Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Buying Ski DVD's

profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
So we all know that in the rest of the film industry, DVD sales are declining. I'm fairly sure that action sports films are no different... though we might be behind a bit on that front.

I pose the question to you the consumer - are you still buying Ski DVD's? If you are, are you buying less or more these days? If you are buying less... why?

I think this is a pretty interesting discussion to have.


Dec 8 2009 12:06PM
0 0
profile picture
@LANTASKI
Posts: 599 - Karma: 1,586
Torrentz Dawg

F THE CORPORATION



Dec 8 2009 12:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
I still buy a lot because I have no self control when it comes to ski stuff.
Dec 8 2009 12:09PM
0 0
profile picture
.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
I buy less because honestly, as much as I fucking love skiing, skiing movies dont really get me stoked.

I have 6-8 from last year, and I dont think I even watched any movie besides Alone by Stonebroke all the way through. I bought pro and am movies, just they werent that exciting.

And Im also poor as dirt.
Dec 8 2009 12:11PM
0 0
profile picture
MidwestSteeze
Posts: 1839 - Karma: 153
same here, and i can sit and watch them over and over and not get bored.
i think i got 6 this year and about the same last.
Dec 8 2009 12:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Are you more poor than last year when you bought 6-8 of them?


Dec 8 2009 12:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
You know its a really sad shame to pirate ski movies. I mean those producers are killing themselves making these things, and are barely making any money off of them.

To steal from a Ski Film producer is wrong...

However, philosophy aside, is there a lot of piracy of these things? Have a lot of you stopped watching them because you can simply get them off of The Pirate Bay?

Does the rise of video online have anything to do with it? Do you feel less compelled to buy a ski DVD when you can go on any website and blow your mind out with skiing?

Dec 8 2009 12:15PM
0 0
profile picture
jdilla
Posts: 706 - Karma: 41
Honestly I think that spending $20 on a movie I'll watch a few times is kind of pointless. I only do it just to support the team/producer/industry...plus it's cool to have a physical copy, but I'm just a nerd like that. Nowadays I tend to only buy ski flicks that come with a free something, like a beanie, t-shirt, etc. Doing stuff like that, I think, would increase sales a bunch. That way the buyer gets more than just a video they'll watch a few times then leave it on the shelf.

I'd like to see producers offer high quality downloads. I know that giving files to kids is just making piracy easier, but I'm a nerd when it comes to that shit too. Every ski movie I get (even non ski movie as well) I rip to my hard drive so I can always watch it without having a dvd with me, plus I stream shit to my xbox so I can watch movies I have on my computer on my tv. A good way to get around the piracy thing is to offer iTunes downloads...Rage did that this year with Pretty Good and I would be willing to bet it increased sales for them by a good amount. I know that tons of flicks are on pirate bay right now, but I'd be more than willing to shell out $5 for a digital copy and still support the company. Not everyone wants to pay $20ish then wait for shipping and what not, with the way the internet has been spoiling people, they want to see shit NOW. Digital media nowadays is all about having instant, on demand, user controlled content. Nobody wants to wait or work around someone else's timeframe, especially when there's money involved.
Dec 8 2009 12:27PM
0 0
profile picture
WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
i usally buy 2-4 hard copies and 1-3 itunes
Dec 8 2009 12:30PM
0 0
profile picture
lanks
Posts: 12544 - Karma: 73
there's enough free content aside from full length movies online to fill the void. plus, 40 minutes of skiing is too much to handle more often than not.

also, i tend to anticipate movies solely for certain segments now, not for the films entirely. youtube and vimeo are clearly great for that.


Dec 8 2009 12:33PM
0 0
profile picture
danbrown
Posts: 11939 - Karma: 21,826
I've bought five each of the last three years
Dec 8 2009 12:40PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,113
I used to buy 2-3 dvds in high school every year, but as college started college ive become very cheap and have bought maybe 1 or 2 in the past 3 years.
Dec 8 2009 12:41PM
0 0
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
i know kids at my mountain that torrent every movie and just say that one movie isnt gonna affect anything. it really pisses me off when kids do this. im fine with downloading hollywood movies but when it comes to skiing support the industry!
Dec 8 2009 12:42PM
0 0
profile picture
.peter
Posts: 1222 - Karma: 63
These are the reasons why people don't buy them:
1. you can see all the best shots for free before the video comes out on NS or Vimeo.
2. Half of the best ski movies that come out every year are free
3. There are FREE movie premiers for almost every company
and
4. with all the pro edits flying around, why would someone pay money to see someone with the same style do the same trick that they can watch for free somewhere else

But to answer your 1st question I buy DVD's occasionally when I see one that I think I'll like. But quite frankly, there's no anticipation anymore. Skiers should take a lesson from Videograss. You couldn't buy that movie when it came out unless you pre-ordered it. They hyped it by putting out edits, but those edits weren't in the movie, and they had one of the sickest trailers I've ever seen.
Dec 8 2009 1:05PM
0 0
profile picture
Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,351
There is a ton of free content available on this very website. It's incredibly high quality, sometimes at a level than ski movies which are about $40/CAD a pop. I'd rather spend that $40 on actual skiing.
Dec 8 2009 1:14PM
0 0
profile picture
Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
never bought a ski DVD in my life... only the 1.99 ones from itunes.  call me whatever you want, but i just can not justify it..
Dec 8 2009 1:15PM
0 0
profile picture
VPP
Posts: 250 - Karma: 15
I would like to buy but no shop near me sells ski dvds. I know I could torrent but I dont wanna do it. And ordering from the states doesnt seem worth it cause of the 30$ shipping fee...
Dec 8 2009 1:20PM
0 0
profile picture
skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
im a fan of downloads like Itunes. if there were a spot i could download Hi-def ski movies ide be STOKED...

the price would have to be adjusted accordingly though, not gonna pay 30$ for a download ski movie.



does anyone remember when LSS came out your DVD came with a code to download it... that was cool... it was in super good quality too.
Dec 8 2009 1:24PM
0 0
profile picture
schmies
Posts: 2032 - Karma: 511
I still collect most of the movies from every year. I am fortunate enough to get a few of those for free, but growing up my friends and I always got all the new flicks. We would go session all day and most of the night then retire to a friend's house to watch videos we had already seen ten times. I loved it then and I still do.

It is so much fun to go back and watch the old videos. I just plugged in my old VCR and ran through a bunch of old flicks and got stoked just remembering how mind blowing they were when I first got them.
It is fun to have teh history of our sport at the fingertips.


Dec 8 2009 1:25PM
0 0
profile picture
ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
I usually just try to make to as many movie premiers as possible. I buy a movie once every two years mostly because they get repetitive and also with all the edits that come out I can usually watch a lot of stuff I really like. Still try to do my part in helping support people who are just trying to make a living from their passion though
Dec 8 2009 1:29PM
0 0
profile picture
snowmouk
Posts: 146 - Karma: 10
We sell Ski & Snowboard DVDs in the UK so I've been lucky enough to catch most of this years flicks. However we have certainly noticed an effect from torrents/downloads etc. For instance many good friends of ours are serious about getting all the latest films each year, although for some reason we have seen very few come through our store! I even see friends who spend most their life in the ski industry posting links to torrents on facebook! I don't mind this, but it's such a shame because their missing out on holding the latest releases in their very hands, witnessing the insane footage in HD on their very own TV's and simply being part of the sport!

From our perspective we can't even understand why every household in the UK doesn't want a copy of one of this year's flicks?! It would be sick to see more non-skiers watching at home, thinking WTF?! Maybe one day!
Dec 8 2009 1:34PM
0 0
profile picture
Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
It can almost be guaranteed that over the next 5-10 years we will see a full transformation of the ski dvd industry go stritly online and digital. A few companies are already doing some interesting things with online downloads, so expect things to be pretty much 100% digital - no more dvd's.

This transformation can already been seen with certain video streaming mediums such as Netflix which has streaming both to xbox 360 and ps3. So inevitably i see some very interesting marketing techniques coming out to enhance the "downloadable-lifestyle".

Pirating is definitely a BIG issue when it comes to ski DVD's. I know of certain people that have even started groups, selling pirated copies. Although not very big time, every single copy not bought is a copy dollars not put in the company that broke their back producing the film. And that can turn out into quite a marginal loss if you are looking at revenue stream in the long-run, though not so much in the short run.

A ski movie is a fairly minimal purchase, from my perspective at least, in terms of value to monetary loss from a consumer standpoint, so i don't think the poor economy really had a "big" effect, although factors stemming from the hype of the falling economy certainly did impact film sales.


Get ready for the change in distrubution - get your marketing caps, and although sales for DVD may be seen as falling currently, the new surge in distribution will give a never before seen audience a chance to purchase movies.

Dec 8 2009 1:36PM
0 0
profile picture
Terman
Posts: 736 - Karma: 46
I believe L1P's/Decker's New Era is definitely a new direction for the industry and ski movies alike.

I say this because its accessibility, minimal cost and the fact that it includes the some of the industries highest level of riding, filming and editing.

I would not be surprised if various short edits popped up via L1P, TGR, PBP, etc for $5 or less.
Dec 8 2009 1:36PM
0 0
profile picture
Chucktheweasel
Posts: 551 - Karma: 128
Every year I buy a hard copy of Level 1 and Meatheads. The buy PBP off itunes because I just don't really care for their movies, but it's inexpensive and I usually like a few parts. I want to buy the new 4bi9 movie, but have just been consumed with school work so I have put it off.

Are there really ski movies available on torrents? That's a shame. The movies I buy get me super stoked each season and I continue watching them throughout the season. Even friends that don't ski get stoked watching them.
Dec 8 2009 1:40PM
0 0
profile picture
wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
now that I have a debit card, I was able to buy my first dvd's this year. I always had one or more on my christmas list, but my parents never bought them for me.

also, movies are expensive. worth it, definitely. but 4 pro movies would be over $100+ and after spending my bank account on my new skis this year, i only had money for two movies.
Dec 8 2009 1:40PM
0 0
profile picture
skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Definitely. Honestly now that I'm getting older I don't have the expendable money to buy many ski movies these days. I used to buy tons back in the day, in high school I'd buy 2-4. These days I can barely afford to buy ski movies. I didn't buy any this year or last. Which honestly makes me really sad considering its a profession I'm trying to submerge myself in. Definitely makes me hesitant to even try to make and sell a flick in the traditional method, as much as I'd love to have DVD copies of my movie. The digital revolution is definitely taking over. I don't find myself downloading ski movie torrents because frankly I think that is complete bullshit. Digital distribution is definitely the future but where exactly it will go who knows?
Dec 8 2009 1:43PM
0 0
profile picture
pomme-de-terre
Posts: 3915 - Karma: 703
i usually buy 1 or 2 DVD's themselves each year. usually either really epic ones, or just ones i think might be sick or feature a favorite rider. this is because no shops near me carry DVD's and i just dont like ordering and waiting for something. i watch pretty much all the free downloadable edits. i download every video that is available on iTunes. i think every company that releases a video should release an itunes version. i travel alot, and i have trouble staying entertained on a plane/train/bus/long car ride so i like to have some videos to watch. downloaded videos use less laptop battery because they dont run the CD drive, and you can carry nearly limitless number of them with you, as long as you have your laptop, its movie time. 

stealing any ski/snowboard videos is wrong. please support the industry, if you love skiing you wont steal a video. its such a dick move.
Dec 8 2009 1:53PM
0 0
profile picture
liukangkid
Posts: 3323 - Karma: 82
I can count the number of ski movies i have bought on one hand, like war which is an all time favorite and a few on itunes.  But besides that i watch any movie my friends have, go to premiers or win them at competitions.  Lately i feel ski movies rarely capture the actual skiers, yeah they capture all of their polished tricks and big lines but ive always liked action movies that show the viewer a more personal side of the riders.  This is one thing more mainstream sports like skateboarding have done well. I also feel all the edits on this site and free movies by companies like voleurz and surface make up for the new ski movies i have not seen.
Dec 8 2009 2:29PM
0 0
profile picture
.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Ha my bank account is about a third as it was a year ago today. Will likely be around zero after Christmas.
Dec 8 2009 2:34PM
0 0
profile picture
Billups
Posts: 3960 - Karma: 329
I love the Itunes/online downloads. Cheaper, get it sooner, can watch it anywhere.
Dec 8 2009 2:36PM
0 0
profile picture
beowulf
Posts: 893 - Karma: 164
I only purchase the ones that are available online for download.  I can watch them anywhere, cheaper, ad easier to skip around in the flick to watch my favorite segments.
Dec 8 2009 2:39PM
0 0
profile picture
49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,704
I usually only get one or two since they can be upwards of $30 a piece.  My friends and I usually get one or two and then trade back and forth to share them.
Dec 8 2009 2:42PM
0 0
profile picture
deathcookie
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 1,196
I would rather have enough money to ski myself then to watch others ski. 
Dec 8 2009 2:43PM
0 0
profile picture
garettnorthey
Posts: 3049 - Karma: 173
I have actually thought about this quite a bit. I still buy ski movies, not as many anymore as the last 3-4 years, but I find that due to the fact of an increasing number of online edits and the internet in general, I find that the excitement level of everything skiing in movies is decreasing. The clothes, the skis, the tricks everything that I used to be super excited to see at the end of the year is now all released to the public at an earlier date. I mean for example, I was blown away when I came to realization that the magic suit was indeed this seasons suit. The pros used to be always a step ahead of everything else which was always amazing to see because you'd wait for the end of the year and see that a "Cork 9 blunt" looked cool and go "Oh, I am def going to try that next season!" now you can see that in an edit today and try it tomorrow. I dont have time to finish this right now so i will write more in a couple hours.
Dec 8 2009 2:49PM
0 0
profile picture
3R1C
Posts: 367 - Karma: 14
this year i bought EDIAS and Pretty Good off of itunes because they were way cheaper
Dec 8 2009 3:00PM
0 0
profile picture
miketheskier88
Posts: 749 - Karma: 66
This is probably a bit odd coming from me... but the ski dvd industry is a declining one and will be on the decline. I still think people will buy dvds/blu-rays in 5-10 years time though. Just that the majority of people will prefer to acquire their ski porn online. Its good that its finally coming out on iTunes in Europe as well.

In deep for 2 pounds! That was the sickest deal I have ever seen. I only really think that people will buy ski dvds in the future as sort of presents to people or unless they just really like to have hard copies.

I don't think it is the end of ski films as we know it, not by a long shot. I just think the industry will change and adapt like other industries have had to in the past.


Dec 8 2009 3:07PM
0 0
profile picture
philcote4
Posts: 225 - Karma: 10
i used to buy ski movies, and i've been wanting to buy more. I'm just pretty broke these days and i never actually get around to doing it. Whenever II'm in the mood to watch some ski vids I either just pop in one of the older ones that I have or i go online and watch edits. Fuck torrents though, I have seen a couple of them available, but that goes against my values and morals lol
Dec 8 2009 3:08PM
0 0
profile picture
Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
awesome thread doug! I've been talking about this with friends over the past couple weeks. I have a friend or two who have started pirating ski videos on the net and question me for actually purchasing them... I give them shit for it, and they just shrug their shoulders.

Personally, I will always buy at least one ski video, but usually end up buying more... this year I have purchased 3 (EDIAS, Refresh, and Contrast). The past three years or so I've bought the PBP, Level 1, Nimbus, and MSP videos, but I haven't gotten around to buying the MSP video yet. I have had years where I've bought everything I could find; TGR, Plehouse, Volourz... actually, pretty much everything except Rage Films. This was the first year I actually watched a Rage video, and sorry, but it sucked, so I don't think I'll be spending my money on them any time soon.

I think a part of the problem is that a lot of people don't fully understand how the ski video world works, as far as who's putting up the money to make the movie happen, who's getting paid for the movie being made, and how many "pro" skiers depend on their movie segments to stay in the industry. I mean, look at Charley Ager for example (just the first person that came to mind). He only has his video part to get his skiing out there. Without the support of us, the masses, we might not ever get to see the future Charley's in the skiing world do their thing.

This is an interesting thought when you look at the other threads on the front page of ski gabber right now. "skier who lacks style" "peter o, hate or not to hate", etc... If we don't buy ski videos and support the industry that we are completely obsessed with, we'll be left with a bunch of competitions and competitions only skiers who, not by their own choice, essentially lack real style because, well - competition skiing has never really been about style as much as it has been about the biggest trick. Sure, there are ways of changing the comp format, but it's no Nimbus Crew or Charley Ager.
Dec 8 2009 3:41PM
0 0
profile picture
Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
I am not saying at all that this will happen, but don't you think if film companies distribution ceased production that edits would get even stronger. I don't think the growth of edits will die very soon, if fact i strongly believe there is still room for lot of growth as digital distribution grows.
Dec 8 2009 5:50PM
0 0
profile picture
I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i still buy for 3 reasons:
1) to support the sport and its film companies
2) because i'm too lame to search for torrents
3) because i need something i can ask to my grandparents/parents for x-mas/B-day/....
Dec 8 2009 5:53PM
0 0
profile picture
miketheskier88
Posts: 749 - Karma: 66
IF pro ski companies ceased production I think you would just get dozens and dozens of people trying to fill the void to be the next MSP or TGR etc. etc.

I think park/urban-wise the edits could, would, should be just as strong as the ones in the pro movies. However! I think the back-country wouldn't be as "epic". I don't think there are many kids on NS which have the money or ability to ski the sick spines of Alaska which we see in some of those movies.

I think if that were to happen it would just accelerate the situation which is happening now, namely that we are seeing more free ski edits which we can all relate to. Things which are in most of our abilities to ski, and more accessible than some of the things we see in the pro movies.

I may have rambled here a little but I'm just trying to avoid my fucking history essay here...
Dec 8 2009 5:55PM
0 0
profile picture
no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
i still buy them:
a) i enjoy buying things
b) i like to support the companies as much as i can
c) i don't have a great source for getting them for free
d) i love ski movies
Dec 8 2009 5:56PM
0 0
profile picture
benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988


Dec 8 2009 5:57PM
0 0
profile picture
Twig
Posts: 6409 - Karma: 60,053
I agree with the digital distribution idea. I bought Contrast as soon as it dropped as a digital download, because i think the $10 download has much more of a future than the $30 dollar dvd. I live in the UK and by the time dvd's get here they are about 20-25 pounds on average ($32-40). That is just too much for any student skier to afford all the videos they want to see. This year I wanted to buy: Nimbus, Poorboyz, Level 1, Meathead, 4bi9, ESK, NSF and a couple of others but there is no way I can afford to pay for all of them. One way or another I have seen some and not others.. but I guarantee if they were all $5-10 to DL I would have bought all of them.. So bring on the cheaper digital download and I will buy every single ski movie out there!
Dec 8 2009 6:04PM
0 0
profile picture
Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
yea, the edits going on right now are super sick, and there's huge potential in edits, webisodes, free online videos, etc... but the majority of these edits are 100% park, mostly rails... not exactly the caliber of skiing you find in a video you pay for. sure, if film companies stop doing what they're doing, the edits might step up to pro quality, but there's more expenses involved when you have to travel the globe for shots of pro quality... combine that with the stuff that MSP and TGR are doing... heli time doesn't come cheap, so I couldn't see them, or anyone else survive off of short edits on the net...

I guess you could argue that with the whole Salomon Freeski TV thing... but not all ski companies have the cash flow that Salomon has, and probably couldn't afford to pump out free ski edits from Alaska (think 4Front and Eric Hjorleifson)... how would they get the footage out there and still stay afloat in a saturated market of park edits?

I'm just saying that, the quality of footage you can only get from a ski video costs the same as an average dinner out for you and your lady... or a tank of gas...
Dec 8 2009 6:07PM
0 0
profile picture
eastchris
Posts: 674 - Karma: 16
I buy 3-4 each year, whereas I buy 0 hollywood movies each year. (I just torrent them or Itunes). I still buy ski movies for a few reasons.

The first and probably the most important is I want to do my part to support the industry, it brings me so much fun and enjoyment each winter that I want to give back. Same reason I feel good about buying skis from companies like Surface.
Second is that I enjoy watching them. A solid, cohesive movie is a great thing to watch and is a completly different thing than any online content.
And last is I love to have a physical copy. Ski movies for the most part come with some pretty interestingly designed packaging which is cool to hang on to.
Dec 8 2009 6:08PM
0 0
profile picture
skijunkiedtm
Posts: 9229 - Karma: 61
in the past 3 years i have bought way to many movies each year. But this year with not having a job i only bought 2 movies at a movie premier.
Dec 8 2009 6:11PM
0 0
profile picture
DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I have not bought any this year, and this is really only the second year i've been deep into the "newschool culture" so to say. I liked the hunting yetis and en routes and so I kinda want to see contrast, and refresh is looking pretty good right now. I'll probably end up buying them at some point.

Having the dvd is good though, I can watch it easily through the dvd player on my hdtv or throw it in the x box downstairs when campers in call of duty are getting too annoying. I've watched all the nimbus stuff and traveling circuses over so many times, I can't imagine not doing that with movies. The segment with the new roman times song in the second hunting yeti is so good, gets me stoked every time. My first planned day on the slopes is the 19th. The night before, a friday night, i'm creating a playlist with a specific order of songs (my friend is a pro first) for my shuffle and watching as much skiing as i can. It would be cool to watch some hd quality footy rather then what my computer can render.

I also wouldn't feel right pirating them. A ski movie producer doesn't exactly kill it fiscally, it's just something I won't do.
Dec 8 2009 6:11PM
0 0
profile picture
crankdatsoljaboy
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 1,569
since 3 years ive bought pretty much every movie i could

i download a lot of big movies but when it comes to ski movies i know they need support and i love investing money in that way more then in big prodctions that are already rich + im making a film this year and id love to get support so i guess thta i do the same thing for others
Dec 8 2009 6:16PM
0 0
profile picture
wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,952
i still buy them. less this year because i'm a broke ass college student, but i still got hope for some christmas refreshment if you know what i mean.

but i think skiing isn't nearly as bad as other areas of film, especially skateboarding. and i kinda think that ns has a lot to do with that. we get to watch all the second-best footage from the best pros in the world when they put out their edits, but movies with the best footy are reserved for those willing to pay for them. and we all follow skiing so ridiculously we can't help but want to see the coolest thing that happened on skis that year

basically the edits discourage people from pirating because there are already crazy videos to watch, while at the same time psyching people up enough to buy the movies




Dec 8 2009 6:18PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)