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Salomon dying?

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thebusiness19
Posts: 794 - Karma: 6,715
Salomon has lost Dane Tudor, Sammy Carlson, Simon Dumont, Paul Bergeron, Ben Moxham, and Charles Gagnier. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that VinniCash just rocks Salomon skis but actually has no contract with them. So their team only now has like Bobby Brown, Mike Henituck, Cody Townshend, Toto Krief, Noah Albadejo, Noah Bowman, and Henrik Winstedt Wtf? Why are they letting all their athletes leave? Did they over invest in building a super team just to lose everybody? Are they going down the pipeline like Coreupt? They used to have the best team in the biz, but they haven't grown the team at all to make up for losing those athletes. Even Coreupt was adding guys like Dale and Rolland when they were losing guys like Schiller and Kenworthy.
Oct 19 2012 3:49PM
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GrabsForFun
Posts: 1378 - Karma: 396
Just like most people in this thread I wouldn´t buy Salomon skis. I´ve heard too much bad stuff of them. But I do have a pair of Salomon boots and they are great. Absolutly love them
Oct 20 2012 10:06AM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
salomon hey...?
Oct 20 2012 1:02PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
salomon hasn't been in racing for a while now

they still make the best damn bindings on the market, period, no question about it. 916s trump every other high din system around
Oct 20 2012 1:24PM
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Session
Posts: 5316 - Karma: 21,349
Honestly, kids more interested in trading Jiberish are such a tiny market segment for a company like Salomon. Companies like this make huge money from rental fleets. Most people with money are more in to the all mountain/side/slack/backcountry. It makes sense to strategically target the people with money.

I can only speculate that Scott offered Dane Tudor a ridiculous amount of money so that they could break in to that market more.
Oct 20 2012 1:33PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12808 - Karma: 1,945
yep, so happy they brought the 916 (or sth16 steel) back. also the guardians look really promissing, low stack height and seem solid.
Oct 20 2012 1:39PM
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ctownsend
Posts: 48 - Karma: 166
Always comical to see a "I know the industry better than you do thread". First off, if you think Salomon is a major corporation doing deals with Enron and Goldman Sachs, I'll happily introduce you all to the about 10 people that work for the company in the US...who do skip work on pow days too. If you think Salomon is wholly motivated by profit and greed, then I'll show you the spreadsheets where the Salomon Shoe divisions are making money hand over fist and the big wigs of the company are taking that money and pumping it into skiing (i.e. Poor Boys, MSP, Freeski Tv, R&D, Jib Academy) because they are a ski company at heart and support the ski industry much more than many indy brands do. What ever your opinion is of the product and team so be it, I'm personally bummed Daneis left and think the Rocker2 line is the most fun line-up of skis I've ever skied on, but don't try to act like you know what the internal workings are of a company on the basis that you went to SIA once. End rant.
Oct 20 2012 1:53PM
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STwoops
Posts: 2941 - Karma: 5,126
served
Oct 20 2012 1:59PM
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tbayskier
Posts: 1136 - Karma: 1,639
false. FKS takes the cake man. I've skied both, the release on FKS is better.  If you wanna dispute that, just watch Dumonts xgames runs from a few years ago when his skis fell off for no reason.  FKS does not fall off randomly, but release exactly when you need it. I love those bindings.

That said, it is pretty awesome clicking into Salomons and having a nice big "whump" sound haha. The actual performance when you're clicked in just isn't as good as the FKS however.
Oct 20 2012 2:02PM
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thebusiness19
Posts: 794 - Karma: 6,715
Yeah, sorry, I was just making an observation that they were losing a lot of athletes and wanted to know whats up
Oct 20 2012 2:04PM
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Gstrong
Posts: 4776 - Karma: 518
the only salomon product that i have or ever will ever buy will be bindings.
Oct 20 2012 2:12PM
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powderdrunkie
Posts: 2034 - Karma: 976
hahaha! the only pair of bindings that have ever broken for me and my friends have been salomons.
Oct 20 2012 2:42PM
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Puns
Posts: 2052 - Karma: 429
yeah and I think he's on Canadas national team looking towards the olympics?
Oct 20 2012 3:28PM
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UncleGerry
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 1,377
The suspects are super fun! I have a couple of buddies who are both directly and indirectly sponsored by Salomon and I have been getting hooked up for the past couple of years out here in Tahoe...
I had the suspects, shoguns, and Rocker2's last season and it was the most baller setup that you could ask for. People just hate because they love to hate. Or they are shitty skiers.
The skier makes the ski what it is, not the other way around.
Oct 20 2012 3:29PM
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
I thought I was the only one with that problem with the sth binding letting go for no reason. I have had it happen twice in the 7 days we had enough snow to bust out the pow skis last year.

I feel definitely Solomon has room for improvement. I do like love my spk's but god damn I break a buckle every god damn year. I have also seen a lot of Salomon skis just get destroyed and delam after a very short period of time. I czars have held up for the 7 days of pow that I've used them.
Oct 20 2012 4:50PM
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kvan
Posts: 3083 - Karma: 1,208
They make nice socks..
Oct 20 2012 5:07PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Isn't this old news from almost a year ago? Amer apparently wants Atomic to be the freestyle/freeride brand and Salomon the recreational and "backcountry" brand.
Oct 20 2012 5:13PM
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ctownsend
Posts: 48 - Karma: 166
Since when do holding companies determine branding and brand directives?
Oct 20 2012 5:34PM
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KLovelace
Posts: 2118 - Karma: 289
ha
Oct 20 2012 6:28PM
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jfp
Posts: 684 - Karma: 318
Let's talk about abmas opiate addiction.
Oct 20 2012 9:21PM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
they definitely have less athletes, but their focus is much more on the products and providing the best to the normal, non pro skiers. plus if you ever watch freeski tv, you know theyre on the top of the game as far as big mountain goes.
Oct 20 2012 10:10PM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,953
Interesting. I think I'd beleive this over anything else. Just look at their website and what they are advertising these days. Pow skis, trail running shoes, hiking boots, down jackets. They're trying to change their reputation and corner a new part of the outdoor recreation market, and that means cuts in other less important aspects of the company. Smart business move too- a lot more money in the pockets of the older demographic that enjoys the outdoorsy stuff than with the youngins in the park.
Oct 20 2012 10:43PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12808 - Karma: 1,945
note, that no one said the STH bindings were great...they wear out after awhile. now the 916 is a whole different animal, by far the most durable and reliable binding on the market.
Oct 21 2012 12:19AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
Its certainly true to say that Salomon is getting out of the park market, really who can blame them. There is no real money there. Brands like Line and Armada can do it as thats all they do, but for a brand like salomon, pumping loads of money into the park sector when it brings them a tiny percentage to say they rental division or mom and dad skis makes no sense.

But they still have a team capable of a podium at major events, so they will be represented.

They make some of the best boots and bindings on the market, they have great pow skis like the Rocker 122 and 115, and they also have some exciting park skis on the way. Wait for the Slab park

Salomon are certainly still relevant but for pure park skiers there will always be more core brands.
Oct 21 2012 12:56AM
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ktd619
Posts: 927 - Karma: 96
All I know, is that this is probably the best pow edit I've ever seen.
Oct 21 2012 1:02AM
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Just_Send_It
Posts: 4758 - Karma: 971
yes, you are the only one.
seriously.
Oct 21 2012 1:04AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,043
^no hes not, there actually a great park ski, if you can go big enough to get the most from them.
Oct 21 2012 1:06AM
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rzarector
Posts: 590 - Karma: 70
I had a pair of dumonts from 08 or something and after 1 season they looked like the bases had been run over by a lawnmower and almost all the edges were missing. first and last thing I bought from them.
Oct 21 2012 1:13AM
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rzarector
Posts: 590 - Karma: 70
only skiing in the park
Oct 21 2012 1:14AM
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benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988
If you think a company makes shitty skis then don't buy them, it's cool to see a lot of smaller companies making great skis but you don't have to knock Salomon for 'being in it for the profit', all businesses are. I don't know anyone who likes red bull but they still put a ton of money into the sports we like. Their webisode series is one of the best out, at least remember they put money back into our sport. I'm not saying you should buy their skis or equipment because of this but you shouldn't say they're some big evil company
Oct 21 2012 1:27AM
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blindside
Posts: 5619 - Karma: 1,199
But parent companies do. As far as I've found, Salomon group doesn't even have a CEO, meaning an Amer appointed board of directors is likely making those decisions for the company.
Oct 21 2012 1:44AM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Nah man, Mica Heliskiing was. The music, the shots, the location, were all premium and flowed well with each other. I'd post it but I'm on mobile x_x
Oct 21 2012 1:11PM
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K-Thomas
Posts: 2700 - Karma: 604
I understand they lost some big names in the past year or two, but look at their team currently. It's still pretty damn solid. They've got some of the best big mountain rippers in Abma, Windstedt, and Townsend and still have dude's who crush the park ie. Godbout, Brown, Woodsy, Walker, Chowens, Martini and pipe dude Krief. I'd say that's one hell of a team.
Oct 22 2012 11:51AM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I hope salomon park skis die
Oct 22 2012 1:33PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Did you tried them ? One of the best park ski Imo, suspect are really sick and 2012 are even better
Oct 22 2012 1:41PM
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Jpurd
Posts: 3196 - Karma: 3,554
Not to mention the fact that they have only two types of "park" skis, one of which absolutely sucks...
Oct 22 2012 1:43PM
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jcmalman8
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10

As the Salomon TM I will jump in here to say just a few things:

1. we don't expect everyone to like our gear all the time. that's a fight that nobody can win. as is clear from this thread, most really like at least one thing that Salomon makes, while a few don't. as the #1 boot company in the world, the #2 binding company, and the #5 ski company, i think we're doing okay. we have more new fresh gear coming every year, innovation is at an all time high.

2. part of the business of sports marketing/athlete sponsorship is that athletes move around. it's just the way it works. Simon and Sammy made personal decisions to leave Salomon last year, how'd things work out for them after they left Salomon? Dane left on his own accord, he was ready to try new things and be a company's #1 big mountain guy. we couldn't offer him that b/c we treat everyone equally. he did what was best for him, there are no hard feelings. again, it's part of the business. we will continue to support park and pipe athletes and make park and pipe equipment, it just isn't our primary focus from a freeski perspective. we share the spotlight now with BC and big mountain. safe to say we have some killer new park and pipe equipment in the pipeline for folks like Noah, Bobby, Vincent, Alexi, AJ, Thomas Krief, Woodsy, Martini, Walker, Meg Gunning, Dara Howell, Jamieson Irvine, most of the Team GB, etc etc

3. all businesses are looking to make a profit. that's business 101 for you. making profits doesn't mean you're selling out, it means you're doing a good job in running a business

4. we are all skiers, regardless of whether we lap the park, ski the big lines, or carve the groomers. appreciate one another, share the stoke, don't be a hater. at the end of the day, we're just talking about skiing. and if you can't appreciate Salomon for what they've brought to the industry in the past 20 years, then you're not paying attention to what's really going on.

Cheers

Oct 22 2012 2:38PM
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lands11
Posts: 1818 - Karma: 1,677
I had suspects for the last two year, each yeah they were that current years skis. Before that I had Dumont's. I have nothing good to say about all three of those pair of skis. The only thing they did good was fall apart. I will never buy another pair of salomon skis again.
Oct 22 2012 2:51PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

Hahaha SERVED- and with some poutine on the side too!  I love Salomon Freeski TV and don't see Solly falling off anytime soon.  How could they?  They have a great rep, great products and some of the most solid athletes on the damn planet.  If' that's failing, shit man I want to fail!     

That said, I'd love it if you introdiced me to the cocksquad that allowed the original Quest's LT toe pieces to hit the market haha I'd buy them a beer...  And smash it over their fkn head lol... 

Oct 22 2012 2:58PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

Well to each his own, really.  I LOVE FKS and really like the positive feel of them- I feel most connected and closest to the ski on them out of any I've tried.  I also have friends that swear up and down for life by the STH binders though and there's really not all that much functionally different about them until you get to the heel.  They're both sick, I just like the elasticity and feel of the turntables on the FKS.  I mean, the elasticity virtually eliminates pre-release but that's not to say the STH is prone to pre-release because it doesn't have it, y'know? 

I wouldn't say the release is *better* per se, just different. 

Oct 22 2012 3:04PM
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Melvs
Posts: 15174 - Karma: 480
I say this from the bottom of my heart...Fuck Salomon.

They make the jankiest, most low quality equipment around. In my opinion buying something made by Salomon is dangerous and akin to playing russian roulette... Why do I say this?

Their binding broke under completely normal usage, the ski blew off in a no fall zone and the resulting fall almost killed one of my best friends. Turns out it was a known problem with the bindings and he wasn't not he only one who got injured because of it.

Before that I watched a friend / (at the time) pro skier DELAMINATE 2 brand new pairs of their 'top of the line' skis in one weekend, and he wasn't even pushing it hard. Then they made him rivet the tips / tails because they wouldn't send him more pairs.

Then there was the amazing 'edge armor' innovation that instead of making edges stronger, made them blow out on a regular basis. And then they tried to pretend it wasn't their fault...

Then there is just about every rental shop in the world who got tricked into buying Salomon skis... long story short rental fleets that usually last 2 years were gone in half a season because they broke so often and everyone I know that worked with them refuses to touch anything made by Salomon ever again.

So fuck everything about Salomon, except for making the original 1080s. That was the only good thing they have done for our sport in years.

If you want to disagree, go ahead and gamble with you're life but you've been warned.
Oct 22 2012 3:22PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7808 - Karma: 1,414
Amen.
Oct 22 2012 4:01PM
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jimmydar
Posts: 852 - Karma: 1,629
i personally cant stand their bindings, would much rather have markers or rossis.
Oct 22 2012 4:05PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
This thread brought me my daily humor. I love how kids on NS equate paying premadonna's a check with a companies success. I own multiple pairs of skis, including Salomon's, that range from small 'core' (I hate that word) companies to big 'corporate' companies. I have a blast on all of them. That said, if I was going to spend money on a pair of skis (I don't) I would rather spend it on a pair of Salomons than Moments. Mainly because the Sally's will likely last longer and not have the bindings rip out. oh, and I will still use dukes over Guardians, since the idea of insta-tele does not appeal to me. /start shit storm.
Oct 22 2012 4:05PM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
Sorry, but this is false as well. Watch the XGames from 2 years ago I believe and you will see 2-3 instances where skiers in half-pipe lose their skis from pre-release on their FKS setup. This may be the same year you are referencing with Dumont. This just goes to show you that most of the time binding malfunctions are the result of a technical issue when they are setup by a technician. The Tyrolia and Salomon bindings performed alot better allowing the skiers to finish their runs.
Oct 22 2012 4:32PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,564
and Amba, Andreas Fransson,Mike Douglas, Chris Rubens, Kaj Zackrisson

That's still a pretty stacked team
Oct 22 2012 4:51PM
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