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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Whats going on with Orage?

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vinnypaz
Posts: 146 - Karma: 540
They drop b-dog and pretty much the whole team, but signed Callum and Bushy.

Are they trying to reorient the brand image?
9 years ago
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,744
Fun Fact Tatum is now on TNF.
9 years ago
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Pachankz
Posts: 729 - Karma: 838
Brocka_FlockaFun Fact Tatum is now on TNF.


How is this girl a pro? Besides the marketable looks , someone please point me to a segment that shows she's got game. No Ingrid Backstrom here .
9 years ago
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SBCSkier
Posts: 96 - Karma: 1,853
PachankzHow is this girl a pro? Besides the marketable looks , someone please point me to a segment that shows she's got game. No Ingrid Backstrom here .


http://sbcskier.com/tatummonod-seasonedit/
9 years ago
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Pachankz
Posts: 729 - Karma: 838
SBCSkierhttp://sbcskier.com/tatummonod-seasonedit/


I stand corrected, she is pretty good no doubt. I had a lack of exposure to her skiing.
9 years ago
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
PachankzI stand corrected, she is pretty good no doubt. I had a lack of exposure to her skiing.


dude she effin rips. You could have watched any edit of hers from the last two years and found that out yourself. Probably the best female skier out right now?
9 years ago
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bmlong08
Posts: 1 - Karma: 12
Banane.Well they stop making Gore fabric Jacket, too bad, one of my all time fav it's their Jp Auclair pro model....

I don't know what's up whit them, but I saw someone the other the other day at my job and he had a new jacket, which was, really sick, the fit was on point and the P20 membrane look really good.

An another note, They opened a shop in Montreal,LE chalet Orage I think, didn't had the chance to swing by, but it's on my list this week. I won't buy anything since I'm working at TNF, but still, they make nice stuff normally


So what happened is the original owners bought back the company because they didn't like the direction Orage was going. Too much in every single direction of skiing (park, big mountain, life style, resort.) They're trying to focus in and get back to their roots I guess.
9 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22738 - Karma: 77,008
bmlong08So what happened is the original owners bought back the company because they didn't like the direction Orage was going. Too much in every single direction of skiing (park, big mountain, life style, resort.) They're trying to focus in and get back to their roots I guess.


Other piece of information: Orage was actually originally founded as a brand much more focused on BC riding and performance outerwear. It was a few years down the line they moved into the Newschool scene and sponsored Rex Thomas.

I heard about them first working at Mountain Equipment Co-Op in another life back in 2000.
9 years ago
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kmurphs
Posts: 23 - Karma: 2
heres my quick 10 cents worth.

Bdog and harlaut are two of the most dynamic, stylish and interesting skiers to watch in the world, their style is one of a kind.

I dont know much about orage as a company myself but just by looking at their new gear for this year you can see that it has taken a serious turn to the arc'teryx, patagonia, mountain hardware, just backcountry gear in general side of things rather than the whole park rat scene.

even though bdog is one of the most recognized people in the skiing world, when youd first ask someone who hes sponsored by the most well known and probably most prominent answer would be armada, his bdog skis are unreal. so looking at it from a perspective of a ceo that needs to keep his job and make money for his company, bdog may have not been worth it, he may have not been what they wanted him to be within the company.

secondly, they seem to have turned to the all mountain side of skiing as opposed to the park side of things. the all mountain side is un disputably an exponentially bigger market, exponentially bigger. thats not to say that park skiing isnt a big market, but its to say that when i go to my local hill with my fellow park skiing/snowboarding friends the ratio of saga to northface/helly hansen/saloman/head is not a very strong one. park skiing is the bread and butter to companies like saga and others like them but to north face, park skiing is not a very big income earner. i dont know if this is what orage is trying to do but its a possibility.
9 years ago
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446
BenWhitwhen is the last time you ate at McDonald's, Chipotle, ate a bag of Doritos... etc. etc.


It's funny you ask this. For myself and I hope more and more people are actually becoming more mindful about where they get their goods.

As far as ski gear is concerned, I don't want to buy the Rubbermaid CEOs another vacation house, I would rather support brands the are going to put the money back into this community that is so dear to me.

Also to answer your question I have yet to support any major corporation with my business this year.
9 years ago
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446
LUPTONAlso to answer your question I have yet to support any major corporation with my business this year.


Aw crap, scratch that. I had to get a new buckle for my dalbello boot, I also bought some Tropicana orange juice. and some tortillas.
9 years ago
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dropinoutofschol
Posts: 265 - Karma: 905
Mr.BishopOther piece of information: Orage was actually originally founded as a brand much more focused on BC riding and performance outerwear. It was a few years down the line they moved into the Newschool scene and sponsored Rex Thomas.

I heard about them first working at Mountain Equipment Co-Op in another life back in 2000.


I might be wrong but haven't they always been an east coast company? I've always had that vibe from them and with their base in Montreal that was what always fit for me.

I think it's pretty hard to make jackets for the west coast of it only originates with skiing out east.
9 years ago
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deet
Posts: 246 - Karma: 665
Not sure how up to date Casabon's website is but there is no mention of Orage anymore and only a brand called CL-95 outerwear...
http://philcasabon.com/bio/
9 years ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22738 - Karma: 77,008
ScottBI might be wrong but haven't they always been an east coast company? I've always had that vibe from them and with their base in Montreal that was what always fit for me.

I think it's pretty hard to make jackets for the west coast of it only originates with skiing out east.


Based in Quebec for sure, but they were around for a few years before any of us were conscious of them in the Newschool scene. As mentioned, they were bigtime focused on outdoor / performance.
9 years ago
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cydwhit
Posts: 5079 - Karma: 43,074
I mean, wow, as much as I liked the old Orage, that new team is pretty pimp. Really cool people on board....
9 years ago
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jrfowler
Posts: 2 - Karma: 12
Talked to a local shop (Fresh sports) that carries orage and they said that orage had planned on releasing a 3L type fabric that would rival goretex for cheaper but weren't satisfied with the production quality of it so they scrapped it for this year.
9 years ago
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DP*
Posts: 2872 - Karma: 1,065
BDOG now rides for cl-95 with their ugly hype $600 goretex jackets hopefully his pro model is dope but not pricy.
9 years ago
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,744
Well C-LO is gone...
9 years ago
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Tumbili
Posts: 7 - Karma: 48
The latest from the horse's mouth: http://orage.com/blog/for-immediate-release/
9 years ago
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skiara.
Posts: 670 - Karma: 1,710
Banane.Well they stop making Gore fabric Jacket, too bad, one of my all time fav it's their Jp Auclair pro model....

I don't know what's up whit them, but I saw someone the other the other day at my job and he had a new jacket, which was, really sick, the fit was on point and the P20 membrane look really good.

An another note, They opened a shop in Montreal,LE chalet Orage I think, didn't had the chance to swing by, but it's on my list this week. I won't buy anything since I'm working at TNF, but still, they make nice stuff normally


That was a cool story...
9 years ago
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
skiara.That was a cool story...


... I know, I wish I was cool like you tho, Too bad, my mom don't sponsor me
9 years ago
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VANULAR
Posts: 1930 - Karma: 5,131
The referenced post has been removed.


I'm still on flow for Orage
9 years ago
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McLS
Posts: 1987 - Karma: 6,455
well shit didnt know about that :( i agree orage was never super new school oriented but they did make some awesome tall hoodies and jackets thanks to skiers like Phil and Will, my fav jacket is the 14 bdog still rock it and you dont get much comfier and taller hoodies than "the box" meh sucks imo cant wait to see where phil goes, probs armada right? well maybe itll be good for armada outerwear which absolutely sucks this year
9 years ago
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SkiLefley
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 954
saskskierOrage has had a huge part in building the foundation for our sport. Remember the Orage Masters? Possibly the greatest contest ever (with the exception of maybe JOI).

To the best of my knowledge, they are still one of (if not the only) freestyle ski outerwear companies that hasn't ever sponsored snowboarders (not counting more race-oriented companies like Phenix, Spyder, etc).

I mean Tomahawk sponsors skateboarders. Jiberish, Saga and Virtika sponsor snowboarders. What makes them better than a company that has been in it since the beginning?

So, they are shifting priorities or target market? So they are changing up their team? How about we wait until we get some more info from the company itself we toss one of the OG companies of freestyle skiing under the bus?


Armada??
9 years ago
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
SkiLefleyArmada??


Okay. Armada. I wasn't really trying to make a comprehensive list, but rather trying to make the point that the companies that people commonly quote as being 'core' have interests outside of skiing.

Really, I just don't like the idea of thinking 'core' companies are better or more committed to skiing than big companies. We need both in order for the sport to grow.
9 years ago
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
That's just pure marketing and business right here, we'll have to wait a bit to see if it was a good move or not.

Still the idea that they're gonna sell the Bdog pro model and make tons of money with it while Phil isn't even on the team anymore just sounds weak to me. And considering half of the BE Inspired movie is already filmed, Orage will still have their products seen in a lot of the shots, but that's just details.
9 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
At the end of the day Orage needs to make money. Their new team is super high profile, and reaches a larger audience, with more expendable income. B-dog is great if you want to sell one silly jacket, and some hoodies. I think they have bigger goals.
9 years ago
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yeahmon
Posts: 481 - Karma: 276
Damn I just bought some Orage pants like a week ago, I feel like a fucking fool
9 years ago
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Can't wait to see next years stuff tho, hope they coming out whit touring/backcountry stuff like the retallack/jp auclair jacket
9 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61954 - Karma: 126,693
Do people really care this much about who rides for what company? I'm not trying to be a dick, seriously interested.

Do people not care about the product or the quality? color ways? design? Just the riders or what?
9 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
eheathDo people really care this much about who rides for what company? I'm not trying to be a dick, seriously interested.

Do people not care about the product or the quality? color ways? design? Just the riders or what?


Well, you are talking to a group of people that will suck the dick of a new brand by virtue of how cool their team is, before their is any proof of a good product.

How many shit ski manufacturers has NS jerked off that are no longer around?
9 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61954 - Karma: 126,693
SessionWell, you are talking to a group of people that will suck the dick of a new brand by virtue of how cool their team is, before their is any proof of a good product.

How many shit ski manufacturers has NS jerked off that are no longer around?


Yeah I suppose its more than just this thread too, I see threads all the time people saying who they think should ride for who and when someone gets picked up by a certain brand, they are disappointed. Just trying to understand :)
9 years ago
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LethalDescent
Posts: 275 - Karma: 939
I remember when HH did a similar rebrand 5 or so years ago. They literally dropped their ENTIRE team and decided to market only to "mountain professionals" (read: vail resorts, interwest, aspen mtn etc...). Seems crazy, but they are doing just fine...

When it comes down to it, supporting skiing (where support = money, as in this case) is a function of business. In the end, a company does what it does to make money. That's how companies work.

However, it's the PEOPLE within those companies that support skiing and skiing culture. Mike Nick was obviously the heart of Orage freeskiing. Why do you think Armada has such a stacked team? They have a super "core" group of employees.

The mid price point freeskiing market they were in is a super tough market. It's saturated with ten thousand companies and the bulk of their customers likely have never even hear of Will Wesson. They market to the core (the only ones who consume ski marketing) but their customer base isn't core -- they are casual skiers with high incomes.

It's a shame to see money getting pulled from guys like Casabon, true innovators. But I have a hard time being upset about this. It's just the ebb and flow.
9 years ago
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 6003 - Karma: 3,694
eheathDo people really care this much about who rides for what company? I'm not trying to be a dick, seriously interested.

Do people not care about the product or the quality? color ways? design? Just the riders or what?


Maybe they truly believe the riders influence the product. It's not that orage has a nice jacket but their team sucks so they decide not to support them. It's that orage drops bdog, whose style they adore, and they don't think the company will produce any dope looking stuff anymore.a lot of the complaints do seem to be that their new stuff looks like arcteryx.
9 years ago
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,257
LethalDescentI remember when HH did a similar rebrand 5 or so years ago. They literally dropped their ENTIRE team and decided to market only to "mountain professionals" (read: vail resorts, interwest, aspen mtn etc...). Seems crazy, but they are doing just fine...

When it comes down to it, supporting skiing (where support = money, as in this case) is a function of business. In the end, a company does what it does to make money. That's how companies work.

However, it's the PEOPLE within those companies that support skiing and skiing culture. Mike Nick was obviously the heart of Orage freeskiing. Why do you think Armada has such a stacked team? They have a super "core" group of employees.

The mid price point freeskiing market they were in is a super tough market. It's saturated with ten thousand companies and the bulk of their customers likely have never even hear of Will Wesson. They market to the core (the only ones who consume ski marketing) but their customer base isn't core -- they are casual skiers with high incomes.

It's a shame to see money getting pulled from guys like Casabon, true innovators. But I have a hard time being upset about this. It's just the ebb and flow.


/thread
9 years ago
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Park_Ranger
Posts: 3825 - Karma: 8,635
I can't believe that they dropped Phil Casabon... PHIL FUCKING CASABON... yet Brooke Potter is still listed on their team page. Sad to know that looking good in lifestyle shots is more important to this brand than supporting true talent.
9 years ago
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,257
Park_RangerI can't believe that they dropped Phil Casabon... PHIL FUCKING CASABON... yet Brooke Potter is still listed on their team page. Sad to know that looking good in lifestyle shots is more important to this brand than supporting true talent.


your anger is misdirected.
9 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
The referenced post has been removed.


Well in the case of a brand like Orage, like I stated. they are looking for a demographic with actual money to spend on their product line. Not a few kids looking for a hideous puffy, and a hoodie.

For a newer brand, i think it's best to dial your product and brand before you try and build a team that would make kids with no income salivate.Atthe end of the day your product speaks louder than some dude on a permanent vacation with a sponsorship.
9 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61954 - Karma: 126,693
Park_RangerI can't believe that they dropped Phil Casabon... PHIL FUCKING CASABON... yet Brooke Potter is still listed on their team page. Sad to know that looking good in lifestyle shots is more important to this brand than supporting true talent.


Lol okay I get it now
9 years ago
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
Im kinda happy to hear that they are gonna be getting back into the tech and make jackets that can perform well. Early to mid 2000s orage was on point. The JP line was sick as fuck.
9 years ago
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Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
Mr.BishopOther piece of information: Orage was actually originally founded as a brand much more focused on BC riding and performance outerwear. It was a few years down the line they moved into the Newschool scene and sponsored Rex Thomas.

I heard about them first working at Mountain Equipment Co-Op in another life back in 2000.


Back around that time Jeff Thomas(Theory3/Poor Boyz/Salomon) made up a bunch of "mixtape" CDs for marketing swag. I had the green one, but IIRC the blue was better. Oh and their BC rep(Sue?) was smoking hot.
I still have my 2000 Orage fleece. I only wear it on the coldest of days.
9 years ago
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BobbyColosseum
Posts: 31 - Karma: -1
turning orange bro
9 years ago
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closeyetfar11
Posts: 387 - Karma: 1,079
Gee, another company riding whatever wave is currently trendy & profitable in skiing.

Don't get me wrong; I understand the underlying concept of a company is to make money. That being said I will not support this new move, for reasons I think everyone has touched on above.



Vote with your pocketbook.
9 years ago
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StokeFactor
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,012
eheathDo people really care this much about who rides for what company? I'm not trying to be a dick, seriously interested.

Do people not care about the product or the quality? color ways? design? Just the riders or what?


You're a filmmaker working with pros most of the time and you're an adult. Now put yourself at the place of a kid or teenager who recently started freeskiing and that is trying to identify himself in this newly found passion. Of course you're gonna choose your outerwear to ressemble the best athletes in the sport. Style and design that you like will also be defined mostly by what these pros are wearing.

Tbh the only thing that stopped me from buying a bdog jacket when I was 15 was the price lol.
9 years ago
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gwhitey
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 312
Can another company pick up the idea of the orage masters please... don't care much about the whole team droppage, They'll find a new home quickly, i'm sure. This contest should be a yearly trait of the sport.
9 years ago
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,788
Why target the kids that have to ask their parents for gear when you could target the parents themselves? More people can relate to and dream about pow and mountains, even if they're not shredding big lines themselves.

Other than teenagers and early 20s (without a whole lot of their own money to spend), how many people are really going to get excited about seeing baggy gear on a park rat unless they actually already follow the sport?

Not hard to understand the marketing logic, just kind of sucks for those involved in the switch.
9 years ago
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shishkababy
Posts: 114 - Karma: 112
Other people have already touched on this point but it's understandable coming from a business point of view. This is a stereotype that definitely doesn't apply to everyone, but most park skiers are gonna be younger guys who don't have as high an income as older BC skiers/aren't as willing to drop cash on the expensive ass stuff Orage makes.

Another thing to point out is that Orage has almost always been more backcountry oriented. Back in like '06-'07 when I first bought Orage gear, their team was way more BC than park focused.

That being said though, the shitty thing is that even if you're trying to run a profitable business, you should still keep it personal and treat your whole team with respect. It sounds like Orage kind of blindsided the people they dropped. I don't know the whole story though so I don't want to pass too much judgement but it doesn't seem cool from a personal point of view.
9 years ago
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AlexMartini
Posts: 2990 - Karma: 1,943
"Elyse, Rory and Callum will be joining Orage veterans Banks Gilberti and Andrew Whiteford to form one of our most diverse and exciting teams ever."

oozing with diversity
9 years ago
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Z.J.H.
Posts: 842 - Karma: 1,541
eheathDo people really care this much about who rides for what company? I'm not trying to be a dick, seriously interested.

Do people not care about the product or the quality? color ways? design? Just the riders or what?


I think the difference is in how they went about it. Dropping a whole team with no notice is a shitty thing to do.
9 years ago
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