So I go to SIA for a few days, unplug from the internet for the most part and we have a huge shit storm? Typical.
So what the heck was this all about?
Never Summer is trying to do something pretty cool. Giving some forum members a chance to ride gear they haven't released yet and get some feed back from them about what is working for them and what doesn't from the layman. They have their bad ass riders of course, but your recreational rider is also a valid source. I get it.
Several members of this forum, myself included were invited to do this. I've been giving feed back on splitboards for the past few years. Never Summer has also been a huge supporter of Friends of Berthoud Pass which is a not for profit 501(c)3 that I actively volunteer for. Our most basic mission is to raise avalanche knowledge through free basic avalanche awareness classes. This lets people decide if it is something they want to get into without a huge investment. We encourage those who want to learn more to continue their avalanche education. Even though it's a volunteer organization there are a ton of expenses we incur. Never Summer has been a huge part in allowing us to continue our mission for the last few years and I personally thank them. They are a good crew.
The reality is, I have been asked to do something I was already doing. Just now with a name. Several other members had been doing this too.
So what went wrong? I think our presentation fell short. I've been at SIA and had not really been watching the site. I am not a heads down generation person. If I am doing something I generally unplug from the internet. It gets me into life and allows me to keep my sanity when dealing with the forum world. Regardless, the Never Summer forum on our main forum list was probably not the best spot for it. It did portray a large bias that I can understand people taking offense to it. I wanted it contained within the review or snowboard section, but due to my absence, I had never voiced an opinion on how this should have been launched. Even then maybe this would have still blown up in our face. That is the risk with the internet.
This forum is very much pro Neversummer, I won't deny it. Other brands are represented here too, for whatever reason NS is at or near the top. Go to EL and C3 is well represented there. It's just how it has evolved.
None of this was meant to be a secret society. The behind the scenes stuff was trying to get our ducks in a row and our hand got forced. Which lead to mistakes instead of a better planned announcement.
For now the Never Summer forum/sub forum is gone. Maybe it just wasn't going to work. Reviews, if the Team Members choose, will be put in the review forum. At some point I may put up a company review forum, with sub forums built in for various companies. Burton, Arbor, Rome, Never Summer, etc.
Any company that would like to get member input on their products is welcome to approach us. If you'd like to use a group, admins, mods, active members, whoever, that would be awesome. I am not the guy you want to approach if you want feedback on your new freestyle binding or twin tip board. I won't be upset if I am not chosen.
This experiment is not done, but we'll do it differently. We're trying something a little new, the message was heard to tone it down. What was originally envisioned just didn't work. I apologize for the presentation.
If you have a problem with it, by all means let me know. Just one rule: Don't be a jerk about it.
Thanks gang,
-Gary
So what the heck was this all about?
Never Summer is trying to do something pretty cool. Giving some forum members a chance to ride gear they haven't released yet and get some feed back from them about what is working for them and what doesn't from the layman. They have their bad ass riders of course, but your recreational rider is also a valid source. I get it.
Several members of this forum, myself included were invited to do this. I've been giving feed back on splitboards for the past few years. Never Summer has also been a huge supporter of Friends of Berthoud Pass which is a not for profit 501(c)3 that I actively volunteer for. Our most basic mission is to raise avalanche knowledge through free basic avalanche awareness classes. This lets people decide if it is something they want to get into without a huge investment. We encourage those who want to learn more to continue their avalanche education. Even though it's a volunteer organization there are a ton of expenses we incur. Never Summer has been a huge part in allowing us to continue our mission for the last few years and I personally thank them. They are a good crew.
The reality is, I have been asked to do something I was already doing. Just now with a name. Several other members had been doing this too.
So what went wrong? I think our presentation fell short. I've been at SIA and had not really been watching the site. I am not a heads down generation person. If I am doing something I generally unplug from the internet. It gets me into life and allows me to keep my sanity when dealing with the forum world. Regardless, the Never Summer forum on our main forum list was probably not the best spot for it. It did portray a large bias that I can understand people taking offense to it. I wanted it contained within the review or snowboard section, but due to my absence, I had never voiced an opinion on how this should have been launched. Even then maybe this would have still blown up in our face. That is the risk with the internet.
This forum is very much pro Neversummer, I won't deny it. Other brands are represented here too, for whatever reason NS is at or near the top. Go to EL and C3 is well represented there. It's just how it has evolved.
None of this was meant to be a secret society. The behind the scenes stuff was trying to get our ducks in a row and our hand got forced. Which lead to mistakes instead of a better planned announcement.
For now the Never Summer forum/sub forum is gone. Maybe it just wasn't going to work. Reviews, if the Team Members choose, will be put in the review forum. At some point I may put up a company review forum, with sub forums built in for various companies. Burton, Arbor, Rome, Never Summer, etc.
Any company that would like to get member input on their products is welcome to approach us. If you'd like to use a group, admins, mods, active members, whoever, that would be awesome. I am not the guy you want to approach if you want feedback on your new freestyle binding or twin tip board. I won't be upset if I am not chosen.
This experiment is not done, but we'll do it differently. We're trying something a little new, the message was heard to tone it down. What was originally envisioned just didn't work. I apologize for the presentation.
If you have a problem with it, by all means let me know. Just one rule: Don't be a jerk about it.
Thanks gang,
-Gary