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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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Under armor: not so bad i guess

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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
when i first heard a couple years ago that UA was getting into the winter sports game, my immediate reaction was to be pissed that they thought they could just come in and be supported by us.  kind of like how snowboarders are hating on 6.0, which i think is lame btw.  when i saw the new front page of ahmet, i was like, seriously NS???  then i saw the background and was more annoyed. 

however, after thinking my immediate reactions through, Ive changed my negative outlook on their participation in our sport. 

-look around NS right now and see how much you see UA stuff.  they have got to be pumping some serious dollars into our site and industry right now. 
-they are prolly giving hibbert a buttload of cash, which i support, cuase he's slaying at his job with them.
-they brought back the career of a fading skier in Da Shlong, they put his fucking face in front of the world in their super bowl ad last year for gods sake
-they clearly care about growing our sport and support its future.  maybe they dont care about freeskiing as much as they care about football, but its nice to see that they at least appreciate our subculture.
-(gasp) their outerwear is actually starting to look pretty dope.
Feb 10 2009 10:09PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 717
why hate in the first place, there putting money in OUR sport.....................................
Feb 10 2009 10:12PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
it was just an immediate, biased, ignorant feeling i had, i assumed they were gonna try to turn all their pros into johney moseley and ray lewis and that they were going to try to sell us muscle builders and ugly jackets
Feb 10 2009 10:15PM
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CMF
Posts: 1918 - Karma: 16
 i'm all for newschoolers making money, but i don't care what company it is, i don't like having our front

page be an ad. ad's instill an unrealistic perception of the world in our minds (powerful memes controlled

and manipulated by people whose sole purpose is to get your money), which i believe has an

overwhelmingly harmful effect on our society, making it more and more superficial and material.

advertising is so ubiquitous already that it is now estimated that the average person with internet access

and living in a north american metropolitan city encounters on average 3000 ads per day. NS: please stop

advertising on the front page! save this space for photographers that need it, not soulless

mega-corperations that utilize sweatshop labor to make their goods, exporting jobs to countries with

insufficient human rights and labor laws, just to make that extra buck.
Feb 10 2009 10:22PM
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T_K
Posts: 196 - Karma: 190
they are legit for taking a notice of the industry, and for helping put money into the industry and supporting riders, but they really need some work on the look of their product. haven't been impressed so far, haven't seen new shit yet though!
Feb 10 2009 10:25PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
shut up dude, that picture is sick and it looks more like an ad for Spy than anything else. Plus you just sound like someone I would never want to have a conversation with about anything.
Feb 10 2009 10:27PM
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wnab21
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 18
im glad someone finally said that. It really needed to be said. imo there jackets dont look to bad
Feb 10 2009 10:29PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93

i can agree with the front page needing to be for am photogs needing exposure.  However, I think UA has proven that they actually give a shit about skiing.  I don’t think they are the big corporate fiend that you are making them out to be.  They are kind of like the new kid that was cool at his old school trying to fit in.

I did some research on their labor standards.  Heres some direct quotes from their corporate responsibility guidelines:

-Under Armour seeks to do business with suppliers' and subcontractors' that comply with the laws of the United States, the countries in which Under Armour products are produced, distributed, bought and sold, and the Code. Any violation of these laws or the Code may be viewed as a breach of the Manufacturing Agreement and could lead to the termination of the business relationship between Under Amour and the supplier. (aka-all suppliers are help to standards of USA manufacturers, regardless of their local laws)

-will not purchase products or components thereof from suppliers that use forced labor,

-Under Armour will not purchase products or components thereof manufactured by persons younger than 15 years of age

-Suppliers and their subcontractors must provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employer facilities

-suppliers and their subcontractors recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees' basic needs. Under Armour suppliers and subcontractors shall pay employees, as a floor, at least the minimum wage required by local law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher, regardless of whether they pay by the piece or by the hour, and shall provide legally mandated benefits


sparknotes:  they arent that bad, not as bad as other companies, say, salomon, burton
Feb 10 2009 10:39PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
fer realz, check hibberts gear on the front page story
Feb 10 2009 11:03PM
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hedgehog
Posts: 1595 - Karma: 167
i seem to have those alot. haha
Feb 10 2009 11:19PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
under armor is just part of a consumer evil capitalistic society.  they probably club baby seals to death on the weekends too. so fuck them and fuck big corporations... grrr....

/sarcasm.
Feb 10 2009 11:25PM
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montageskier
Posts: 4725 - Karma: 126
I dont know why you guys bitch about the front page. It doesnt look like an ad unless you scroll down  and see the UA. I for one never scroll down the login page, I just login. So what, they are giving money so NS could keep putting up better features.
Feb 10 2009 11:27PM
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CMF
Posts: 1918 - Karma: 16
my bad for not fact checking on UA's labor standards, i read an article about their (as well as nike's and other sportswear manufacturer's) use of sweatshop labor. i am impressed by their commitment to humane manufacturing conditions, however advertising to a target market (14-22 white male snowsport enthusiasts) isn't the same as caring about the progression of our sport. let's keep it core and support legit companies.
Feb 10 2009 11:34PM
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tim_ASP
Posts: 249 - Karma: 36
Sorry, but I have to disagree with you about the front page.  I think that NS is completely justified in making the frontpage/background an ad.  UA probably paid a huge amount of money for that spot which is money straight to the industry.  Sites like these are not cheap to keep up.  Bandwidth alone is a huge expense as well as paying for staff, trips, and other business expenses.  You can barely tell that it is an ad, and it's not like it's interfering with anything on this site. 

If the company is willing to put the money into furthering a sport I love and support, It has my full support.  Hell, if they make some sick outerwear, I'd buy it.

Just my thought. No hate from me :)
Feb 10 2009 11:34PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Underarmor needs to do something about their seams.  Shits uncomfortable and itchy as fuck.  I prefer regular thermals.
Feb 10 2009 11:35PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
two threads in a row that you dont read the fucking post! tabarnac ferme ta yeule!
Feb 10 2009 11:38PM
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EvanMeyer
Posts: 3822 - Karma: 3,459
I personally dont like wearing underarmor I find it very uncomfortable and it doesnt do to much as for keeping me warm, but I find it really sick as to how they are giving back to the sport we all die for.
Feb 10 2009 11:39PM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,085
Someone give me a waterproofing number. Also, what sort of seam sealing they use.

Those are the first things to look at outerwear wise.
Feb 10 2009 11:45PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
is Level 1 productions not a core company?  every one of those shots of ahmet is from turbo, im sure berman got an assload of cash for those shots, they are supporting a core company right thurr.
Feb 10 2009 11:51PM
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ECfreeski3
Posts: 12019 - Karma: 126
dude you could make anything into an anti-liberal rant
Feb 11 2009 12:52AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,143
Did you happen to notice the five thousand dollar plus internet slopestyle contest they're putting on via NS.com? That is unheard of prizing for an internet competition. Check the news.
Feb 11 2009 1:02AM
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lloyd_christmas
Posts: 1775 - Karma: 16
Down with McWorld!
Feb 11 2009 1:04AM
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TSM
Posts: 154 - Karma: 14

whats with the hate towards dash longe i dont think his career is dying at all i mean hes always a big part of tgr's movie every year i wouldnt call that a dying career at all

Feb 11 2009 1:05AM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
legit, and another example of them supporting our sport heavily, and giving unknowns an opportunity to break out.
Feb 11 2009 1:06AM
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whattheshit
Posts: 6562 - Karma: 107
ROI

k thx
Feb 11 2009 5:47AM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
they have a pretty clean track record when it comes to their labor, which is why some people say their stuff is so expensive..
but honestly i was pretty shocked to see a UA logo on the front page
Feb 11 2009 7:46AM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
yeah but i looked at their "outerwear" and its god awful
Feb 11 2009 7:48AM
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jwaveson
Posts: 343 - Karma: 10
I got their white digi camo Jacket for this season and its pretty sweet. Best jacket I've owned by far. Its done its job and then some.
Feb 11 2009 8:42AM
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sklermang
Posts: 2981 - Karma: 1,954
idk i may have been looking at the wrong page. i went to their website>snowsports>mens jackets
Feb 11 2009 12:34PM
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partyalex
Posts: 131 - Karma: 11
I don't really know much about this company but they seem to be pretty massive, and therefore easy to hate on, but for those who care about the recognition our sport deserves this seems like a step in the right direction to getting it and maybe one day seeing a ski superpipe in the olympics?
Feb 11 2009 12:54PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
check hibbert rocking next years stuff on the front page
Feb 11 2009 12:58PM
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partyalex
Posts: 131 - Karma: 11
Don't you think that almost EVERY corporate sponsor involved in this sport is doing it for that exact same reason? It's why all the biggest riders have red bull across their helmets, why competitors make sure all the stickers on their skis are visible at the end of a run/on the podium and why we get to see events like the dew tour. It's something that comes with a growing sport and is now an essential part of widespread recognition. None of these big companies plaster their products all over a rider cos they're a good dude, they do it to get their brand out there and grow their business. In return we get the money pumped into the sport that in turn allows it to grow and progress.
Feb 11 2009 1:06PM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
Thank you for double spacing.

But, lets be honest here. This site can not continue the path it is taking without the support of the industry. Dont be fooled by your young mind into thinking the material and superficial dont matter. All an ad is doing is saying "hey, were here, now you know." Idealism is dead. Get over it.
Feb 11 2009 1:10PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
obviously

but they are pumping a percentage of what we pay them back into the sport, and again obviously, its with the intention that it grows their profits by making us buy more of their stuff, but the fact remains that they are giving NS, Level 1, hibbert, ahmet, dash, hudak, a dickload of money.  raise your hand if you arent excited to see what Level 1 and NS can do with a bigger budget...
Feb 11 2009 1:23PM
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Ahmets_Brother
Posts: 20283 - Karma: 5,931
If any company is willing to pump thousands and thousands of dollars into skiing, ill support them. Not to mention the high quality shit they produce.
Feb 11 2009 2:01PM
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ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
Fuck everybody, money makes the world go 'round. And if the guys who run this site need to sell ad-space to keep this site running then so be it. I'm all for more companies investing in our sport.
Feb 11 2009 2:21PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
this is speculation because im sure bishop isnt going to post the details, but:

not true.  they are doing differently.  how many other companies have dropped the kind of cash to NS necessary to get the background and front page dedicated to them?  none.  how many companies have gone beyond just sponsoring a movie to the point where they are using primarily that companies shots in a gigantic collage ad?  the financial support UA is giving to NS and Level 1 is more so than i think we have ever seen in this core niche of our industry.  again, until that is confirmed by berman or bishop it is just speculation, but it seems pretty obvious
Feb 11 2009 2:24PM
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^Romano^
Posts: 24 - Karma: 21

i think under armour is legit because they've picked up a good team, spend money on newschoolers and support level 1, and their outerwear is legit (i love my jacket)

Feb 11 2009 4:18PM
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ski@jaypeak2
Posts: 2805 - Karma: 470

GOALS FOR ANY BUSINESS EVERY STARTED.

1.)  Maximize shareholder wealth.

Its as simple as that.  Any business that has ever been started has that as their number 1 goal.  If they dont they are a non-profit.  If donating to NS and backing good athletes increases wealth they will do it.  Dont think any business has anything else on their minds.  Its freshman business class shit, Maximize shareholder wealth.

Feb 11 2009 4:51PM
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ScottHibbert
Posts: 49 - Karma: 18
Hey guys it's great to read all of your comments good and bad. After all that is how I came up with the UA slopestyle video open after reading NS threads.

Some info you might be interested in is we have product discussion meetings with our athletes but it takes about 12-18 months from those meetings before you will see the product in stores.
So when we have our meetings this year with new team members (Tanner Rainville, Justin Dorey, Bobby Brown, Michael Clarke) and the old team members (dash, jen, ahmet, kyler) it will take between 12-18 months before we see their ideas show in the clothing.

I think the product is getting better every year and with the input from the team it should be more what you guys are looking for soon enough.

thanks
Feb 11 2009 5:01PM
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ShredtillURdead
Posts: 2024 - Karma: 93
hey thanks for the drop in hibbert.  next years gear looks sick, and it sounds like that team is gonna come up with dynamite stuff after.  i hadnt heard UAs new team but shit thats a sick team

Ahmet
t-rains
dorey
BB
clarky
da shlong
kyler cooley
hudak

thats a sick sick sick team
Feb 11 2009 5:32PM
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S3B
Posts: 251 - Karma: 24
i've been running FireFox with Adblock Plus and i haven't seen a banner ad on the internet in months.  i'm so not used to seeing them, at first i had no clue what this thread was about unitll i googled UA and saw the logo,
peace
Feb 11 2009 6:00PM
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