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Guess who is making Skis in China?

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Fashion_Geek
Posts: 157 - Karma: 53
I just saw a new pair of Volkl Gotama's in the Sports Den in Salt Lake and I was checking out the new tail profile.... And there it was, "Made in China" sticker on the tail. It looks like K2 is pull all the stops and having most of there skis made by "lil hands in China"....
Aug 25 2006 1:15PM
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heavywinter
Posts: 229 - Karma: 224
But are the prices the same as if they are still being made in Germany?

That's gotta be a hell of a margin for retail shops.
Aug 25 2006 1:21PM
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eheath
Posts: 61652 - Karma: 123,517
K2 and volkl aren't related?
Aug 25 2006 1:22PM
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stevel
Posts: 1302 - Karma: 19
beeing an ex racer i used to ski on volkl but when they started makign them i switched to fisher
Aug 25 2006 1:24PM
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Fashion_Geek
Posts: 157 - Karma: 53
Yes, yes they are....
Aug 25 2006 1:27PM
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jayrock
Posts: 146 - Karma: 11
Really....how are they related??
Aug 25 2006 1:33PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
agreed, My only thing with China is that from talking to K@ employees, my wedding planner's husband is a vp, the factory on China is the world's largest, most tech, most efficent ski factory ever. The technology being used there and quality they can churn out for a $400 price tag is great. Wanna dog a factory, dog solomon, they sell there skis for a lot and make them cheaper than anyone, ever heard the $50 1080 production rumours.
Aug 25 2006 1:36PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
k2, Volkl, marker, technica, this is circa 2002 or so.
Aug 25 2006 1:37PM
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jayrock
Posts: 146 - Karma: 11
What all the same company?? K2 owns them all?
Aug 25 2006 1:41PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Yes K2 sports owns K2 skis, Nordica, Volkle, Technica, Marker, Line, Karhu and some other non ski companies.
Aug 25 2006 1:47PM
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nothanks
Posts: 13551 - Karma: 31
http://www.k2inc.net/
Aug 25 2006 1:49PM
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eheath
Posts: 61652 - Karma: 123,517
Hm i had no idea they owned volkl.
Aug 25 2006 1:52PM
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linds-o-rama
Posts: 652 - Karma: 9
I actually just read that there is a shift in manufacturing (overall, not just hard goods) from China to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Apparently China just increased their manufacturing prices across the board 10%.

curious? http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20093811-36375,00.html
Aug 25 2006 1:52PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Chinese are getting more smarter, uh oh!
Aug 25 2006 1:57PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
They probably have better gramer theny you too.
Aug 25 2006 2:00PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
Tool, get the joke.
Aug 25 2006 2:02PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
if you are going to pick on someone make sure you have spelled it right too.
Aug 25 2006 2:08PM
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reezyfbaby
Posts: 2308 - Karma: 13
the chinese factories have tougher standars, better engineering and a higher commitment to quality.... so who cares?
Aug 25 2006 2:10PM
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Fashion_Geek
Posts: 157 - Karma: 53
I am not saying that the factories in china are bad at all. I am just suprised that a company as strong as Volkl would go to china from Germany.... China is the way of the future... All the bike companies that have moved there have been for the better.
Aug 25 2006 2:14PM
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Spritz
Posts: 1162 - Karma: 12
wow, i've never realized how much K2 owns
Aug 25 2006 2:14PM
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stevel
Posts: 1302 - Karma: 19
good point those germans were probly getting lazy
Aug 25 2006 2:15PM
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Fashion_Geek
Posts: 157 - Karma: 53
K2 inc is HUGE!!!! They own a lot of different things....
Aug 25 2006 2:15PM
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HermioneGranger
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 101
exactly
Aug 25 2006 3:46PM
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reezyfbaby
Posts: 2308 - Karma: 13
whatever... when i raced i rode fischers too, and i think they were made is austria, and they'e the sickest race skis ever, im not saying those factories are any worse. i just think for the freeskiing market durability is placed over the precision of a ski, and for that the chinese brand of ski engineering is more then adequate.
Aug 25 2006 4:22PM
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wrenegade
Posts: 6631 - Karma: 41
Made in China doesn't mean its cheap crap anymore. There are a lot of quality products that are made in China now, and have been for the past 5 or even 10 years.

Made in Sri Lanka, made in Indonessia, made in Laos? not so much.
Aug 25 2006 4:50PM
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jp_draves
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 37
wow K2 even owns like 4 paintball companies
Aug 25 2006 4:53PM
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DeSena
Posts: 4126 - Karma: 1,352
Imperial Chinese take out food?
Aug 25 2006 4:57PM
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UrbanRider
Posts: 265 - Karma: 10
man i had no idea k2 was such a huge company...who ever owns it must be loaded
Aug 25 2006 5:07PM
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Schoening
Posts: 14332 - Karma: 1,268
gosh heath your suchaaaaaaa newbbbbbb
Aug 25 2006 5:14PM
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steezerampage
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 214
I'll post it again. This is from free skier last years October issue.

K2 Inc
K2 skis, k2 skates, k2 bikes, rawlings, morrow, volkl, marker, ride, fiftyonefifty, liquid, marmot, earth products, debeer, dana design, brass eagle, viewloader, Jt usa, wgp, atlas, tubbs, ex officio, pfleuger, worth, shakespeare

Amer sports
sunto, Atomic( which also owns oxygen, volant and dynamic), Wilson, Salomon( which also wons Bonfire Apparel, Arc'teryx, Mavic, cliche, and precor(which owns clubcom and fitness products int'l)

Quiksilver
DC shoes, Roxy, Hawk Clothing, Fidra, island soul, raisins, radio fiji, Mervin( which owns Lib tech, Gnu, and Bent metel) and the Rossignol group which is made up of Rossignol, Dynastar, Look, Lange, Kerma, and Cleveland Golf
Aug 25 2006 7:53PM
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gregor
Posts: 1069 - Karma: 83
Salomon have THE lowest contruction costs in the industry.

They produce skis with such poor quality materials it's criminal.

And its always been like that. Even in like 1995.

Not impressed. I wish people would rise above all their promotional bullshit.
Aug 25 2006 8:04PM
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bp.lando
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 1,495
you think that's crazy. K2 owns me
Aug 25 2006 8:52PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
and all three of them are owned by the same company if im not mistaken
Aug 25 2006 9:07PM
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dlite!
Posts: 1194 - Karma: 87
gay 2 owns everything
Aug 25 2006 9:10PM
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poofartpee
Posts: 7436 - Karma: 1,538
k2 ownes volkl
Aug 25 2006 9:17PM
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720laxskier
Posts: 2428 - Karma: 5
ahhhhhh, just dont buy their shit
Aug 25 2006 9:21PM
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mntelebumper
Posts: 1287 - Karma: 10
Yea they are. K2 bought Volkl out.
Aug 25 2006 11:02PM
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Mt_P0wDerJuNkIe
Posts: 1506 - Karma: 58
maybe the prices will drop
Aug 25 2006 11:10PM
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Me_Gusta_Esquiar
Posts: 216 - Karma: 10
k2's prices are pretty low, the PE, Fujative and Silencer are cheap as far as twins go. I wouldnt mind if the price of volkls dropped, though
Aug 25 2006 11:17PM
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DBrinto
Posts: 101 - Karma: 10
Maybe we'll start getting fourtune cookies with our skies. umm... that was gay...  nevermind.
Aug 25 2006 11:26PM
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Jake...
Posts: 11976 - Karma: 296
THIS IS GOLD. wait till i tell luc!
Aug 25 2006 11:28PM
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ccampbe77
Posts: 41 - Karma: 10
k2 owns sooo many companies its rediculous... they pretty much own the world
Aug 25 2006 11:32PM
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steezerampage
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 214
There is a theory that all the companys in the world are owned by Six huge companys that cant leagely exist, but they are there.
Aug 26 2006 1:17PM
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awsome_mccool
Posts: 256 - Karma: 21
what the hell are you talking about? that sounds like just one more stupid conspiracy theory.
Aug 26 2006 1:26PM
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skimasterflex
Posts: 2064 - Karma: 16
K2 doesn't own Nordica. If they did they would be ripping off Nordica boots instead of Dalbellos this year. They do own a lot of things though.

BTW The majority of Volkl skis are still made in Germany this year. The only models being made in China are the Gotama as noted above and the Dogen which always was a Chinese Public Enemy with a different graphic. All of the other skis are being made in their factory, not K2's.

Aug 26 2006 1:28PM
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MLB
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 298
yes it does...very much so. Remember the problems with the invaders, well where do you think they came from. The invaders that did have problems where from one of their factories in china. But think about this, where would you like to have your skis made.....a country where skiing is a valid sport to a large amount of the population ( Canada, United States, Germany, Japan, Swiss).....or a place where people don't give a shit about skiing. I like my skis to be built by people who ski ( 4FRNT,9ward, Armada...but i am not sure where they are made anymore). Most companies are out there to make a buck off of our ass, but some of them do it while making a quality product, cause they ride.


Look at companies like 4FRNT, and Armada. These are owned, and created by skiers that ride the product they sell, so it has to be good. Although these pros do get like 100 skis every season, having a ski delam on you in the middle of the day can really ruin your whole ride. So in the end it has to be good for them. Line used to be bad ass like that, and i love that company, but now they are just part of a huge conglomarate. Now they are even less rider controled, and just out for your buck, no matter what they say. I am sure i am gonna get hated on for that past statement, but you don't have to sacrafice quality to make a buck.
Aug 26 2006 1:59PM
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stevel
Posts: 1302 - Karma: 19
ya man good point fisher were pro on the ice but im just kinda curois why  i dont like there twins
Aug 26 2006 3:01PM
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NWFlow
Posts: 1557 - Karma: 61
Where are Armadas made? And 4FRNT?
Aug 26 2006 8:58PM
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evtic
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 16
I thought Armadas were made in the Atomic factory or something liek that, 4frnt is made in Canada, not for sure on these.
Aug 26 2006 9:02PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
so I should by last years gotamas
Aug 27 2006 2:29AM
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