Reverse sidecut salvation

[jk]

Some swiss dudes are taking action to save the reverse sidecut skis (Volant is going stop making them after the Atomic takeover aren`t they?). Could be interesting!




Check them out here

[Plakespear]

Dimesnsions look to be about 13mm wider overall than the Spatulas. Birdos+ 133mm, 137mm, 129mm Spatula=120-125-115

I may have to get a pair.

[CantDog]

Arent Birdos made by someone on the board, or a friend of someone on the board? I always remember that link popping up in spatula conversations.

[Dromond]

Yes! I skied with Dan for a week in Andermatt. This guy has a HUGE passion for skiing. Honestly he is one of the nicest guys I've met and a sick skier to boot.

I believe he made the first prototypes in his garage back in the states. I belive that they're a 1cm or so wider than the Spatulas? I didn't get to try out a pair as he only had one set and they were mounted with tele bindings; however one test rider remarked that they made the mountain feel small.

I remember discussing topsheet ideas over dinner; I must say I approve of the choice

[bisnibble]

Nice..... Wood= happy BIZZZ

[splat]

I've been talking to Dan. We might get together when he's back to do something.

[Mulletizer]

Respec' to anyone making their own skis or setting up a boutique factory.

That's not Dan Graf is it? The dude who is big into custom snowboards? I assume that their skis would be made differently if so...

It seems there is definitely a hole in the market for a spatualesque ski. Looking forward to riding them some time.

[Dromond]

Originally posted by Mulletizer
Respec' to anyone making their own skis or setting up a boutique factory.

That's not Dan Graf is it? The dude who is big into custom snowboards? I assume that their skis would be made differently if so...

It seems there is definitely a hole in the market for a spatualesque ski. Looking forward to riding them some time.

Nah, different Dan.

Maybe he'll send a demo pair to one of the maggot get togethers, that would be rad.

[joshbu]

Who owns the spatula patent?

If it's still Atomic, they might be able to make this guy's life pretty difficult...

[CaddyDaddy77]

Cool site. I remember the thread with a pic of those somewhere, Idris maybe? If I remember correctly, they were maroon?

Wish they had some more info on the building of them.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by joshbu
Who owns the spatula patent?

I think one of the holders in Senor Cliff Huckstable himself.

[Dromond]

Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77
Cool site. I remember the thread with a pic of those somewhere, Idris maybe? If I remember correctly, they were maroon?

Wish they had some more info on the building of them.

I posted the site awhile back. The only other color I remember was an off-green fiberglass, but maybe there's a pair I haven't seen.

Dan told me about the whole process, pretty interesting. Apparently shaping the core required some sort of rigged up suction table to keep it flat on the thin bits (tip and tail.) More complex than one might imagine.

[Alkasquawlik]

Originally posted by Plakespear
I think one of the holders in Senor Cliff Huckstable himself.

Nope siree bob. Over many, many, many beers (we got wasted) McShlonk and I discussed his whole entire ski situation. Atomic bought nearly everything from Volant. I say nearly because they didn't buy McConkey (that's why he no longer has a ski sponsor), but they did buy the patent to the Spatula. BUT, McConkey may have an option to buy the mold from Atomic and start producing the Spatula out of his garage. It's an option he might do, but it involves a shit load of work that McConkey might not really want to do. For god sakes the guys skis for a living, he doesn't want to start working now.

[bad_roo]

Maggot fundraiser to buy the mold?

[glademaster]

I'm in.

[Snow Dog]

I have room in my garage.

[splat]

I've been talking to Shane the past week about this. He's signing on with a new sponsor soon. And PM Gear is gearing up to make some private label skis for a company that started up last year. I told Shane we're in a position to make the Spats and he's very interested. I'll post if something gels.

[EstoBum]

Splat,
I've got a full time job interview comming up next month. If that doesn't workout I might be interested in lending my 'expertiese'

[lph]

Originally posted by Alkasquawlik
Nope siree bob. Over many, many, many beers (we got wasted) McShlonk and I discussed his whole entire ski situation. Atomic bought nearly everything from Volant. I say nearly because they didn't buy McConkey (that's why he no longer has a ski sponsor), but they did buy the patent to the Spatula. BUT, McConkey may have an option to buy the mold from Atomic and start producing the Spatula out of his garage. It's an option he might do, but it involves a shit load of work that McConkey might not really want to do. For god sakes the guys skis for a living, he doesn't want to start working now.

Thats weird, when someone found the patent application for the spatula in a previous thread, Shane's was one of three individual names listed on the patent application. volants name was no where on the application. maybe applying for a patent and having the actual ski/patent are two different things.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Patent Thread.

Curious to see what happens with this.

[joshbu]

Originally posted by lph
Thats weird, when someone found the patent application for the spatula in a previous thread, Shane's was one of three individual names listed on the patent application. volants name was no where on the application. maybe applying for a patent and having the actual ski/patent are two different things.

I don't think entities like corporations can file for patents. Their employees can, and I would assume they have the same "all your base are belong to us" boilerplate in their contracts which turns over ownership of the patent to the corporation upon filing. Notice the other two duders are from Fort Collins. Almost certainly Volant enginerds.

I guess we just have to see how Atomic plays this.

[crashnburn'd]

Originally posted by joshbu
...I would assume they have the same "all your base are belong to us" boilerplate in their contracts which turns over ownership of the patent to the corporation upon filing.

Notice the other two duders are from Fort Collins. Almost certainly Volant enginerds.

In any sort of engineering job you generally sign yourself and your brain over to the company the day you start work. Most go so far as saying if you develop anything relavent to your work outside of work, it belongs to them not you because you are using experience and skills they provided to make it... But, this is a US patent? It doesn't apply outside the US right (legal maggot?) ? If it does, just go to China, they don't care about patents there...

[Alkasquawlik]

lph- All I know is what Shane told me. I definitely asked him specifically who owns the patent and he definitely said it wasn't him. Maybe somehow in the purchase of Volant, Atomic took over the entire patent. Also, Austrian patent laws are suuuuppppeerr different than American patent laws. For instance, there are many record companies in Austria that simply copy American music (a lot of punk bands) put it under a different label and re-sell it back to Americans.

-I think Cn'B might have it correct too.

[gonzo]

Yeah Splat! Where's my royalty contract?

[glademaster]

Those Birdos look pretty damn nice. A pair of those in the 174CM length would prolly be the best EC powder day ski ever. Super fat, short, slide-able, perfect for tight woods and creekbeds. I may have to order a pair.

-Ben