we make sure they are at least 11

"Dependence Day" by Christoph Niemann

"this just in, the snow in indoor snow stadiums is not made from water, but in fact, comes from the sweat being produced in snowboard factory sweat shops in china." "Support american made sweat." (this may not fit the original statement or make sense, i just thought it was funny, hahaha)

boards look nice, todd. any demo days for this season?

Our web site is awesome. Oh wait, what's that delicious smell? Ah yes...my fart.

Fight for the little guy - Read SNOWBOARD Magazine!

whats yer point

Personality Lost!

So where did this industry go wrong over the past 30+ years that the passion eventually died? Mr. Richards I see that as a professional in this business you have seen things come and go. Also I assume that you have seen Morrow Snowboards change hands a few times, and your clothing sponsor buy out your board sponsor…. so in a way… couldn’t “The Public Advisor” be correct in his / her cast of shame?

As a veteran in the snowboard business there are people that expect more of you then simply cashing in on your famous name by way of moving production of a new board company that you support to a “developing” nation…. under the guise that you had no other choice… only to fuel the profits necessary to continue paying for the lifestyle you enjoyed as a pro. If you truly were down for the “kids” you would do something truly revolutionary…and different then the “norm” of the snowboard manufacturing / marketing business and capitalize on your integrity as someone who truly cares!!!

Since the dawn of the Sherman’s original “snurfer,” Jake, Chuck and Tom’s amazing wooden incarnation’s and the eventual public acceptance of what we now know as snowboarding… the premise has been and always be to have fun riding snow!
It is well known that China is a burgeoning economic superpower, and generous “savings” to corporations doing business there can be had. It is also well known that America is no longer a country that specializes in quality manufacturing, nor does it purvey itself as such.

It does not seem like there is a “buy american” argument going on here, but simply a- “if you truly cared about the kids…then you would care about the kids making the snowboards you sell… for the kids!” argument.

Hate to call you to task Mr. Richards, but if O-Matic is truly “your” company… then please answer to the snowboard world why anyone in their right mind should support your next house payment with their hard earned money when all your doing is no better then the business people that are currently killing this industry that we know and love because of people like you??

krull !!!!!!!!

this doots "profile" is pretty damn funny

China:

Although an emerging economic power of the sorts no average ignorant American can comprehend, is still in the business of Communism. That basically means to those of us who have no knowledge of world events is this:

When you do business in China the money you pay for your goods to be produced will go directly to the Chinese Government first. Then (due to the workings of Communism) will be distributed amongst the people in an anything but equal manor. I.E. the people (although they are working more and have more then they have ever had in their lives...still suffer in ways you or I could never know!)

There is not one person in this world (save for those of Chinese origin who are very close to the government) who can do business in China without the "good grace" of the Chinese Government and inevitably adding dollars (or yuen) to their ever growing bank accounts. Money in China goes to the Government first and the people second.

This is a problem that goes beyond "helping" the Chinese people or even way beyond the argument that "everything you own" is made in China. It is an issue of a truely global scale.

And please don't close your eyes to the fact that everything you buy that has "made in china" stamped on it was made of Chinese Raw Materials in the same low quality environments that your final product was made.
Why do you think your $500.00 Ride or K2 snowboard you bought last year because of their cool team riders and grandeous promotions did not continue to ride the way it did when you bought it. And would it surprise you to know that it only cost the K2 Corporation $10-20 USD to make it?

In the last 3 years I have been "through" the following Chinese made goods:

4 Apple Ipods @$3-400 a piece
1 Apple Laptop @ $1500.00
10 pairs of "Various" brands of shoes that fell apart in places that had nothing to do with skateboarding
5 JBL Surround Sound Speaker Systems for my Computer
1 "motherboard" for a 2001 Ford Focus
1 Craftsman Drill
4 Sanyo Brand Cellular Telephones
2 Pairs of Von Zipper Goggles
5 Sets of "Various" brands of Snowboard Outerwear
2 pairs of Bose Noise Canceling Headphones
1 Mr. Coffee Coffee Maker
2 Pairs of Burton Cartel Bindings
5 Pairs of "Various" brands of snowboard boots
1 Ride Snowboard
2 K2 Snowboards
3 Exteranal Hard Drives
And Countless "Dwindle Distribution" Brand Skateboards...

The point is this:

Any argument made reference "We want to make things affordable," or "we had no other option but to produce in China." is an absolute load of crap! We here in America don't even know that the motor in our new Chevy Equinox was made in China.... but if you found an Equinox owner in middle America he/she would be the first to debate with you why you should not be driving a Toyota. (Which 8 times out of 10 was likely made in America of 90% American Content)

Educate yourself first...then talk shit! Maybe on this website some have been critical. Maybe without even knowing that the very technology that allows them to speak our minds in an open forum format was first developed here in the states...but finally produced in China.

I don't have any answers for the Global nature of what snowboarding is blindly walking into. I do however know that company owners and executives have options outside of "holy shit... we can make so much more money if we move production to ______________ insert "developing" country here." And this money making first, customers second mentality will eventually kill this industry that we all know and love.

I remember the days when Morrow, Lamar, Silence, Avalanche, M3, Ride and Limited were core.....rider represented brands made in North America by people who cared about what they were doing....with materials from quality suppliers.

Now look at how they have become dollars on a corporate balance sheet. Don't think the argument of "making snowboards less expensive for the kids" is the reason that companies make their stuff in China........

Out>

Read into it dear... it will help you in the time to come!