find the right ski for your self and style of skiing, c)support a smaller company more based around the idea of creating a healthy ski culture.

I forget who started this thread, I'll call you DUDE. Anyways DUDE, if you love skiing, then this job is probably something you'll love to do.... Do it... It'll be better than working somewhere shitty making crap money... Might aswell do something you enjoy. And the people you'll meet doing it will pretty much give you enough contacts, that if things don't work out, you'll be able to find a job somewhere in the industry.

Make your skis in Canada.

I think for a price, people probably would buy into personalized graphics.... I wouldn't!

When I buy skis, I buy based on performance, then price.... warranty is important, especially with kid's tendencies to slide down metal rails now... Make skis for the right reasons and you'll have the support of many! And in return, most likely success! Best of luck man!

Commander of the Silent Army

Viva La Resistance!

'haha god bless ssubsetnce abusess'-benditto
 
ya, i was looking at the snowboarding buyers guide and the thing was like a novel, so many companies and models, and i realised why so many people now snowboard and why it's so huge, people like choice and variety and individualism, if skiing offered that then technically it would appeal to a wider range of people brining more into the sport creating opportunities with a broader talent line for new things to happen for the sport, and in answer to the questions i think the individualised graphics would be sick, but also you have to realise probably being a skier yourself that most of us are on a budget, yes you may make more money per sale if your prices are high, but if you have lower prices more people will buy them therefore getting your name out and creating higher revenue in the long run

Seize the carp
 
oh ya, make them in canada, u.s has shotty products, canadian products has time and love put into the making of them

Seize the carp
 
MAKE THE OSAMA PRO. If you build it, they will come.

----------------------

'Dude, check out this nasty gouge.'

'Your mom has a nasty gouge.'

 
Only time will tell if there is enough of a market to support Armada, 4FRNT and Line at this point. My guess right now would tend to be probably not, but I think there's hope if all these so-called rider owned/rider driven manufacturers actually start putting back into the sport in order to expand the sport as a whole, and not just sell expensive twin tips in order to get magazine ads and pay their riders a lot of money.

If you are serious about this venture then there is absolutely no reason not to try. Competition is what will make this niche grow. The sport is young enough that it's open to change and the more options kids have to choose from the better. Like Cedric said above, creating a price-point twin tip ski for those just getting into the sport would do a lot to get more people involved.

I've lost my train of thought, so I guess that's all I have to say for right now.

you can't spell sick without ck
 
Realize that it is a fairly small market right now; however, no doubt it will grow. But the smart thing to do would be to come into this with low overhead.

Put money into the business, and don't expect to cash out for a while (may be a few years).

Here's how you could compete with the bigger name compaines:

Offer a good product, but provide customer service and lookout for the riders like no other company out there. If you genuinely do everything you can to help out the customers and hook us up, then you will get customers for life.

And even if Salomon or another big company creates a new and improved product, you will have gained loyalty and we will come back to you.

There's my $.02

Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Ski.

 
Approach this with:

'What areas is the newschool skiing industry lacking/missing? What could it use to make it better?'

And fill that gap.

Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Ski.

 
I think its a damn good idea and I support any core company that is coming up, but I think it will take some time before we can start seeing a lot of them. I think Armada and 4FRNT need to stabilize financially and get more youth into the sport, and then more and more companies will take off.

 
yeha, i mean companies like 4frnt who've ever had a ski on the slopes are charging fucking $600 dollars for skis. you can get a pari of TM's, or pistols, or scratches froma company that's been around forever that is tried and true for cheaper. start out by prving yourself, adn maybe (unlike other compaanies) put out like a single tip. get riders to knw your out there. i mean rossi didnt jst throw out a fukcing twin. they worked there way up. i know that was a long time ago, but the got to know the industry, and ski physics, and then started to research,pu together a team, (which by the way, their original tea waw bad ass) and then put out a twin once youve been in it for awhile. it wold be a new way to put it out there. you arent gonna see profit right a way like jarret said, but if you stick with it, youre gonna have it made.

*********************************************************

Jules: Whoa... whoa... whoa... stop right there. Eatin' a bitch out, and givin' a bitch a foot massage ain't even the same fuckin' thing.

Vincent: Not the same thing, the same ballpark.

Jules: It ain't no ballpark either. Look maybe your method of massage differs from mine, but touchin' his lady's feet, and stickin' your tongue in her holyiest of holies, ain't the same ballpark, ain't the same league, ain't even the same fuckin' sport. Foot massages don't mean shit.

Vincent: Have you ever given a foot massage?

Jules: Don't be tellin' me about foot massages - I'm the foot fuckin' master.

Vincent: Given a lot of 'em?

Jules: Shit yeah. I got my technique down man, I don't tickle or nothin'.

Vincent: Have you ever given a guy a foot massage?

Jules: Fuck you.

Vincent: How many?

Jules: Fuck you.

Vincent: Would you give me a foot massage? I'm kinda tired.

Jules: Man, you best back off, I'm gittin' pissed.

BFSC.... we do it froggy style

 
Thanks for the input thus far guys. I'm definitely taking what you're saying to heart. Good to hear so many of you are on the same page as I am. Keep it coming.

 
customer service is a must. Line has great customer service but their skis arent so great, they tend to fall apart rather quickly. so if you could make a super durable ski and have awesome customer service and warrenty and wrap it all up with a decent price tag i think you could do some serious damage and make a huge impact on the sport.

also have very basic and original graphics. and since many people like to sticker out their skies and spray paint stuff on them and what not leave some blank space, they just look better that way anyways even without stickers. simple is always best.

as far as construction of the ski i dont know much about that but go with something that is tried and true so its solid and will take a beating, cuz we are hard on our skis especially in the park and we want a beefy product that will take a fuckin trip through hell.

on a final note just do what you think is best and what is best for your company and skiing as a whole. thats the most important thing you could do. just be true to yourself at all times.

-paul

i think i think i like it like thata

*Official Martha Stewert of NS*
 
like what the last guy quickly mentioned, you have to think about skiing as a whole. because, although core companies are cool and its what we all want to see, personally i dont think 4frnt, ninthward, armada... any of them are going to make it if they dont market outside just the freeskiing community. you have to think ahead a bit, and for ways to broaden the freeskiing customer base, find a niche, offer something new. if you can try offering more than just t shirts and stuff too... maybe poles or outerwear, i dont know. but good luck in any case. and a pimpin name is always good. you should just call the company 'tits' everyone would want some then.

 
i think its a good idea. i would like to have my special graphics of a retared person on my ski. thatd be great

up in arms apperal represent

representin the east
 
1.) Should I? With all the new companies that have been started up in the last two years, do you guys think there is room for another U.S. based ski company dedicated to the future of the sport? YESSSSS

2.) What is most important to you guys: warranty, durability, price, graphics, shape and flex, construction,

I would also want to know how the ski performed, and sick graphics are always a plus. Skis need to perform out of the park too.

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee? YES i think a lot or pople would like this

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

I would like to see you out there promoting your product... demo days... and a solid product that is worth the money.

I feel pretty competent in graphic design, and i would love to help with graphics or something. Message me

PLEATH! SNOWBEH! NO!!!
 
1.) Should I? With all the new companies that have been started up in the last two years, do you guys think there is room for another U.S. based ski company dedicated to the future of the sport?

I think everyone who wants to should try to start new companies, look at snowboarding, they had a huge boom of new companies a few years ago and a lot of em hit it big

2.) What is most important to you guys: team, advertising, warranty, durability, price, graphics, made in the u.s.a., shape and flex, construction, online vs. physical store availability (would you buy without seeing/flexing the ski) anything else you can think of

durability, weight, construction and performance are all that matters

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee?

Yeah that would be cool but i would only do it for like $50 or less

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

lots of demos, and true all mountain twins, gotta have those

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dan Maguire

Yankees Suck

'...all fled before his face. All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax.'

How many snowboarders does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

10, 1 to do it, and 9 to say 'I can do that.'

'Dude, we're sick. He's pretty sick, but his muscles aren't as big as mine, so you know.'-CR Johnson
 
I really like stiff, durable skis. wood core, good warranty. Don't worry about a pro team just yet, I guess that will eventually come, just make bombproof skis which are awesome to ride, and we will find you. Also, I will always demo a ski before I buy it so try to set up a good relationship with shops all over the US, to get your name out. Good luck.

-------------------------------------

'I won't be able to vote for like...four more years.' (18 year old Tanner Hall)

'My knee hurts' (Jeff Merat after grinding a lunch table for an hour instead of sitting in the ski patrol shack for his torm mcl and acl which he got earlier that day.)

'I'm not asking for any help, just mabe for you to get off your ass.'(my dad)

 
i didnt read most of the posts but heres my 2 cents:

1.) Should I?

whats the downside if you do and dont make it? if its a big investment and you lose big, then i wouldnt, but im conservative. if you dont have anything (or too much) to lose, hells yeah, go fer it!

2.) What is most important to you guys:

in order for me: durability, price, warranty (customer service), shape and flex, construction, toss up for the rest.

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee?

nah.

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

a ton of field testing before the product goes public, so you work out all the flaws so people dont keep breaking stuff and having to send it out. good cust service--ie., if i break a ski, and its your fault, replace it asap. if i break a ski and its my fault, give me crash replacement cost. good customer service might actually be my no.1 priority--if you were the best/fastest/most understanding etc, id go back again and again.

my stupid 2cents.

good luck.

 
one question: why not?

I think it would be so sweet to design your own skis and and start up your own company. You might lose money and have a lot of headaches along the way, but wouldn't it be worth the experience?

'Because it's there...'

-Hillary
 
I was gonna write a long response but I'll just say this, having more ski companies is great for us, it makes the prices go down, but also that means that you're going to MAKE less which puts more risk in it. but on the other end skiings going to grow a lot in the next years and this company will take a few seasons before they are up and running. If you can make an intro specific ski and then an 'expert' ski you'd be doing something that is really needed.

-Mike

'ya but he doesnt have a hot tub, thats pretty ghetto' - cj
 
For you personally, this is a great opportunity. Not only do you get to be in a rapidly expanding industry w/ great resume fodder, you will be able to tell people stories about the company, whether it fails or not. Dont look back and go all in. And no thats not a sex joke.

Dont waste that shit
 
^youre raelly representing for the retarded graphic.

*********************************************************

Jules: Whoa... whoa... whoa... stop right there. Eatin' a bitch out, and givin' a bitch a foot massage ain't even the same fuckin' thing.

Vincent: Not the same thing, the same ballpark.

Jules: It ain't no ballpark either. Look maybe your method of massage differs from mine, but touchin' his lady's feet, and stickin' your tongue in her holyiest of holies, ain't the same ballpark, ain't the same league, ain't even the same fuckin' sport. Foot massages don't mean shit.

Vincent: Have you ever given a foot massage?

Jules: Don't be tellin' me about foot massages - I'm the foot fuckin' master.

Vincent: Given a lot of 'em?

Jules: Shit yeah. I got my technique down man, I don't tickle or nothin'.

Vincent: Have you ever given a guy a foot massage?

Jules: Fuck you.

Vincent: How many?

Jules: Fuck you.

Vincent: Would you give me a foot massage? I'm kinda tired.

Jules: Man, you best back off, I'm gittin' pissed.

BFSC.... we do it froggy style

 
in my opinion the reason skis are being sold today is because of the pro team...example armada... they have a sick team...people buy their shit... it would be very hard to build a company without the $$ to have a good team

still waters run deep
 
PRICE AND WARRENTY thats all that matters for the people on here that buy there own equipment

-jason-

freedom, tolerance, love and peace
 
^ i dont think thats true. look how many comparison threads there are. performance matters most to me. Then i will shop around for the best price, and yes i do buy my own equiptment too.

PLEATH! SNOWBEH! NO!!!
 
o yeah i know performence is a huge concern and i didnt mean to pass it up. im just saying whats the point at spending $675 for armadas when you can get a pair of k2s for a few hundred dollars cheaper, is it really worht the extra $300

-jason-

freedom, tolerance, love and peace
 
Durabiltiy is number one. Warrenty is number 2 and Price is number 3.

_______________________________

What is the colour of a mirror?

'Fear is your only god' - Zach Dela Rocha

NS hockey pool champion: 2003

www.theeasyrider.com
 
dude you should totally go for it man, they should be durable, sick skis with kickass warantee.. it should also be nice and stiff with some crazy pop and good construction so it doesn't delam and shit.. it would be sick man

Smoking pot leads to uhh... I forget.

What time is it... saturday?

50 nuts in your mothafuckin' mouth
 
1.) Should I? With all the new companies that have been started up in the last two years, do you guys think there is room for another U.S. based ski company dedicated to the future of the sport?

Yes.

2.) What is most important to you guys: team, advertising, warranty, durability, price, graphics, made in the u.s.a., shape and flex, construction, online vs. physical store availability (would you buy without seeing/flexing the ski) anything else you can think of

Price, graphics, durability are most important to me. Performance is a little bit of it. If they totally suck noone will buy them.

3.) Would you be interested in the capability to have your own custom graphic for a small fee?

If it was really a small fee like no more than 50 dollars.

4.) Just throw in your two cents. What would you like to see if you had input on a ski company, because you do.

Try to do something really original that noone else is doing that will set your skis apart from the rest. The customizeable graphic is one of those things.

FARP Trailer

'Simply put, the greatest trailer ever'- Resnick13

FARP Forum

www.FARP.tk
 
i dont think it would be realistic to make it so you could put your own design on a ski. I imagine it costs a bit more then 50 cold ones to put one on. But if you had the ski designs already set to be on the ski and they could place them in areas designated. and let them choose the colors they want for it all. But i still seeing that would be super tough. sick though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i sure would like to rest ... but the energy gets the best of me. its been a wild ride i wouldnt change a minute i cant slow down inside guess thats why i live it

-311-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
absolutely man go for it, thats the whole reason i ride lines, because they are all about the sport, not the $$, i think kids in todays society are coming to there own, rossi is still puttin out some pretty sweet shit, but if 4 frnt was the same price as head or salo in a shop id grab the 4frnts, jus cuz they are small and there still in it for the skiers, about the custom graphic, real real sweet idea, but realisticly it would be hard, because if you get popular you'll hardly have time to put out skis with the same design, much less than puttin cust. designs on EVERY pair of skis. sick idea tho, i alway wanted a naked chik on my skis~ You really have to look at everything VERY relistically, i started my own clothing company, Jibhouse Clothing thinking it would blow up, and i can pretty much guarantee you havent even heard of it, you just really have to remember EVERYTHING costs money. Its a hella hard industry to survive in but its growing so you never know. but if you got the $$$$ i go for it, if nothing else u get a little glimpse inside the ski industry-

good luck

 
1.) I would, but from a career stand point I have absolutly nothing to loose, maybe you do??

2.) warranty, durability, price, graphics, shape and flex, construction, and company attitude top the list for me

3.) Hell yes I'd pay extra to have my topsheet

4.) if you do start up listen to your customers and honor you warrenty, and good luck man.

 
I didnt read the other posts, so i dunno if anyone already said it, but a compay called Igneous(sp*) went under a few years ago. they did the whole custom deal, flex, size, and even graphics. i think the graphics part would be sick, id make a collage of naked chicks...soo hot. but ya, definately make this new company. and most important for me would be how they ride, just get them out there for demos and youll sell

************

Member Number 189

'Said she likes me, she said she need me, she wants to see me...I'm the shiiit.' N E R D

 
make a rail ski for cheap, everyone is always looking for a second pair of skis for rails and such that is not 600$

'Keep on rocking in the free world'
 
you could make a ski company if you know the right people and you have a lot of money to throw around. you better find a shit load of pros and give them all a pair of skis to fuck around with. i rode with steele for two weeks and the whole time he was wearin a pair of 4frnts that matt sturbenz gave to him and anytime people asked about the ski he would give them his opinion. lucky for 4frnt is was that he really liked em, but the point is that when people hear shit like that from someone like steele who knows what he's talkin about, they get sucked in. ya follow.

 
igneous is still goin, single orders, but they are still goin, its just tough to make it, all you see is the companys that do make it, not the ones that fail

skiings about going out and charging every day, no matter how good you are-

j miller
 
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