kent sporting goods article or open letter on stokemeter

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

someone else posted this on wakeworld, and now I'm posting it here. You should probably read it.

http://stokemeter.com/2011/03/19/water-sports-turmoil/

fastgreens · Kickflip Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 3563 City: baytown

electricsnow,

thanks... that kind of suprised me to see that the wake industry is that cut throat, but i guess in the long run... business is business, nothing is personal (except obviously, the anonymous author), and its all about the almighty dollar.

do you think he would have a reason to put Silas on the radar?

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

I actually tend to agree with that article more than the "business is business" idea. I said this elsewhere and I understand protecting one's technology, but I don't believe in BS manuvers to monopolize the industry. I mean, why put out this vibe that you care so much about wakeboarding but aren't willing to let anyone else in or stay in to help progress and change things?

I actually don't understand your question about silas because I never saw him in that article. i think right now, the bottom line in wakeskating is that every company is too small and probably isn't affecting their game too much. plus, they have a crappy wakeskate patent (which is actually bodyboarding technology and NOT wakeskate technology). someone else has a functional patent and liquid and the other big companies (and only the big companies) had to pay a licensing fee because they infringed upon that patent.

GnarShredd · Backside 180 Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 1529 City: Seattle

Well, I guess I'm not surprised. It's a huge bummer though. If it's true, I may not be buying any more LF product from here on out to support other companies.

I've noticed the other brands at the cable have disappeared leaving only Liquid Force in the shop (granted, they're an LF sponsored park, but Slingshot in particular did HUGE things for them to get people stoked on cable riding, sucks to see Slingy get forced out for these types of reasons).

electricsnow · cassette Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 10735 City: Jefferton

more wakeboarding patent updates/agreements from stokemeter (via wakeworld) : http://stokemeter.com/2011/03/24/slingshot-sports-and-liquid-force-exchange-intellectual-property-rights/