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Coombs and K2. whats the deal?

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caylorswift
Posts: 10695 - Karma: 312
so i just re-read the coombs article in the september 06 Powder issue, and was thinking to myself.. why did k2 wait so long to give coombs a pro model? doug did a lot for this sport, and i think he should've gotten a pro model years earlier. and i understand the Coomba is a tribute to one of the greatest skiers of our time, maybe one of the greatest ever, but i just think k2 was about 5-10 years to late to come out with his pro model.

*the above post was in no way meant as disrespect to Coombs, as i know he was working on this ski before his death. i am merely posing the question of why it took so long.
Jul 17 2007 10:01PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Completely agree. Its funny to watch all the old Totally Bored flicks, Coombs is the one showing them all the insane lines to rip. A true legend. Doug should have had a pro model 10 years ago! What a fucking ballsy ass skier. Skiing owes quite a bit to him. True to the fucking sport, every goddamn day.
Jul 17 2007 10:11PM
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PeteyG
Posts: 2946 - Karma: 49
hes had more first decents than any other skier.
Jul 17 2007 10:17PM
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Troop801
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
Couldn't agree more. At least it seems like they did the Coomba right, and it truly represents the skier and the man.
Jul 17 2007 10:26PM
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potato_man
Posts: 2158 - Karma: 89
ive never thot of that b4. and the only reason they came out with the coomba was to dedicate his memory and the profits would go to his family. i dont think that owes him justice, tho
Jul 18 2007 3:18AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
this may be wrong but I am pretty sure he had his own special pair of skis that was not avalible to the public. this ski was to become what is now the coomba. and he was working on it before he died, it was not a post death thing that k2 did. again 100% of this may be wrong but it is what I believe is true.
Jul 18 2007 3:31AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Well pro models are a lot more widespread now than they used to be, remember. Who really had a pro model in the 90s? I'm all in favour of K2 on this, great gesture, and probably a great ski, considering where the concept came from.
Jul 18 2007 4:03AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Agreed.

Pro models were virtually non-existant until just a few years ago.

This was a gesture by K2 to honor and tribute an absolutely epic skier.
Jul 18 2007 10:16AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Hasn't Seth had one since the 90's? Although I do completely agree. Pro models weren't really a skiing thing for the longest time. Popularized by boarding.
Jul 18 2007 12:05PM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
i'm so glad they released this ski. it's goona be one of the many ways how we'll never forget coombs and what he did. It shows the respect K2 had for the man.
Jul 18 2007 12:12PM
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Black-Bandanna
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 1,603
Naw. He used to ride the Enemys.


But as for Coombs, I'm pretty happy about K2 making the pro/tribute ski. He gave the sport so much.
Jul 18 2007 12:31PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
What about those older K2s...they weren't twins. They topsheets were blue with some like yellow/red lines, maybe like some sorta flames on the skis? I forget. Maybe those were just the K2 Team freestyle skis. Someone?
Jul 18 2007 12:43PM
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enewgard
Posts: 27 - Karma: 10
yes those were morrison pro models. k2 came out with a blue morrison pro model in 98/99 and red morrison pro model as well as a kreitler pro model in 99/00.
Jul 18 2007 1:14PM
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schmies
Posts: 2032 - Karma: 511
Doug had been working on the concept that became the Coomba ski for a few years. And Morrison's pro model was not the first, many many years earlier K2 had created the Wayne Wong 'Wongbonger', a Patrick Vallencant (European extreme skier) pro model, the Phil and Steve Mahre 'Mahre SLS' and the Spider Sabich 'Spider Riders'.
Jul 18 2007 4:15PM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
nice disclaimer.

Jul 18 2007 4:27PM
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*DrewT*
Posts: 7768 - Karma: 481
haha I was at a ski shop at Stratton VT asking about the Coomba and he said it was really good for Stratton's conditions because of all the steep pow runs.

It took everything I had to not burst out laughing at the idiot
Jul 18 2007 4:50PM
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jacobski
Posts: 834 - Karma: 10
Well said sir. That guy is a big mtn Godfather. Loved the sport and sharing it with others R.I.P. to a legend.
Jul 19 2007 5:07AM
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llyon
Posts: 153 - Karma: 18
Dougs ski from K2 that he rode on was a seth with a straight tail, apparently. However, in alot of shots it looks like he is on Black Diamonds, usually the Crossbow. That makes more sense, as its hard to imagine someone who does as much mountaineering as him choosing to ski on a shitty heavy ski like the Seth.
Jul 19 2007 12:44PM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
werd to that. definitely a legend


and from what ive heard about the Coomba, its a great ski. super nice. i wish i had the use for it on the EC but i sure as hell dont
Jul 19 2007 1:18PM
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Baker
Posts: 1615 - Karma: 18
Doug was from a different era where exposure wasn't the most important goal. I'm sure he had a say in the design of the skis he was on, but putting your name on stuff doesn't even factor into these guys thinking. He was a world class mountaineer, and media attention is low on their priorities. It makes sense that the starting designing a signiture ski in the last few years because there was enough interest to support it. And its good that its selling now, i'm assuming his family will reap the rewards.
Jul 19 2007 1:54PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Hit the nail on the head. I'm sure he had quite a bit of input as to the development of skis.

An unreal skier we should all look up to.
Jul 19 2007 2:11PM
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WikiWiki
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 426
i have a pic of him on the ice falls- crazy
Jul 19 2007 2:53PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Hey guys, just a reminder, if any of you care to donate to the Doug Coombs Memorial Fund you can do so here:

http://www.k2coomba.com/fundraiser.html

I love the epic poster. What a great way to remember Doug. So much love for the Coombs family.
Jul 19 2007 3:19PM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
that poster is the best one you could possibly have. such a sick gnarly line too.

Jul 19 2007 3:50PM
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