SOL | The Beast 3.0

The Beast 3.0

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: What you are about to read is of ambiguous origins. Please understand that none of the following words should be taken seriously, as they are most likely complete works of fiction. Any similarities between the companies and people listed in the Beast and the snowboard industry in general is purely coincidental.

RANDOM & RECKLESS

FROM OUR RE-CREATING THE WHEEL FILE: "We are not worried about creating a standard in the snowboarding industry or even competing with it. Our motivation is to create something that has never been done before. If you notice your boot, you're doing something wrong." -- A guy from a major Northwest footwear company regarding their plans for the snowboard market.

"This market is a lot smaller than people on the outside think. And some people are going to find out the hard way." --A So. Cal. snowboard clothing company owner.

"It's a man's world." --A SF Bay Area marketing person after a meeting regarding women's boards.

ALASKAN SALOMON RUN

The snow's pretty bad (it's raining and everything is green), but that hasn't stopped Brad Steward and the Salomon crew from whipping out the fresh boards for a late-season media/retailer bro-job at Alyeska, Alaska June 10-14. Included in the attendees were teamriders, reps, and players from the top 30 snowboard shops in North America. According to insiders the getting-to-know you session went well. Just don't call the boards Bonfire. Seems Salomon just loves their name too much to give it up. We wonder what else they're going to love too much?

STIMULATION

On Board Entertainment (OBE) has hired Stimilon to build the big air jump for their demo out in San Francisco, August 1st at the Shoreline Amphitheater. According to Stimilon's Dave Olcott the jump will be the largest man made non-snow jump built in North America. "We are designing it out of scaffolding, covering it with snowcarpeting (similar to Astroturf) and blowing crushed ice on it with a cherry on top! 19,000 seats." Gee, sounds like the Evil Kenevil days are just around the corner.

AVALANCHE ENTERS THE RACE

Fresh out of their 1997-98 strategy meeting on June 13, Avalanche announced they've decided to build race boards for next season. Gearing up for the Olympics, perhaps? Maybe. They'll be testing their new boards at Windell's Camp at Mt. Hood in mid-July. If you're there you might catch a glimpse of the new boards.

JARO FLIES

A couple rumor words from the front lines at Jaro: relationship break-up, accusations of money skimming, buy-out offers, $38,000 checks, lawyers, big disputes. Sounds like a great episode for Salem 97301.

WEBBED

K2 is in the middle of a complete website re-design at www.k2sports.com. We can all look for their new site to be up with all their new product by the first of August.

MERVIN MARRIAGE MONTH

The Week of July 20-27 is marriage week at Mervin Manufacturing. Graphic Designer Sean Donnel and Sales Manager Troy Depuydt are getting married. No, in spite of the incestuousness of the Mervin factory, they are not marrying each other. They've have chosen to go outside the tight-knit clan for some good women (which is a great idea if you've ever spent time with the Bent Metal Maniacs). So who's doing the bachelor party? You might want to consider the guys who designed your ISPO booth. Or are they creating the proper mood for the wedding ceremonies.

WAVE WAVE

Say good-bye to Wave Rave's Trey Cook, he's officially left the company to work in South America as a mountain guide. Definitely putting those marketing skills to work. We have one question: how do you guide where you've never been before?

SWITCH-A-ROO

Shanti Sosienski, formerly feature editor of TransWorld Snowboarding Business, is now the official SOL Snowboarding Online cheerleader. Aside from whipping the snowboarding industry into a frenzy over SOL, she'll be writing, traveling, and kicking down the scoop from around the world.

Sal Masekela, formerly of TWS and Planet Earth, is the new team manager for BOKS, Reebok's snow, skate, surf shoe division.

Jeff Grell has left the offices of C.E. Sports producers of the American Pro Snowboard Series, but none of us know where he's gone. Anyone have a clue?

Debbie Murphy, recently left Neptune Manufacturing (where she worked for about a month) for her new job at Sims Snowboards.

Seems like nearly every team manager in the world is gunning for potential openings at Nike and Burton. The funny thing is, neither of them are hiring. Fancy that.

Spill all you want, we'll add more.