Praxis Skis Needs Your Support

[east or bust]

Why is there so much hype about Heritage Lab Skis and hardly and buzz about Praxis Skis? Beside this thread the brand it appears to be non existent. New Models? Any new tests?
Over the years many good product companies folded due to a lack of sales numbers (as well as for other reasons). A new website would probably help. The website and the topsheets look pretty retro 80s style (not in a good way). The Skis are supposed to be very good, but I am not buying. To much other „hot shit“ out there.

Okay, tell we why I am wrong here?

I think it’s a combination of the fact that HL is producing new models (some that seem to have direct input from forum members) and has a much more prolific presence on the forum. Think of it as it’s own hype program.

Praxis hasn’t really made anything new in a while, which is fine because their shapes and construction are tried and true. But that’s probably not great from a sales perspective. Also realize that Praxis is making skis in NV, they can’t do small batch sales the way HL does and stay afloat. I’m sure Keith would be down to press some new shapes with enough commitments, as he has done in the past, but that ain’t going to keep the lights on.

Between my wife and I we own 5 Praxis skis, they all get skied regularly and currently don’t need any replacements… Well, I do want a backup RX for when my pair finally dies, but not in the cards financially right now.

[Self Jupiter]

Consumers care way too much about the way ski equipment looks, how it is branded and what they think it says about them a skier. I can understand how a company like Praxis thinks that is stupid but stupid sells.

[ex-powderbroker]

praxis has been tweaking their line and production most years so the great skis get better and better but it’s an awfully tough market right now with so much overstock and everyone expecting the most insane deals. in two years maybe keith’s discount of 700$ is going to look really cheap. but it’s tough to see how he can go below that and pay people and for space in tahoe.

[toast2266]

Look at other successful indy ski brands. Very few survive based on the quality of their product alone. They either offer something that very few others do (e.g. Wagner / full custom), employ a strong marketing team to sell skis to the masses (e.g. Moment), or build a cult following through engagement with the users (e.g. ON3P, Heritage Labs).

Praxis doesn't really do any of those things these days. Yes, they make awesome skis, and I love all of mine. And there was a time when it was enough to make good skis with good shapes, because a lot of the companies were making shitty skis with shitty shapes. But that time has passed, and it sure seems like Praxis is going to have to change things up if they want to survive. Hopefully they'll find a way to do that, because I love their skis.

[waxoff]

Consumers care way too much about the way ski equipment looks, how it is branded and what they think it says about them a skier. I can understand how a company like Praxis thinks that is stupid but stupid sells.

I think this hit the head of the nail!

And yo, it wasn't too long ago that the hype for Praxis was quite strong on this forum. Maybe it was partly thanks to the loyalty points system that kept buyers coming back for more, I dunno.

Whatever the reason for change was, the skis are still great.

Hot tip, if you venture off-piste, and you haven't tried them yet, git sum GPO's!

[m2711c]

baker bob was an excellent salesman for the brand on the tgrz… to bad he’s passed on.

praxis Rx


fact.

[googledidoo]

I had been getting ready to buy a pair this season but the custom sale was discontinued. I am not sure if he can make it work financially, but if he could offer semi custom for $800 instead of $1600 I think he would sell a lot more skis.

Hope he can make it. Everyone says Keith is a stand-up guy.

[forumskier]

baker bob was an excellent salesman for the brand on the tgrz… to bad he’s passed on.

praxis Rx


fact.

Too bad indeed.

Praxis Rx

[waxoff]

Too bad indeed.

Praxis Rx

Seconded.

A Praxis Rx toast for Bob. Salute!

[N1CK.]

I grabbed a backup pair of GPO last year when I was worried about Praxis staying in business. It really is a shame but Praxis doesn't do anything to market their brand, even social media exposure is practically zero. You can't grow a company or even maintain status quo if the vast majority of your potential customers don't know about you.

There are a couple pair of RX in the discount page in 184cm and 189cm. Somebody snatch those up!

[waxoff]

I grabbed a backup pair of GPO last year when I was worried about Praxis staying in business.

There are a couple pair of RX in the discount page in 184cm and 189cm. Somebody snatch those up!

Regarding GPO last year, so did I!

Regarding 189 RX, I beg to differ. Only one pair left now..! And that's also for Bob, R.I.P.

[pfluffenmeister]

Picked up a pair of Jedi Mindsticks on last year's sale.
Maybe get em mounted up this season.
Quiver's fat though.

[kid-kapow]

And yo, it wasn't too long ago that the hype for Praxis was quite strong on this forum. !

I think the engagement on the forum is down across all brands, not just wrt Praxis. The number of people who post regularly in the various threads is fairly low - perhaps it will increase with the coming of snow / during the season.

HL is the notable exception, yet since their main market arguable is the nichest of niche people on here that is hardly the argument it is made out to be.

Praxis is awesome. Their current skis are alle looking stellar, yet their pricing policy over the past decade with more or less constant sales does not induce anybody - fanboy or the general public - to buy en masse when the prices revert to something more akin to industry standard (that is actually still fairly low for made in the us skis with wood veneer tops - value for money is still very, very, very good). Man - some of their skis just look so freaking good - I would love to try some of them.

[grinch]

All the big brands are bic pens in comparison to praxis and on3p. As good as some of the big brands have skied they just dont last. A year or 2 on the big brands skis and if the flex isnt dead the base is shredded and the bases and edges need constant attention. Praxis are even slightly tougher and faster than my on3p's which are also tough as nails . I really hope people buy some praxis. I can't afford any atm but more than a few are on my "to buy list". More than a few friends that i got on to praxis have bought a 2nd or a 3rd pair or have said its the only new skis theyd consider.
Skiing at revy the cattrack from the backside is quite flat. Most people have to work to get back around to the frontside on that cattrack. I'm passing 20, 40, 50 people every lap just gliding by. I only remember being passed once or twice and that was someone on some praxis. Its just ridiculously obvious how much better they slide. 10/ 80 day/yrs of passing 500/day on that cattrack alone and i was passed once or twice. Every traverse , cattrack or flat section , slow snow, carrying speed over uphills, adding more turns every lap, they pay dividends over literally everything else. All thats even more important for a touring ski. Add in the durability and there atleast 3-4x better than any of the big brands offerings.
Loved my gpo, protest, yeti, rx, piste jib. I really want to get some of the new mvp 108's and new protests with the new rocker profile.
Keith offers top level customer service and i like how he just makes slight adjustments to some of the skis if he sees a need. Reminds me of toyota. Great product with gradual small refinements. Most people just think a ski is a ski until they try them.
I know, preaching to the choir, but maybe xomeone on the fence or considering a pair might read my ramble

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[waxoff]

^^^^Amen!

[googledidoo]

Praxis is awesome. Their current skis are alle looking stellar, yet their pricing policy over the past decade with more or less constant sales does not induce anybody - fanboy or the general public - to buy en masse when the prices revert to something more akin to industry standard (that is actually still fairly low for made in the us skis with wood veneer tops - value for money is still very, very, very good).

Not sure what you mean? Keith's preseason sales of semi custom skis seemed excellent. I don't see how pricing was the obstacle on the preseason sales. I was ready to pull the trigger and buy a pair last Spring. But he stopped doing it and I couldn't swing the $1600 price tag. If he could have done the sale but had the semi custom pricing at $800 or so I would have been in.

What would be very cool is if Keith and Marshal over at Heritage Labs could partner up together and share overhead and perhaps some advertising.

[jmills]

I think this hit the head of the nail!

And yo, it wasn't too long ago that the hype for Praxis was quite strong on this forum. Maybe it was partly thanks to the loyalty points system that kept buyers coming back for more, I dunno.

Whatever the reason for change was, the skis are still great.

Hot tip, if you venture off-piste, and you haven't tried them yet, git sum GPO's!

I own 3 pair of Praxis skis and bought my one month (at the time) old grandson his first pair for Christmas last year, my veneer GPO has been my DD the last two seasons at AltaBird, a 4 flex 192 Protest was the first ski I bought from Keith and I have had so many great days on them. Last off season I purchased a 188 MVP108 during the custom spring sale, I kept the stock layup and went with a maple veneer and his constellation graphic.
I made my first purchase from Heritage about a month ago and am excited to receive them. I feel like buying from Marshal was very similar in the purchases I’ve made from Keith with them both taking time to talk or exchange multiple emails prior to the purchase.
I am not done buying from Keith and hope he can keep going. My GPO is such a good ski and will replace them before they are dead.

[googledidoo]

If anyone can swing it financially, I urge you to buy another pair of skis from Keith. It sounds like this could definitely be it for him.

[2FUNKY]

Hopefully Keith can keep the lights on with some extra funds for his pocket. Absolutely just love all the protests I’ve been on and own. My favorite ski from him hands down, well the praxis lhasa is pretty sick as well. Not much else intrigues me but I surely hope he keeps it going as others love his various shapes.
Seems his marketing reach is very limited as when I ski my protests, everyone asks questions about the shape but none have ever heard of Praxis.


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[waxoff]

I think the engagement on the forum is down across all brands, not just wrt Praxis. The number of people who post regularly in the various threads is fairly low - perhaps it will increase with the coming of snow / during the season.

HL is the notable exception, yet since their main market arguable is the nichest of niche people on here that is hardly the argument it is made out to be.

Praxis is awesome. Their current skis are alle looking stellar, yet their pricing policy over the past decade with more or less constant sales does not induce anybody - fanboy or the general public - to buy en masse when the prices revert to something more akin to industry standard (that is actually still fairly low for made in the us skis with wood veneer tops - value for money is still very, very, very good). Man - some of their skis just look so freaking good - I would love to try some of them.

Naahhhh, that's not what I meant. Of course, ski and ski brand hype is reduced during the non snow months. Hence the energetic lookout for the turn.

No, I mean through the years, each season, for whatever reason, you'll see one or two shining stars on the firmament. Right now it's mainly HL,

The NW bamboo boys, the Mustasche rocker crew, the Frontiers, and who not. From time to time, they all surface like cream from milk. But on this forum, not often in parallel.

Shit, there even was a time when it was believed that the carbony RP112 skis was the end all, do it all, the salvation, finally, the end of all ski evolution... Turns out it wasn't!

And neither will this years hottest ski be!

But all of the above does not really matter. If you currently fancy any of the Praxis skis, stretch your budget, and just buy them!

[RTsucks]

Would sure suck if Praxis disappeared. I can't afford to buy another pair. Bought the birds of prey frs in spring. I'd put 50, maybe 100, toward a raffle or something.

[stealurface831]

skis aren't in the cards for me right now but i'm grabbing a hoodie and a couple of shirts. implore others to do the same.

[googledidoo]

Love to hear the support for Keith. Great idea stealurface. I can't afford a pair of his sticks right now either but I am going to buy a hoodie for support.

Let's go, guys! If you like Praxis and Keith, it's important to show some support in any way you are able to.

[The Iron Horse]

I've picked up three pairs of skis from Keith in the past year: GPO, Protest, Powderboards. The last one was driven by a fear that the end may be close upon us.

I'm tapped out, but great idea... I just bought a shirt and some stickers. Hopefully it helps.

[ex-powderbroker]

good idea, just did the same