Chris Davenport Joins Peak Skis

[Philpug]

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This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Chris Davenport joins Peak Skis. Please add to the discussion here.

 

[Philpug]

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[Alexzn]

I guess Danevport's Kastle gig was over with the new ownership. I imagine Bode and Davenport have very strong opinions on what a ski should look like and ski like, so it will be interesting to see how those visions combine or clash. But this is definitely a powerful endorsement for the brand. Does it make the ski better? Not necessarily. Kastle was a Kastle because of the materials and build that went into the skis, not the name that is written on the ski tail. Time will tell.

 

[fatbob]

It's a good move because Dav fills a lot of weaknesses with Bode. He's been there before with the relaunch of Kastle NA, he puts out personal content and he obviously has a track record as an athlete/investor of sticking with a brand. Probably a good test of whether Bode plays well with others too.

 

[fatbob]

Just one thing, the next person Peak need to employ is SVP of Proofreading

"Recently SCARPA announced that Bode Miller joined Chris as part of their new high-performance SCARPA 4-Quattro boot."

 

[Tricia]

I guess Danevport's Kastle gig was over with the new ownership. I imagine Bode and Davenport have very strong opinions on what a ski should look like and ski like, so it will be interesting to see how those visions combine or clash. But this is definitely a powerful endorsement for the brand. Does it make the ski better? Not necessarily. Kastle was a Kastle because of the materials and build that went into the skis, not the name that is written on the ski tail. Time will tell.

Hopefully we'll get you on this this winter.

 

[Philpug]

I guess Danevport's Kastle gig was over with the new ownership. I imagine Bode and Davenport have very strong opinions on what a ski should look like and ski like, so it will be interesting to see how those visions combine or clash. But this is definitely a powerful endorsement for the brand. Does it make the ski better? Not necessarily. Kastle was a Kastle because of the materials and build that went into the skis, not the name that is written on the ski tail. Time will tell.

He stayed on as an athlete for a few more years then their contract ended leaving him as a free agent. As shocked as I was when I heard about this a few weeks ago, the more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. I think it is a great opportunity for Chris to keep his fingers in the development side and it gives Peak another level of credibility, viability and stablity as a company and that isn't just a whim venture for Bode as some have assumed.

 

[Swiss Toni]

He kept his Kästle shares after the takeover, assuming he hasn’t sold them in the meantime he owns 0.4% of Kastle.

The big news for me is the appointment of Darrin Haugen formally K2’s senior global product director for ski products as Peak’s vice president of innovation, design & production as he will be doing the heavy lifting.

 

[Wasatchman]

These moves are interesting. To me it adds a lot more credibility. While it's not easy starting a new ski brand, and success is by no means a given, I feel like okay, game on, these guys are making a serious go of this venture. There seems to be much more "heft" this time around versus other attempts Bode participated in.

 

[Philpug]

The big news for me is the appointment of Darrin Haugen formally K2’s senior global product director for ski products as Peak’s vice president of innovation, design & production as he will be doing the heavy lifting.

As I said, they are putting together an all-star line up for sure.

 

[no edge]

I think I am going to feel a bit abandoned - FX94

 

[jimtransition]

Dav lent me a pair of Peak 98s to try here in Portillo last week, they skied pretty well! He's stoked on the new deal and says he will be doing a separate touring line.

 

[Tricia]

These moves are interesting. To me it adds a lot more credibility. While it's not easy starting a new ski brand, and success is by no means a given, I feel like okay, game on, these guys are making a serious go of this venture. There seems to be much more "heft" this time around versus other attempts Bode participated in.

In a deeper, behind the scenes conversation with Bode he said that he had hoped to have more hands on influence with the previous brands he was with which didn't happen and he wasn't really able to do what he'd hoped. He emphasized that this is it for him because he's finally able to build the skis he wants to build.

Dav lent me a pair of Peak 98s to try here in Portillo last week, they skied pretty well! He's stoked on the new deal and says he will be doing a separate touring line.

Chris said that he had gotten several people on the skis while he was in Portillo and was super excited to get the feedback that he got.

For those of you who want to watch sections of the video without watching the whole thing at one time, (it is 46 minutes long) there are chapters with the descriptions in the description so you can zoom to the part you want to read about.

 

[Philpug]

Here is a virtual video depicting Peak's new showroom ...

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We look forward being there at the grand opening next week!

 

[fatbob]

^ Have to say I don't really get it - you're a DTC brand but then you spend what is presumably not a negligible amount of money on something that looks a bit like a retail store except with not much in it? Why is anyone goining to travel more than a block or so to go to the showroom? Just so they can lust over skis mounted to displays and buy a hoodie? It works I guess as a event space but then you need to be having regular events.

Is it walk in in a high footfall area like the Icelantic "gallery"?

Guess it will become clear when they open.

 

[no edge]

Sales people are going to repeat themselves alot. Could be a long day.

 

[Andy Mink]

Here is a virtual video depicting Peak's new showroom ...

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We look forward being there at the grand opening next week!

I like the knife counter. Interesting in a ski shop.

 

[fatbob]

Is it also wrong that the hybrid of clubhousey look and computer rendering brought back flashbacks of this?

Warning - not for those of sensitive disposition/fans of quality acting etc

 

[tomahawkins]

I like the knife counter. Interesting in a ski shop.

No axe throwing corner?

 

[Tom K.]

I don't really follow the industry, but this caught my eye because I read an interview with Chris once.

My favorite line was when he said that he always tried to ski like he had a firecracker in his pants when he was being filmed.