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Benjamin Forthun off Faction

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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
Just saw on his IG he’s off Faction and joined some small ski company called SGN. Did Faction drop the ball on this one or what happened? I mean not only does he absolutely rip, his IG content goes viral kinda often and picked up and reposted by those major accounts. Isn’t that like an ideal person for your team?

I don’t know the exact ins and outs but doesn’t seem like a small operation will afford him the same opportunities that an international company like Faction could but what do I know...
Aug 22 2020 1:14PM
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Way*Mo
Posts: 648 - Karma: 2,143
SGN is a rad Norwegian company, nice fit as thats where he is from.
Aug 22 2020 2:03PM
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patagonialuke
Posts: 1626 - Karma: 8,673
Definitely surprising, and obviously I have no idea what's going on behind the scenes, but for SGN at least, he seems like a pretty perfect athlete in terms of getting way more people seeing their skis. Wonder if they'll end up making some more freestyle-oriented options, cause their offerings have always leaned more toward directional freeride.

Also kinda makes sense in that, like Benjamin & one of his other main sponsors, Amundsen, SGN is from Norway. As always, I hope he's gettig compensated fairly and that this could get some more exposure for SGN, since the few people I've talked to who've ridden their skis have liked them. We actually still have a pair of their old 1184 and it's pretty cool.
Aug 22 2020 2:04PM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
Yeah it makes total sense from SGN’s perspective especially if they can afford to compensate him fairly. Just wondered what happened with the Faction deal like did they just not renew it? I’m pretty sure he was still riding old prodigy’s this summer while a lot of their athletes were posting clips on the 2021 model so it seems like this has been brewing for awhile. I just hope they give him a monoski as a parting gift because he slays on that thing...
patagonialukeDefinitely surprising, and obviously I have no idea what's going on behind the scenes, but for SGN at least, he seems like a pretty perfect athlete in terms of getting way more people seeing their skis. Wonder if they'll end up making some more freestyle-oriented options, cause their offerings have always leaned more toward directional freeride.

Also kinda makes sense in that, like Benjamin & one of his other main sponsors, Amundsen, SGN is from Norway. As always, I hope he's gettig compensated fairly and that this could get some more exposure for SGN, since the few people I've talked to who've ridden their skis have liked them. We actually still have a pair of their old 1184 and it's pretty cool.
Aug 22 2020 3:22PM
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patagonialuke
Posts: 1626 - Karma: 8,673
DesertStixYeah it makes total sense from SGN’s perspective especially if they can afford to compensate him fairly. Just wondered what happened with the Faction deal like did they just not renew it? I’m pretty sure he was still riding old prodigy’s this summer while a lot of their athletes were posting clips on the 2021 model so it seems like this has been brewing for awhile. I just hope they give him a monoski as a parting gift because he slays on that thing...


Yeah I would guess that his contract was just about to end anyway this year, and Faction opted not to renew / renegotiate.

But maybe SGN will just start making a mono now...
Aug 22 2020 4:10PM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
Big loss for Faction imo but I don’t know the story behind it. He was arguably my favorite rider on the team other than maybe Corey Jackson. I’m sure there are more details we’ll just never know...
patagonialukeYeah I would guess that his contract was just about to end anyway this year, and Faction opted not to renew / renegotiate.

But maybe SGN will just start making a mono now...
Aug 22 2020 4:34PM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
Think I was totally wrong on Faction opting out. I just ate my words when I saw him post a pond skim on IG an hour ago with new Prodigy’s. Faction definitely hooked him up with 2021 gear but I guess he decided to go the local route and have some ownership in building a smaller company.
patagonialukeYeah I would guess that his contract was just about to end anyway this year, and Faction opted not to renew / renegotiate.

But maybe SGN will just start making a mono now...
Aug 23 2020 1:34PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,850
DesertStixThink I was totally wrong on Faction opting out. I just ate my words when I saw him post a pond skim on IG an hour ago with new Prodigy’s. Faction definitely hooked him up with 2021 gear but I guess he decided to go the local route and have some ownership in building a smaller company.

Yeah my speculation is that it's similar to the Alex Hackel going from Volkl to ON3P situation.
Aug 23 2020 1:51PM
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-Dan
Posts: 7130 - Karma: 51,740
skiP.E.I.Yeah my speculation is that it's similar to the Alex Hackel going from Volkl to ON3P situation.

Hackel went to HG inbetween there.
Aug 23 2020 4:48PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,850
-DanHackel went to HG inbetween there.

indeed! How could I forget. His part was my favourite in ETG
Aug 23 2020 9:27PM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,863
He dumped his factions in that pond. Maybe that was more about safety given how cold the water is, but I hope he goes back for them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPRCueAC5n/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

**This post was edited on Aug 24th 2020 at 6:39:35pm
Aug 24 2020 12:04AM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
I think he was trying to avoid hypothermia based on how fast he started swimming to the shore lol
finderHe dumped his factions in that pond. Maybe that was more about safety given how cold the water is, but I hope he goes back for them cause that shit's not cool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPRCueAC5n/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Aug 24 2020 12:08AM
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Twig
Posts: 6407 - Karma: 60,033
finderHe dumped his factions in that pond. Maybe that was more about safety given how cold the water is, but I hope he goes back for them cause that shit's not cool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPRCueAC5n/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet


That happened to me earlier this summer. Top 2 scariest things that have ever happened to me, up there with being buried in an avalanche. Pretty sure he got those skis the fuck off his feet as quick as possible and didn't even consider for a single second anything other than drowning.



I know nothing specifically about Benjamin's contract, but Faction have a huge team and times are hard for everyone right now. My guess is that they can't afford to keep everyone on the same contracts they are on now, so you'll see moves being made. And it won't just be Faction either.

**This post was edited on Aug 24th 2020 at 10:33:39am
Aug 24 2020 10:30AM
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,863
TwigThat happened to me earlier this summer. Top 2 scariest things that have ever happened to me, up there with being buried in an avalanche. Pretty sure he got those skis the fuck off his feet as quick as possible and didn't even consider for a single second anything other than drowning.



I know nothing specifically about Benjamin's contract, but Faction have a huge team and times are hard for everyone right now. My guess is that they can't afford to keep everyone on the same contracts they are on now, so you'll see moves being made. And it won't just be Faction either.

**This post was edited on Aug 24th 2020 at 10:33:39am


I wasn't trying to shit talk him for ditching the skis. On water ramps you barely float with a life jacket, so in ice cold water and no life jacket, it totally makes sense. That said, I'd probably send it with a dry suit or something and try to snag them.
Aug 24 2020 6:38PM
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DesertStix
Posts: 2540 - Karma: 14,980
Free 2021 prodigy’s with shifts? I’d send it down there...
finderI wasn't trying to shit talk him for ditching the skis. On water ramps you barely float with a life jacket, so in ice cold water and no life jacket, it totally makes sense. That said, I'd probably send it with a dry suit or something and try to snag them.
Aug 24 2020 6:40PM
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jps2.0
Posts: 474 - Karma: 2,391
finderHe dumped his factions in that pond. Maybe that was more about safety given how cold the water is, but I hope he goes back for them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPRCueAC5n/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

**This post was edited on Aug 24th 2020 at 6:39:35pm


he probably took off his ski boots and dived back in cause swimming with ski boots is impossible
Aug 24 2020 8:15PM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2647 - Karma: 12,030
I know him quite well. Used to work with him. Pretty sure he was more stoked on being on sgn. Probably a bigger check too. Every pow hond in norway that knows what’s up and got the money skis SGN.The rakkar skis also rip hard.
Aug 27 2020 12:44PM
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