The Beast 1.0

That said, let us also add that we would never include anything in the Beast that we didn't hear from a "reliable source." In other words, we don't make up this crap. We are, however, quite familiar with the unreliability of reliable sources. To quote a truck driver we know: "If the sign says Fine Dining, it's usually neither."

We'd be happy to hear any news you have regarding the snowboard industry. We prefer the dark, evil stuff, but who doesn't. Sources will be kept anonymous until death. You have our word on it. Send tips to: [email protected].

SKI LETTER SAYS SNOWBOARD SALES "SLOW": HOW IRONIC

In the May 6 issue of The Ski Industry Letter, Greg Berry says, "Business in snowboards is beginning to slow down. With most of the orders in, many manufacturers are concerned that the snowboard market will be roughly even." Barry went on to quote K2's Tim Pettrick (skier), and Nale's (Elan) Nat Otis who said strangely that, "We have all the same problems that the ski industry has. We have carryover, closeout, and product on the shelves."

What about the snowboard industry people? Well Berry didn't ask them, but we did. Burton's Dennis Jenson said that their sales were "significantly up." Morrow president Dennis Shelton reported a 62 percent growth in Morrow-brand pre-season orders. Ride's numbers are up as well. In fact, most top brands saw an increase in sales for the 1996-97 season.

But hey, why should Greg Berry quote anyone from a non-ski-owned snowboard company? It's The Ski Industry Letter. There's nothing the ski industry likes better than talking trash about snowboarding.

RIDE SUES SWITCH: A FIGHT IN THE FAMILY

Those searching for the inside scoop regarding the lawsuit filed on April 2, 1996 by Ride's Preston Binding division against Switch Manufacturing have stumbled across the following rumors:

Switch's side of the story is as follows: Ride made an offer to buy Switch earlier in the year. Switch said no. When Switch shut them down Ride began talks with Mark Raines and Gregory Deeney about their patent. They saw Mark Raines step-in binding patent (which has been shopped around the industry unsuccessfully since the patent was granted) and allegedly thought it would be a great way to force Switch into a situation that would make them a little more eager to sell-out.

Apparently, after buying the patent which one industry big-wig described as, "Pretty much useless at this point in binding evolution," Ride again allegedly approached Switch at the ISPO show and said, "Now we own your patent so we're going to make you one last offer." Switch again turned them down. A while later the suit was filed.

The official position from Scott Benner, Ride's General Counsel is that Switch is infringing on Mark and Gregory's patent. "This really isn't about anything other than the fact that we're trying to protect some technology that we believe will be important to the development of future products."

In a press release that you can read in the Industry section of SOL Tim Pogue, Ride's President said, "Switch is attempting to paint this suit as David vs. Goliath. Truth be told, the real Davids here are Mark Raines and Greg Deeney, two investors who's patent Switch infringes." Asked about the buy-out rumors Benner said, "I talked to a person that attended the meetings with Switch and I can tell you that we've never made an offer to buy them."

Switch has posted all documents relating to the case on their web page at http://www.switch-sf.com/legalindex.html. And for the latest Ride information via fax call the PRNewswire fax-back service at: (800) 758-5804 and enter 107866 at the prompt.

THE WISDOM OF SALOMON?

So what do you do if you're a huge French tennis, golf, ski, and snowboard company and you want some great snowboarders to ride your stuff?

Well, you pay them. And you pay them outrageously well. We can't even quote what they offered Terje, but they recently offered another Burton rider a $140,000 a year salary to ride their stuff. As one industry insider said, "They're coming in with all this golf and tennis money and they're going to buy everyone and win the Olympics and they think that's going to put them on the map."

Actually, we don't disagree. There's nothing that can't be done with great product, great marketing, and a dump-load of cash. Guess everyone runs scared with the big money comes blowing into a small sport.

TRADING PLACES

Gaylene Nagel is no longer Sims marketing director. She left the building on Monday April 29. So far she has no currently plans--just cruising the scene. Seeing what's up. So Gaylene, when do we get to see some of those photos?

Bryce Kanights former photo editor of Thrasher Magazine has taken the job of team manager for the Switch Manufacturing team. "Bryce will be bringing his film and photography skills to the job with an eye on recruiting some world class riders," says Patrick Brennan, Switch's marketing director.

Debbie Murphy is now the former PR/Media person at Ride Snowboards. She left the company in what is being called a "post-Dorfman Report" down-sizing which has claimed at least six other employees that we know of. Dan Dorfman (what a perfect name) reported that Ride stock would slide down to $5 a share by the end of the year. But then, what does he know. Debbie is now Marketing Manager of Neptune Manufacturing.

Brett and Michelle Johnson are gone from Apocalypse after doing an incredible job with the graphics and marketing on the 1997 line. No word on their current whereabouts.

Trey Cook, el presidente of Wave Rave Snowboard Clothing, has left the building. He's had a good time but he wants to move on. Several large Northwest companies both in and out of the snowboard industry appear to be interested in Mr. Cook's talents. Good luck, Trey.

Dennis Jenson and Eric Kotch are leaving Burton at the end of August. No one knows where they're going, or why. The Burton staff was having a meeting and after it was over Kotch said he had something to say. Then after Kotch finished, Jenson said he had something to say as well. Hmm, anyone want to be Burton Team manager? Eric Kotch says he was just getting burned on his job. "I'm not tired of snowboarding, I just want to do some other stuff," he told us. "I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do and it's going to go off like a bang. That's all I can say at this point." Dennis apparently wants to get a job in corporate America where he can get paid more to manage people, lecture, and snowboard more often.

And, over at Snowboarder Magazine, managing editor Jeff Galbraith, has thrown in the editorial towel and says he's taking the month of May to vacation in Ketchum, Idaho where he will fish, write fiction, and plot out ways to overthrow the ski industry power structure. And yes, he'll still be writing for Snowboarder as well as working on a secret project with Chris Brunkhart, Walter Sims, and others. It's called The Mothership and it may be a magazine, or web site, or something even weirder.

Marvin Jarret, publisher of Ray Gun, Bikini, and Huh? is actively searching for someone to edit his new snowboarding magazine called Stick. Already on the program are Scott Clum as art director and Trevor Graves as a possible photo editor. Several employees of other magazines are currently be courted by the Santa Monica based magazine kingpin. So far there have been no takers.

THE END

That's all for now. Let us know if we caused grief. We're just hoping someone throws another steak in the cave.