Where do you think Slalom is going?

[sAMOa]

Slalom has a future. That future of slalom leans on the obvious.

The future looks great once it gets consistent televised coverage. Info-Commercials might help? Or getting the new generation of slalomers on Coke, Pepsi or Beer commercials highlighting the current race craze. It just needs a few gentle pushes.

Concrete Wave is a great magazine but it has a minute audience compared to the finger-flippin' board crowd. They earned it and to say slalom hasn't would be a mind f*ck but in fact, it has survived many ups and downs. I've watched the sport through the years spike here and there.

With all the slalom organizations promoting the sport today, it seems we should be in good hands. The rest is history being laid. Everyone that slaloms would do the industry justice by simply evangelizing the sport in their locale. Talk, write, organize local contests, get on TV or do whatever it is to get in the public eye. Somewhere, a hotbed will light up fire up the rest of the industry. Until then, it's just a race away or two to get things going.

A slalom spokesman is needed bad for the industry. Pay this guy to present agreed agenda's and systematically attack all sporting industries and potential marketing areas to demand respect Make the dude responsible to making it all happen. Make sure he's a colorful commentator and prolific writer and most of all, he should walk the talk!

But I thought this is what the slalom organizations are supposed to be doing ?

my .02 this morning

cYask8

[Mister Surly]

Go fast. Don't hit cones. Have fun.

I dunno, slalom may hit it big [TV, whatever] or it may stay in the background
for a long time. Either way, it's fun ... it's just fun.

[Speedo]

I wouldn't necessarily blame the shops. They're probably reluctant to devote resources to a board that will sit, and sit, and sit...

There is some validity, there.
They need to be actually SOLD to the public, without losing profits in a big way.
And that is the difference between a motivated salesperson....and a lifeless order-taker.

The cost of cones is also an obstacle to be dealt with, as well as keeping the groups skating together consistently.

Anybody can find an excuse why..... NOT..... to do something.
Slalom is addicting.....like other forms of skating.
Challenges.

[Mile_High_Mark]

There is some validity, there.
They need to be actually SOLD to the public, without losing profits in a big way.
And that is the difference between a motivated salesperson....and a lifeless order-taker.

The cost of cones is also an obstacle to be dealt with, as well as keeping the groups skating together consistently.

Anybody can find an excuse why..... NOT..... to do something.
Slalom is addicting.....like other forms of skating.
Challenges.

Say a slalom complete costs the shop $100. They'll be lucky to sell it for $150, giving them a 33% profit margin. If they take that same $100, they could buy 3-4 pairs of shoes, which they could then keystone (100% markup/50% profit margin). If my job is to keep the lights on, I know which route I'm taking.

[Speedo]

Go fast. Don't hit cones. Have fun.

I dunno, slalom may hit it big [TV, whatever] or it may stay in the background
for a long time. Either way, it's fun ... it's just fun.

There you go!
Safari forever.8)

[Bluedivergary]

The cost of cones is also an obstacle to be dealt with

Challenges.

Boy, I'll say it is... I about fell over when I looked in to buying a set. I thought about tennis ball cans but you cannot stack for easy transport them and they role for ever when they go down. Wal Mart (YUCK) sells orange cones and flat marker type things (for soccer mainly) but they are soft and not "in spec" for a real race. Has anyone had any luck making something or otherwise using something that does not cost $1.50 -$2.00 a peice???? $200 for an additional investment is a huge chunk of coin.

[Momona Boe]

go to the Dollar Store and buy tumblers - usually like a buck a piece

or go to Party City and get "cheerleader cones" , they usually have gold or some dumb color on sale for 89 cents or something.

[EBasil]

Blue, there are "cheer cones" ( use that search term) that do the job for .60 cents a piece. They don't last as long as the better cones, since they're a less flexible plastic that eventually cracks from plinking impacts. However, at the price, it's literally cheaper to just buy more. They're also lighter than the Turner>3dm>Seismic cone, the old Tracker cone, etc... so they'll blow over/away more easily. On the upside, they come in many colors and can be cheaply screen printed with your club or group's name.

[Parallel Man]

"Safety Cones" are collapsible. This way if little Johhny falls on one at soccer practice the cones just smooshes into something soft and then rebounds instead of spearing the little darling through the spine.

Unfortunately, "collapsible" means they will roll up in your wheels like a wad of chewing gum and you will fall down.

Always make sure your cones have the rebound and the strength to "plink" off when hit or at least to stay in shape when rolled under the board.

[Bluedivergary]

Thanks for the advice on the cheer cones. Any idea where to get them? I did a google and spent some time on some cheerleading sites. ((GAG!! I have to go clean my eyeballs now...) Anyway, those sound great, I just need to find them.

[Speedo]

Boy, I'll say it is... I about fell over when I looked in to buying a set. I thought about tennis ball cans but you cannot stack for easy transport them and they role for ever when they go down. Wal Mart (YUCK) sells orange cones and flat marker type things (for soccer mainly) but they are soft and not "in spec" for a real race. Has anyone had any luck making something or otherwise using something that does not cost $1.50 -$2.00 a peice???? $200 for an additional investment is a huge chunk of coin.

Last time I checked / paid for them.....Seismics were $87.50 for 50.

Thanks for the WalMart tip.
The flat cones work well for banked transition slalom.

[claude regnier]

Hmm! Seems like Slalom is going faster downhill and less on da flats, EH!