McLean, VA – The U.S. retail snow sports market topped $4.5 billion in 2014-15, according to numbers released this week by the non-profit industry trade association SnowSports Industries America (SIA). That reflects a two percent increase over 2013-14, SIA researchers indicate. Split up by retail channel, chain stores had a great year, tallying $2.2 billion, up 13 … Continue reading U.S. Retail Snow Sports Market Tops $4.5 Billion
Victoria, BC – The death of a Brazilian exchange student on Grouse Mountain near Vancouver in 2013 has prompted the British Columbia Coroner’s Service to call for mandatory ski helmet use throughout the province. “Though it remains unclear if the use of a helmet may have prevented life-threatening traumatic brain injury in Luca’s case, it is … Continue reading B.C. Coroner Calls for Mandatory Ski Helmets for All
Salt Lake City, UT – Black Diamond Equipment has sold ski helmet, goggle and other protective gear brand POC to the private equity firm Investcorp for $65 million. The sale continues Black Diamond’s initiative announced last March to focus on its Black Diamond and PIEPS brands. Black Diamond first acquired POC in July 2012 for … Continue reading Black Diamond Sells POC to Private Equity Firm
Sydney, Australia – A Sydney-area company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund development of what may be the world’s smartest ski helmet ever… and the most expensive. Forcite’s new $799 brain bucket includes a built-in 4K camera system with a 140-degree field of view to shoot ultra-high definition video, a bluetooth wireless audio system … Continue reading Kickstarter Campaign Launched for Pricey High-Tech Ski Helmet
Annecy, France – Be searchable! That is the message to all visitors at the French film festival High Five, set for today through Sunday in Annecy. Each screening begins with a short film from RECCO where the French snowboard legend Xavier De Le Rue and Austrian freeskier and film producer Sandra Lahnsteiner show what they bring to be … Continue reading Avalanche Awareness Highlighted at High Five Film Festival
Hood River, OR – TREW, Inc. launched their new 2015-16 collection of performance outdoor apparel on Monday, the company’s first collection developed within their direct-only sales model. Company officials indicate that by connecting directly to consumers, TREW is able to deliver market-leading product and improve the speed-to-market of new materials and technologies, while maintaining an even higher level … Continue reading Ski Apparel Brand TREW Turns to Direct Sales
Baar/Straubing, Germany – Ski gear maker Marker Völkl has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the Dalbello Group, a family-owned Italian company that has been making ski boots since 1974. “Dalbello has many of the same attractive business characteristics as Marker Völkl, including a leading market position in its core categories, a loyal customer base, … Continue reading Marker Völkl Buys Ski Boot Maker Dalbello
