 Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like Marcel Hirscher has parted ways with atomic and has launched his own ski brand “Van Deer” press conference is currently on going but the website has launched.
www.vandeer.ski
They will be hand built in Austria and produce race, freeride and touring skis.
I wonder if he will have success with the brand and what drove the decision to move away from atomic.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Pretty ropey website? Cant find the ski specs, the International websales distributor doesnt have them listed
A bit of an early launch.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Really independent from Atomic or are Amer making and it's a play into super premium for them?
Bode didn't exactly set the world alight with Bomber and has now gone to Crosson which I predict will result in a few very wealthy Americans skiing nice skis and a shrug from the rest of the ski world.
Ski racers sorta sell, retired ski racers - I'm not convinced, though Rahlves has clearly had a respectable role with Atomic Freeride.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Personally I don't think it will work all too well. It takes a little more then just one person on photo to develop skis, no matter if it's race or powder ski, with that it takes even more to develop proper race ski (I have been in World cup long enough to know how much stuff is there behind fast ski development). And one guy, even if that's Hirscher, is simply not enough to do that. So in best case, it will be mediocre ski, which in few years noone will even know about. For first year or two, I'm sure their sale will be high, as lot of people will want them, but after that, I don't think it will work on long run. Other equipment sure, but skis, I don't think so. But let's wait and see, I'm sure I won't have them, but that doesn't mean a thing 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Dave of the Marmottes, so I say they are independent - and I base this on the fact they had look bindings on the skis at the press conference - and as far as I recall look is not affiliated with atomic or amer sports in anyway - had the bindings been atomic then I would have said okay there is some partnership going on.
Then again it may be an atomic factory producing the skis - though can't see why then look bindings are being used.
I guess the difference between Bode and Hirscher is that the latter has near god status in a country that has skiing as the national sport - so he has a much better chance than "bombing" at it like Bode - then again Bode was after a target market and I heard that the ski was phenomenal.
Edit: Just noticed that Dominic Tritscher who is the partner in the project with Hirscher is (maybe was) Atomic's sport marketing manager
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According to the internet, Marcel's Dad used to fettle and try his race skis while Marcel's younger brother has been in the ski manufacturing business for around 15 years.
Most of these type of startups have been using a stars name for marketing a product at a premium but the product hasn't really been better than what's in the market for the same price range. (e.g. Maier & Lasse Kjus sportswear). Jon Olsson has had success with Douchebags though.
Suspect it's the need to still be involved and be prominent in a sector he once truly dominated. He's only 32, a bit young to retire and I think it would kill him to do nothing, he's too driven and needs a challenge.
Many ski stars here go into owning hotels or the sports equipment industry. Maybe it's just a matter of time before he turns up with a frilly shirt on Dancing Stars (like ex tdf cyclist Bernard Kohl).
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Really not a good start for a premium brand putting up a website that google considers insecure.....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Looks like they are made by Augment (formerly Croc) in Mittersill. No idea if Augment own the factory. Now despite extensive pimping on places like Pugski/skitalk I'm not sure Augment have ever had any traction in Europe (certainly no one ever asks about them here - but then we aren't really a wannabe racer forum) so maybe this is really sticking an alternate brand on their stuff to attempt to break out?
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@Dave of the Marmottes, I know people with Augment skis in Europe.
Blossom make skis for other brands as well as selling their own, that business model may work for Augment too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Augment, actually that time still Croc had pretty good first year on WC after they start. Getting chief designer of Nordica race department, who accidentally brought all the data from Nordica with him, made it quite easy to have good GS skis... for a year. But without proper race team, and that means proper testing and development without any serious feedback from top racers, second year (and every new one after that) was just going down, to somewhere like being no company of no relevance nowadays, just few years after start.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Some more development in Marcel’s world, seems he is stealing a few headlines in advance of the World Cup opener.
1. He has followed in the footsteps of Svindal and launched a fashion line with ski apparel https://www.the-mountain-studio.com/
2. Ski helmet is now red bull sponsored - if you recall he use to have his helmet sponsored by raiffeisen
3. The relationship with atomic must have really not been working - he is now in Lange boots! The blue boot is after all the best boot
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You know it makes sense.
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@barracuda, he also got pretty deep into professional level (I think) enduro motocross, until he injured himself pretty badly this summer.
I think he’s just kinda bored and looking for his next big thing after ski racing.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@clarky999, well my OH, an ex-top Fashionista would say that his colour co-ordination is somewhat lacking 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@clarky999, I wouldn't say he's bored. I was talking with him some half year ago, and it felt like he's just having fun. It actually felt like he's having more fun, then when I was seeing him and talking with him on WC races. So enduro, or these skis/clothes is not boredom thing. Enduro was his long time fun, but when you have other job to do, you kinda take it less serious and more carefully, as he shouldn't get injured on enduro, when whole ski season was infront. Skis/clothes is I guess just something to cash in his name and get some decent income out of it. It's understandable, even though I still think skis are not the way to go. But then again, what do I know
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| barracuda wrote: |
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omg, he looks like a holiday billy in that pic. C&A jacket, Peter Storm salopettes badly put on, some gardening gloves and a potty on his head.
actually I've no idea who he is ...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I love his look. I'm dayglo orange and colour matched so everyone knows I'm atgni
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