Thread: ski bidness to get organized for backcountry

dirtbags react with deer-in-headlights looks:
http://business.transworld.net/11423...ountry-trends/

"Deadweight convenes in attempt to stay relevant" starting with the reporter

Nearly every attendee could tell a story of skiers or snowboarders going through backcountry gates unprepared—sans avalanche gear, with skins on incorrectly,

How do you put skins on incorrectly?

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

How do you put skins on incorrectly?

tail on tip, tip on tail. people don't go very far. alot like SIA marketing.

Wow. That's kind of amazing.

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

How do you put skins on incorrectly?

Skins first, then toke.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

tail on tip, tip on tail.

Downhill switch ski touring in the front seat is the next big thing.

PM Rog.

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

How do you put skins on incorrectly?

Carpet to bases, glue to snow.

I think I know what the ski bidness "uniform" is....

"Sanders already plans to take a group of key dealers on a backcountry adventure to help teach them what to put in a pack for a day trip, how to use a beacon, probe and shovel, and what it’s like to skin up a mountain."


He should really make a nice training video, for the lulzs.

wait wait wait wait!!!!!!! we - the dirt bag ski bums or dbsb for short - are the true bearers of the dirtbag moniker!!!! those suits with dolla signs over their hearts are scumbags!!!

ok - a quick primer - dirt settles down - scum floats to the top!!!!!!!

puttin the dirt in the bag since the 1900's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More than a little scary that SIA discusses how to take sales advantage and mainstream a segment that has so many unknowns and potential deadly outcomes. They ought to be sponsoring free avy, mtn rescue , first aid classes. Less strategic talk on how to get more people out there and buying gear. In the last few seasons, been bumping into many solo Skull Candy thumping geared out folks in my favorite spots At least maybe this clears out my favorite inbounds hike to spots. my $0.02

More than a little scary that SIA discusses how to take sales advantage and mainstream a segment that has so many unknowns and potential deadly outcomes

Is it really any different than downhill MTB, motocross, etc. that are heavily advertised too though? Plenty of dangerous activities out there. Encourage safety yes, but I don't really have a problem with companies trying to capitalize on increased customer demand. It's not their fault if someone uses their product negligently and gets themselves killed. Is it a car manufacturers fault if someone drives like a moron?

I mean with the price of resort skiing these days, it makes sense more people are looking at backcountry as an alternative. And let's be honest, true touring requires fitness and work, disqualifying the vast majority of resort skiers and Americans in general. Yeah you might see more people, and therefore more stupid people, in easy access slackcountry and road pass terrain, but walk a bit further and a bit higher and there's plenty of West out there that's inaccessible to out of shape stoners.

Originally Posted by MiCol

More than a little scary that SIA discusses how to take sales advantage and mainstream a segment that has so many unknowns and potential deadly outcomes. They ought to be sponsoring free avy, mtn rescue , first aid classes. Less strategic talk on how to get more people out there and buying gear. In the last few seasons, been bumping into many solo Skull Candy thumping geared out folks in my favorite spots At least maybe this clears out my favorite inbounds hike to spots. my $0.02

Nail on the head.

i mean weve all been new to the backcountry, but saw some kid last week on the skin track screaming and almost crying because he couldnt get up a short steep section. alas a fresh split board package, no partners around, no beacon, and asking strangers to help him up the slope. we coached him through it then i put a new skin track around him. i mean this skin track was pretty steep, and had some shitty turns in it, but maybe go try the SMALLER SLOPE THATS RIGHT OVER THERE FOR YOUR FIRST TIME BRO. TOO BAD FUCKIN DICKS SPORTING GOODS DIDNT TELL YOU TO STEP THROUGH YOUR HEEL AND KEEP A GOOD POSTURE AND NOW I HAVE TO AND YOURE GETTING IN THE WAY OF MY LAPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSSS

Backcountry skiing is way safer than DH biking.

Sent from my DROID4 using TGR Forums

Originally Posted by BurkeBC

i mean weve all been new to the backcountry

But at least we didn't wear gaiters.

Originally Posted by Vt-Freeheel

But at least we didn't wear gaiters.

I thought gaitors were a PNW staple! Oh wait that's only for the snow walkers aka "mountaineers" around here.

Originally Posted by powski3

I thought gaitors were a PNW staple! Oh wait that's only for the snow walkers aka "mountaineers" around here.

Don't you guys have "the old, bearded tele skier?"



That guy loves gaiters too.

Originally Posted by powski3

walk a bit further and a bit higher and there's plenty of West out there that's inaccessible to out of shape stoners.

And when you get there, I'll be waiting for you with a bowl packed

Originally Posted by MiCol

In the last few seasons, been bumping into many solo Skull Candy thumping geared out folks in my favorite spots At least maybe this clears out my favorite inbounds hike to spots. my $0.02

Oh no they didn't! Those are MY zones! I invented those spots! Who said all these people can come all by themselves, wearing better gear than me, and listening to tunes in MY territory?

Originally Posted by MiCol

More than a little scary that SIA discusses how to take sales advantage and mainstream a segment that has so many unknowns and potential deadly outcomes. They ought to be sponsoring free avy, mtn rescue , first aid classes. Less strategic talk on how to get more people out there and buying gear. In the last few seasons, been bumping into many solo Skull Candy thumping geared out folks in my favorite spots At least maybe this clears out my favorite inbounds hike to spots. my $0.02

Actually, what you describe was the main focus of the discussion.

Oh no they didn't! Those are MY zones! I invented those spots! Who said all these people can come all by themselves, wearing better gear than me, and listening to tunes in MY territory?

Yep, a lot of this, think about the children!!!! safety talk is really just disguised territorial protectionism. Stay off my wave dude you aren't safe enough to be out here! On one hand I definitely get that and don't get me wrong there are tons of morons out there who are a danger to themselves and others, but at the same time it's public land and just because people are new to the sport doesn't mean they can't be just as safe, if not more so. Most avalanche deaths are experienced backcountry skiers anyway, not novices. So maybe it's a little bit of the let's criticize those "other" guys to reinforce the "It can't happen to me because I'm so experienced" rationalization.

More backcountry users could also equal better visibility and funding for avalanche centers, gear innovation, and support for conservation against rampant development such as Skilink.

Originally Posted by Summit

Backcountry skiing is way safer than DH biking.

Sent from my DROID4 using TGR Forums

I disagree, at least from a binary life/death perspective.


Commercializing backcountry skiing is indeed scary, but maybe it could lead to increased awareness. Anyway, I think the easy access sidecountry terrain like EV and 9990 should be the biggest concern here. Not too many casual uneducated skiers are willing to walk up a mountain more than once, but people at ski areas can be most lethal to themselves and those surrounding them, especially with the increased traffic.

Things sure have changed in the last twenty years since I moved out west from NJ. There is a growing market but it will never be as big as motor sports and the like. I miss the old days but the growing popularity has led to new gear advancements that I wouldn't give up now.

We used to boot pack everywhere, try that for a tour. Next came the Trekkers, that wasn't much better really. Now, well it's a whole different ball game, if it wasn't for a booming user group and new demand we wouldn't have the kind of gear we enjoy now.

Like everything in life it's a catch 22, it is what it is, cliche I know but it is what it is. I like the idea that the leaders in bc gear development actually had a meeting to try and be more responsible with their marketing and keep people as safe and educated as possible. I think it says something about this sport, maybe, or I am just reaching for something good to say? IDK