Disappointing turnout at sled movie premiere

[Jorli]

I attended two sport related movie premieres in Whistler this last weekend. A snowboard movie on Saturday titled "Hello World" and "Braaap 10" on Sunday. The films are more or less comparable to one another, industry to industry.

Both premieres were held at the same venue- The Garibaldi Lift Co.

Both film Premieres were well marketed, both had posters in many of the same locations.

The difference,

(Besides a Saturday showing and a Sunday showing, I would normally think because the sled film was held on Sunday, it could explain the poor turnout, however the club across the way completely packed body to body and just going off.)

The snowboard movie was totally packed, the establishment was way over capacity and they shut the door to a long line of people at 9 PM, the film showed at 11 PM. People were stoked and there was lots of industry support.

The sled movie in contrast was dead empty, and by no fault of the promoter, she did an excellent job of promoting the event.

This is very disappointing to see that snowmobiling isn't competitive in the marketplace of public interest. We all know the sport is a hell of a lot more fun, but this industry is in big trouble if it can't (refuse, won't, kicking and screaming, dead silence) communicate this.

When are these OE's going to figure out that they missing tremendous opportunities by NOT SUPPORTING THE SPORT? What BS excuse do they have?

This is beyond painful, seeing a slow motion car crash that never seems to end.

 

[raceu4it]

way easier mentallity, financial, room wise, and skills wise to be a boarder/skier.

 

[Jorli]

Yes, however sledding isn't even drawing an audience....I watch all sorts of things that I may never do.

 

[ruffryder]

way easier mentallity, financial, room wise, and skills wise to be a boarder/skier.

Yah, I don't think the market is that big, nor will it ever get there. This is a niche sport, not mainstream.

 

[tudizzle]

way easier mentallity, financial, room wise, and skills wise to be a boarder/skier.

It takes less skill to ride a sled at a basic level than it does to snowboard or ski at a basic level. Beyond that arguments could be made on both sides.

The gap between the millions of US skiers and the several hundred thousand's of sledders will never be gapped. For several obvious reasons, none more clear than money. An entire family of 5 could ski all season on what it would cost one of them to snowmobile the same number of days.


For this reason alone the ski/board side of the industry has matured to a different level.

As for the premiere...

Simple numbers game....fold in a Sunday Premier (even mainstream hit movies see a marked drop in sales on a Sunday) and your bound to get a smaller turnout.

 

[mtnpull]

It takes less skill to ride a sled at a basic level than it does to snowboard or ski at a basic level. Beyond that arguments could be made on both sides.

The gap between the millions of US skiers and the several hundred thousand's of sledders will never be gapped. For several obvious reasons, none more clear than money. An entire family of 5 could ski all season on what it would cost one of them to snowmobile the same number of days.


For this reason alone the ski/board side of the industry has matured to a different level.

As for the premiere...

Simple numbers game....fold in a Sunday Premier (even mainstream hit movies see a marked drop in sales on a Sunday) and your bound to get a smaller turnout.

You hit it right on the head diz. And even on an advanced level, skiing takes a lot more skill. This is coming from a guy who used to ski close to 90 days a year for many, many years. I now snowmobile almost exclusively.

 

[Jorli]

Whatever reason there is, there isn't a tremendous amount of interest in our sport from anybody. Not the local sledders, and no one else.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I think each sport has its equal levels of skill, there arent very many expert sledders like some of the skier, such as burandt. What would help is if the sledder could work some action into a board/ski vid that goes with the film to show what else there is to offer. I have seen boarders do some insane stuff and ridding so so sleds to get around, then when someone drops the same ridge or climbs the hill they just came down thinking it was the chit, there eyes light up, they never had a clue what could be done and most have no idea how exhilarating it can be when done to the full extent. The problem is it takes one hell of sled and a lot of money. I've got a few hooked but its not easy, almost like there in denial then they can't get enough. You need some bad a$$ boarders to do a vid with sleds doing unreal stuff to make it appear like your not a real boarder without a trick sled to back up your skill. If you get that hook set I think things would change. Don't forget 15 years ago sleds became mountain sleds and skier had been kicking a$$ for years. in only the last few years look what we are doing on sleds, not to many people know, they think we are still riding around on lakes.

 

[backcountryislife]

You've got to understand the different mentality of both as well.

Skiing... Lets go hang in traffic, then wait in lift lines, then hang out with thousands of other people... basically every city gaper feels comfy in that situation.

Sledding... you're on your own with a few buddies. no lines, nowhere near the social aspect, nowhere near the homofashionshow... it scares people.

I've rode for a living for many years (I was a ghey hardboot racer for a long time, but also competed in everything else), and about 4 years ago went to 99.99% sled. They're VERY different groups. There's some crossover, but it's not as common as we'd like to think.

Also, the kind of person that can afford sleds (at a higher level anyhow) is more established & less likely to be hanging out at a club on a Sunday night (yeah, we've got a JOB to go to on Monday...)

That said... went to the ten high VII premiere in Fort Collins on sat... PACKED & a line out the door still at midnight when we left.


they can keep their tall tees, dropped pants & other pitiful markings of the ski industry on the slopes where they still don't belong, I'm glad we're two very different demographics.

If some douche showed up in the BC with long sleeves over his hands, tall cotton tee sticking out under his jacket by a foot, pants down & no gloves... He'd get his sally *** kicked!!!! (yeah, I was happy to leave that scene in case you can't tell!! )

 

[WatchThis!!!]

Jorli what would you like to see from the OE's to the industry?

 

[94fordguy]

You've got to understand the different mentality of both as well.

Skiing... Lets go hang in traffic, then wait in lift lines, then hang out with thousands of other people... basically every city gaper feels comfy in that situation.

Sledding... you're on your own with a few buddies. no lines, nowhere near the social aspect, nowhere near the homofashionshow... it scares people.



Also, the kind of person that can afford sleds (at a higher level anyhow) is more established & less likely to be hanging out at a club on a Sunday night (yeah, we've got a JOB to go to on Monday...)

That said... went to the ten high VII premiere in Fort Collins on sat... PACKED & a line out the door still at midnight when we left.

I gotta agree with these points.... Anything on a Sunday is gonna get less turnout, regardless of what it is.

 

[Jorli]

Jorli what would you like to see from the OE's to the industry?

Its too long a list to get into, see; Every other adventure sport for details.

The bottom line is reciprocating support, which in turn bring tremendous benefit to back to them.

If you guys think the content in OE catalogue footage on the web is enough to define your sledding experience, then there isn't any point in the rest of us producing sled films.

Its funny reading through the post and seeing the mentality of how every sledder feels its their own soul bro experience and everyone else can go f-themselves, its the same mentality that doesn't show up to voice concern over land closures either. We have no since of community and no strength as individuals, the OEs are content in being self destructive as are the customers. This entire industry is full of idiots. The attendance to these film premieres is telling of the sports future. Fourcast had the same theatrical response; poor.

 

[WatchThis!!!]

clicky much

 

[WatchThis!!!]

clicky much

 

[WatchThis!!!]

I'm watching Lavalle on Fuel TV as I type this. Red Bull is putting on a show called Insane Cinema that showcases their sponsored athletes doing what they do best. It's pretty damn cool that this so called "declining, un-interesting" sport is making an appearance on a major action sports channel. Now if we could just get the big energy guys to invest into extreme backcountry freeriding like they do MX, boarding/skiing we would get this sport going big like it should be. Maybe I'm just biased but I think what KJ, Burandt, Turcotte etc do is much much more badass then watching Shaun White flip around in a half pipe. Not saying I would or could do that but from a viewer's perspective It just has more WOW factor.

My .02 cents!

 

[Jorli]

I'm watching Lavalle on Fuel TV as I type this. Red Bull is putting on a show called Insane Cinema that showcases their sponsored athletes doing what they do best. It's pretty damn cool that this so called "declining, un-interesting" sport is making an appearance on a major action sports channel. Now if we could just get the big energy guys to invest into extreme backcountry freeriding like they do MX, boarding/skiing we would get this sport going big like it should be. Maybe I'm just biased but I think what KJ, Burandt, Turcotte etc do is much much more badass then watching Shaun White flip around in a half pipe. Not saying I would or could do that but from a viewer's perspective It just has more WOW factor.

My .02 cents!

Jay, the problem is that you are one of the few people that see value in showing the best of the sport to others, the crustys just don't get it. I know you are an incredibly talented rider and I hope for your sake that you are wise with your money and are careful with how much you invest in this sport, because there may not be anything there for you down the road. I'm not being negative, but a word of caution from someone that is seeing everyone around him completely fed up with this industry. Its really tragic to see the measure of disappointment and frustration from top level riders and people in this community. Apparently the OEs see zero value in a rider like KJ. The guy can't even get a deal on a sled. What a ****ing joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Idiots!!!!

I'm putting a call out to any dealer that wants to benefit from having KJ on their brand's product, If you have an imagination, I'm sure you can think about how to benefit from that exposure, send me a message and I'll put you in touch with him.

 

[Raff_9001M]

One question I have for the group is how many folks are influenced to purchase products or even sleds based on what they see in sled videos?

 

[k-dog]

Yes on products but not sleds.

 

[Jorli]

I bought my first sled to snowboard, I bought my second sled after watching Blair Morgan whipping it out in Slednecks 2 or 3, a 1998 Arctic Cat ZR 440 Sno Pro. After that, I quit snowboarding.

Who was used to get the word out on the dominance of the Rev, BM?

How many ACs do you think Burandt sold, then how ACs didn't work when Burandt changed to Polaris?

 

[Raff_9001M]

I bought my first sled to snowboard, I bought my second sled after watching Blair Morgan whipping it out in Slednecks 2 or 3, a 1998 Arctic Cat ZR 440 Sno Pro. After that, I quit snowboarding.

How many ACs do you think Burandt sold, then how ACs didn't work when Burandt changed to Polaris?

That is the million dollar question. If OEM's or aftermarket companies believe that customers buys products they see on videos then they will support the video industry, if they don't believe that - they won't.

Jorli: you produced a great movie in Fourcast last year. One more question I have is how much support financially from the OEM's is adequate and do these companies have that capital at their disposal?