Message #12572

[jim-ratliff]

Some interesting stuff.

1. I don't have the numbers, but isn't saying Kastle is a non-factor in the total market sort of like saying that Porsche is a non-factor in the total car market? ?The question should be what percentage of their "target market(s)" bought kastle skis last year. ?I would bet that its a pretty good number. ?Is that target market large enough to be a profitable ski company? ?Don't know.

2. Very interesting that Snowboards were down 3.5%, Snowboard Apparel down 6.0%, alpine skis down 3.9%, but Adult alpine 80+mm skis were up 25.4% (a big percentage change but smaller numbers).

3. So the K2/Salomon/Rossignol's of the world are selling a LOT of skis. ?And maybe that "mass appeal" ski si where Head is trying to get rather than actually selling lower volumes of good skis. ?I saw a lot of Heads in rental fleets for the first time last year, looks drawing off the super shape name.