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K2 to buy Karhu and Line Skis

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tsmag
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
News posted on www.telemarkskier.com...

"In a stunning piece of news, K2 will soon announce the coming acquisition of the Line Skis business and exclusive rights to the Karhu North American Nordic and Telemark brand from TrakSportsUSA. The news represents a major shakeup in the telemark world, where acquisitions, at least among the ski companies, have been few and far between."

More here: http://www.telemarkskier.com/by_contributors/gephart_graham/k2_karhu.php
Jun 1 2006 2:35PM
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dan.b
Posts: 866 - Karma: 10
that suck...
Jun 1 2006 2:42PM
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powder4breakfast
Posts: 386 - Karma: 69
I think its funny.
Jun 1 2006 2:45PM
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deathcookie
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 1,196
will the same 2006 line skis still be coming out?
Jun 1 2006 2:47PM
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ride_switch
Posts: 586 - Karma: 22
I just read part of the article, it said that the skis are going to be all one kind, their will still be line and Karhu. That sucks, but maybe the construction will be better, but who knows.
Jun 1 2006 2:50PM
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tsmag
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
More info... Line and Karhu will remain completely independent brands under the K2 Sports umbrella. No shared tooling, molds, etc. Line will still be Line.
Jun 1 2006 2:51PM
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Liam.
Posts: 5172 - Karma: 21
thats weird
look forward to seeing what comes out
Jun 1 2006 2:52PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
Why the hell would they buy line? That is like buying a car rolling towards a cliff right before it goes off the edge. Line is not in any way a decent enough competitor to be bought out. Or hell, I'll take the metaphor one step farther- K2 buying Line is like buying a slave with smallpox. It is just going to infect and fuck up all the good shit you have working for you. I'm ok with k2 and Volkl being together, but fuck Line.
Jun 1 2006 2:53PM
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skiinscotland
Posts: 644 - Karma: 10
its better for the industry,it means theres will be more money for line ect.
Jun 1 2006 2:54PM
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4frntSkier
Posts: 4008 - Karma: 143
yeah but the first core freeride company would no longer be core

not that i like line at all
Jun 1 2006 2:56PM
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twintipteles
Posts: 2954 - Karma: 13
Line is still putting out alot of dope shit. the only reason people don't like them is because they take risks on new technologies and sometimes they pay off, and sometimes they get burned. The bottom line is that Line has always put it's ass on the line to bring us the best skis it possibly can at the lowest possible price. Karhu is dope too.
Jun 1 2006 3:00PM
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tsmag
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
Only a matter of time before someone lamented the loss of a "core" company.

That's ridiculous.

Line will still be focused on the newschoolers market. And K2 Sports will have a brand that can be 100% devoted to that market.
Jun 1 2006 3:01PM
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Fairview
Posts: 430 - Karma: 33
Obviously you're an industry insider. Moron.
Jun 1 2006 3:02PM
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Mr.Bob_Dobalina
Posts: 2442 - Karma: 36
hopefully it will help lines construction. personally, i have never been even close to impressed with the construction of line's skis.
Jun 1 2006 3:03PM
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JohnnyOldGuy
Posts: 350 - Karma: 35
That and Mr. Levinthal just probably made an ass-ton of money
Jun 1 2006 3:03PM
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robbieA
Posts: 1371 - Karma: 30
u sir are retarded...in no way shape or form is line as bad as u make it out to be. they have sick innovative products that some of the best people ride on...just cuz they had a problem with a binding and with delaminating doesnt mean their about to "drop off a cliff."
Jun 1 2006 3:08PM
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cko
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 31
Monday, June 5 at 10pm EST Line's J Lev will join us in Ski Gabber to answer your questions and comments about the news.
Jun 1 2006 3:19PM
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Rom
Posts: 193 - Karma: 10
very nice chris, are you going to do a front page article as well?
Jun 1 2006 3:21PM
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cko
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 31
I'm putting the official press release up now, but we'll also do a recap of the Q&A session once that goes down.
Jun 1 2006 3:24PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
yeah, you are probably right. We should all support a company that puts out shitty products because they are core. Fuck the man, lets buy some skis with a bad track record because they put their money into inovations that fail, lose money, and then have to move to China, which seriously sacrifices quality. Yes, I am aware that K2 moved to China also. I still don't like it. People should support a company because it's products are superior to anothers, not because it is fashionable, "core" or for any other reasons. I buy Volkl because Volkl makes bomb shit, end of story. If Volkl fucks shit up and sacrifices quality as a result of moving to China (which I hear they might do), I will not blindly follow and support them with my hard earned money.
Jun 1 2006 3:26PM
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mummphry
Posts: 5 - Karma: 10
"yeah, you are probably right. We should all support a company that puts out shitty products because they are core. Fuck the man, lets buy some skis with a bad track record because they put their money into inovations that fail, lose money, and then have to move to China, which seriously sacrifices quality. Yes, I am aware that K2 moved to China also. I still don't like it. People should support a company because it's products are superior to anothers, not because it is fashionable, "core" or for any other reasons. I buy Volkl because Volkl makes bomb shit, end of story. If Volkl fucks shit up and sacrifices quality as a result of moving to China (which I hear they might do), I will not blindly follow and support them with my hard earned money."

Idiot. K2 owns Volkl.

Jun 1 2006 3:32PM
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Fairview
Posts: 430 - Karma: 33
See, maybe in your opinion they have a bad track record. But that doesn't make it so. In my opinion, volkl has horrid quality. I've seen more than my share of them break. So by your logic, they're a totally shitty company that nobody should support.
Jun 1 2006 3:33PM
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robbieA
Posts: 1371 - Karma: 30
their skis dont lack quality at all...the invader had some problems but thats to be expected with a 300 dollar ski...all their other stuff rides awsome, i definatley dont ride line cuz its the fasionable thing to do. i cant see how their products r shitty. u have failed to say anything specific as to why their so shitty. all u say is theyre a core company and moved to china so theyre gay
Jun 1 2006 3:34PM
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Fashion_Geek
Posts: 157 - Karma: 53
I have a hard time seeing that happen.... They business will slowing grow to be the same...
Jun 1 2006 3:36PM
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Rom
Posts: 193 - Karma: 10
Jun 1 2006 3:36PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
Did you read this thread? look at my post further up where I address that! My whole point is that it was a bad idea for K2 to buy Line! I talk about how I am ok with them owning Volkl, but that Line is a company with a bad track record that isn't enough of a competetor to justify buying them. In my opinion, K2 should have hung Line out to dry. Line is and has been going down hill, why bother buying them and saving them?
Jun 1 2006 3:36PM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
cool, because im not exactly happy about this move.
Jun 1 2006 3:39PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
Look, this whole this is getting to be ridiculous. You have blatantly missed my entire arguement. I said that I don't support any company because they are core or fashionable. I don't care that Line is or was "core". Fuck being core, give me a ski that is worth the money I spend on it. With all of the shit that people have been through with Line- the invader issue (OH WAIT, I THOUGHT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LOVED ABOUT LINE WAS THAT THEY HAD SUCH GOOD PRODUCTS AT A LOW PRICE! Now you come off saying "well that is to be expected with a $300 ski), the issue with lots of Chronic Wides delaming, the bindings sucking, the list goes on and on- it doesn't make sense for K2 to buy them and pull them out of the trash.
Jun 1 2006 3:41PM
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MarkieR
Posts: 5337 - Karma: 98
i like line. i'm glad they are part of a bigger company with more adequate funding. sure, line skis kinda fell apart during their first few years, and the invaders were a bust, but chronics are bomb like the money and so are all of the prophet series. they are solid and ride really well. i have tons of respect for line. maybe now they will be able to put their reliablitiy issues to rest with more funding. best of luck line!
Jun 1 2006 3:41PM
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mattwalker
Posts: 5063 - Karma: 2,478
so Line fucked a binding with a great idea up, but had a lot of potential and ONE of Lines 10 models had delaming problems because of an ink problem in the factory?? My invaders lasted almost 2 months, and I ride a big park everyday, my Chronics are still good from when i mounted them jan 10th... my Anthems are still in perfect condition and I have skied on them everyday for 3 months... the ONLY major flaw with line in the last few years was the binding, o they fucked up trying to make a binding that would save everybody's ACLs... damn. You are making Line sound horrible, if your gonna talk shit on a company, talk shit on a company that actually has bad problems... L_ _ _ _ _ _... as for China, do you know how many companies are producing skis in either CHina or Mexico (mexico is in my opinion worse...) besides a few getting manufactured in canada and europe (dynastar) still, and High Society in the US, EVERYBODY! and k2 was the first to move there, which is where VOLKL is made too... the way i see it is that Line has been trying to make solid skis, cheap for the last 10 years, and trying to further the sport, and occasionally they fuck up, but everybodys skis have atleast 1 big problem every once in a while
Jun 1 2006 3:52PM
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Mahre
Posts: 2507 - Karma: 490
this shit was necessary for "the plan"
Jun 1 2006 3:59PM
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JTK
Posts: 1695 - Karma: 73
k2 shoulda bought ninthward instead

haha but seriously i hope Line can still sorta operate as they have been doing a pretty good job in my opinion, and hopefully can benefit by getting their skis in more shops with k2s distribution.... im looking forward to seeing what Jason has to say.
Jun 1 2006 4:06PM
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robbieA
Posts: 1371 - Karma: 30
wut he said
Jun 1 2006 4:11PM
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brizz
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 74
Decisions like these are driven by money and profitability, not how last years skis preformed. K2 wants to expand its market share and found companies that were available in markets where they wanted to get grow. It's not personal its just business
Jun 1 2006 4:15PM
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mattwalker
Posts: 5063 - Karma: 2,478
has anybody bothered to think of how sick k2/lines team is now... u got pollard, pep, andy, ashley, michelle, and becker all on the same team... the best BC and women out there...
Jun 1 2006 4:25PM
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JTK
Posts: 1695 - Karma: 73
what about all those young guns too mr walker!
Jun 1 2006 4:26PM
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Malczyk
Posts: 1433 - Karma: 1,880
yeah, this is probably true, k2 is becoming the burton of the ski world (if they didnt make snowboards, oh well). as for macro (big) ski companies, k2 makes the dope shit, example, the fugatives with the graphite base and topsheet, thats hot.
Jun 1 2006 4:31PM
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lowtech
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 10
line has improved a lot over the years. i ride some now and they're sick
Jun 1 2006 5:11PM
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ski@jaypeak2
Posts: 2800 - Karma: 394
Line skis are the only twin tips i have ever bought, from the original skogens, the dark blue ones with the ship on the back, to the invaders this year...keep on rocking line....AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STAY IN BURLINGTON!!!!
Jun 1 2006 5:13PM
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wh@t
Posts: 6204 - Karma: 52
word
Jun 1 2006 5:22PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,753
Just to note - some, but not all, volkls are still made in Europe.

Regarding this whole thing...I am not that surprised. k2 owns so much shit, not just skiing, but paintball, snowshowing, backpack companies, etc, etc.

I bet they will still continue to produce line skis. line has gone thru some shit the past few years, and now they will have the financial backing to keep going. Line has been producing much better stuff (besides the issues with the invader recently) and hopefully they will continue to do so.

Everyone talking about them selling out and such...whatever. Line did so much for the sport before this all happened. Calling them a sell out now is BS. Jason wouldn't have sold the company unless he felt it was the best move for skiing. Line will be able to continue making skis now and not worry about the financial sturggles of running a smaller, non-corporation ski company.

To Line, this will hopefully only result in better skis due to increased funds for R&D and materials (not to mention it costs 1/3 as much to produce skis in China...saving more money to spend on R&D and better materials). To K2...jesus, K2 is getting big. I don't think this is going to be as negative as everyone seems to think.

PLus...if you really want to support companies that are independent you still have a bunch out there.
Jun 1 2006 5:31PM
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ski_cartel
Posts: 6598 - Karma: 18
fuck, you have no idea about line skis or the indusry on a whole. Line is and has been turing out product that has lead the indusry in parts. They represent a huge part of the market, a part that K2 wants in on. By buying line they start to get a strangle hold on the freestyle section of the industry. Next time befor you open your mouth about something you clearly know nothing about do us all a favor and shut up.
Jun 1 2006 5:59PM
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Kevo
Posts: 2374 - Karma: 136
I read the article, and I understand how K2 wants that segment of the market. I understand that they like the corner of the market that Line has. Still though, K2 could have just revamped their own skis or just continued to do what they are doing. I'm not sure how much longer Line would be around without this move, and then K2 would have gotten a significant portion of that market share anyway. With this move, K2 gets that segment of the market right away, but they have to deal with all the hassle of restructuring.

My whole point was that this has the potential to be way better for Line than it is for K2, assuming that Line will still independently devolop their own products. Yes my metaphors were harsh, and yeah I overgeneralized and was harsh on line. My motives (justified or not) were the following- It pisses me off when people blindly support any company because of the companies image or because that company is percieved as "core". So many people will back Line regardless of how well their products hold up.
Jun 1 2006 6:26PM
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japanair
Posts: 441 - Karma: 40
Don't worry, there's a Burlington in Washington state too.
Jun 1 2006 6:29PM
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ski_cartel
Posts: 6598 - Karma: 18
i agree with the point you made about how some people buy things because they are "core", but I think that K2 plans to use that to their advantage. Think about all the 12 and 13 year olds who do that, they have acess to daddy's credit card which should mean big money for K2. Yes they have alot to rebuild, but in the long run it should be more than worth it.
Jun 1 2006 7:57PM
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