The Ski Club
- Thread starter vsbabolat
- Start date
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
The one on the left.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Made in Austria
Made in Austria
Made in Taiwan
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
@retrowagen This was a very tricky one. They are both Made in Austria. The one on top is the last cosmetic Made in Austria.
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Sneaky! That was indeed the last cosmetic variant made in Austria.
dje31
Professional
Looking back to when this was a common-ish thing ( '70s-'80s ) , it made sense from the MFG aspect as well as the retail chain. Composites in tennis were taking off, and they often shared similar construction / MFG techniques from the ski side.
On the retail side, in northern climes, the same shop could sell skis in the winter months, and tennis in summer months, and be a dealer for a common brand. Both the MFR and the retail folks could benefit from year-round sales, from two seasonal sports.
It doesn't hurt that skiing and tennis are generally considered high-end / rich person's sports. And the image-conscious folks could show off that they use the same brand in two different sports.
On the retail side, in northern climes, the same shop could sell skis in the winter months, and tennis in summer months, and be a dealer for a common brand. Both the MFR and the retail folks could benefit from year-round sales, from two seasonal sports.
It doesn't hurt that skiing and tennis are generally considered high-end / rich person's sports. And the image-conscious folks could show off that they use the same brand in two different sports.
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Sanglier
Professional
How about a photo of both racquets AND skis?
I also had a Volkl hat, a Volkl shirt, a pair of Volkl shorts, Volkl wrist bands, Volkl socks and Volkl tennis shoes. All but the wrist bands are gone now. The shoes were the first to die; as their soles turned into cheese melt the first time I played in them (they had been in storage for a few years when I got them).
I was a Volkl nut.
The "Gemini II" in the middle, At $600 retail, were the most expensive skis Volkl sold between 1986 and 1988. They are asymmetric: with a cracked-edge slalom cut on one side, and solid edge GS side cut on the other, while the left and right skis are mirror images of each other. I got them through a store employee discount program, when Volkl got rid of their dead stock in '89='90.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Nice collection of Völkl skis and racquetsHow about a photo of both racquets AND skis?
I also had a Volkl hat, a Volkl shirt, a pair of Volkl shorts, Volkl wrist bands, Volkl socks and Volkl tennis shoes. All but the wrist bands are gone now. The shoes were the first to die; as their soles turned into cheese melt the first time I played in them (they had been in storage for a few years when I got them).
I was a Volkl nut.
The "Gemini II" in the middle, At $600 retail, were the most expensive skis Volkl sold between 1986 and 1988. They are asymmetric: with a cracked-edge slalom cut on one side, and solid edge GS side cut on the other, while the left and right skis are mirror images of each other. I got them through a store employee discount program, when Volkl got rid of their dead stock in '89='90.
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
A certain German brand seems to be the Völkl point of Sanglier's collecting! Haha
Sanglier
Professional
coachrick
Hall of Fame
I 'see' what you did there!
coachrick
Hall of Fame
You folks might remember my 'downsizing' about 2.5 years ago, at which time I disposed of my pre-1940s collection and put my '70s and later rackets into storage. You're going to make me pull out my collection of Fischer sticks from the '70s...IF I can get my act together...maybe during the holidays!
Sanglier
Professional
The Coach is back! Thought you had given up on us after disappearing for more than a year... We could have benefitted from your input on some of the threads while you were on break! At least you got to keep your "HOF" status and didn't have to re-register as a "New User" like schu47 did...
coachrick
Hall of Fame
I've dropped in a time or two...thanks for thinking of me! I'm so far out of the loop, it's amazing. Both cowboy brother and his hitting partner are about once a month now instead of every Sunday drills. I think I've strung three rackets since we moved!!!
I'll do better...promise
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Hey, welcome back, Coach! We've missed you around here.I 'see' what you did there!
coachrick
Hall of Fame
Sanglier
Professional
When K2 briefly ventured into the tennis domain, the Mahre brothers era had already been over for a while. However, the statement above made me wonder what was actually under the skin of the K2 racquets. I would have assumed that by that time, anyone who was trying to not lose money in this business was heading to Asia to have the racquets made, but who knows, maybe the investors and execs at K2 thought differently?
The GF-M (Graphite Fiberglass - Micro?) frame below, with its micro-esque 22x22 string pattern, looks somewhat like a cross between a Black Ace and a Prestige, and proudly announces on its skin that "all K2 rackets are completely designed and developed in West Germany" (suggesting a pre-1990 origin), without mentioning the actual location of its manufacture.
The same text also claims that "this construction of excellent balance reduces vibration and protects your elbow enormously", suggesting that no native English-speaking Marcom personnel took part in this project, which must have taken place without any direct involvement from the Seattle office.
The frame weighs 332 g strung, is 10 Pt HL, and has a 312 measured swing weight. It came from a vendor in Poland.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
When K2 briefly ventured into the tennis domain, the Mahre brothers era had already been over for a while. However, the statement above made me wonder what was actually under the skin of the K2 racquets. I would have assumed that by that time, anyone who was trying to not lose money in this business was heading to Asia to have the racquets made, but who knows, maybe the investors and execs at K2 thought differently?
The GF-M (Graphite Fiberglass - Micro?) frame below, with its micro-esque 22x22 string pattern, looks somewhat like a cross between a Black Ace and a Prestige, and proudly announces on its skin that "all K2 rackets are completely designed and developed in West Germany" (suggesting a pre-1990 origin), without mentioning the actual location of its manufacture.
The same text also claims that "this construction of excellent balance reduces vibration and protects your elbow enormously", suggesting that no native English-speaking Marcom personnel took part in this project, which must have taken place without any direct involvement from the Seattle office.
The frame weighs 332 g strung, is 10 Pt HL, and has a 312 measured swing weight. It came from a vendor in Poland.
Thanks! Thats really fascinating! The head shape and grommet channel scream Prestige Pro
retrowagen
Hall of Fame
That's my first impression, too! No grip collar, though, and ten mains through the throat bridge (as opposed to eight).
Fascinating stuff.
Possibly pressed by Völkl or Erbacher - the only two German factories I am aware of producing composite frames in the late 1980's - but both competitors to K2 in the ski marketplace, so that makes little sense in context to ski or tennis.
Fascinating stuff!
dje31
Professional
Probably unrelated, but a few years ago, K2 and Volkl, at least the latter's ski side, were owned by the same holding company. Wouldn't surprise me if Volkl did the racquet for K2.
Lots of backroom deals going on behind the scenes that the general public never hears or knows about...even between so-called competitors.
Lots of backroom deals going on behind the scenes that the general public never hears or knows about...even between so-called competitors.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
K2 bought Volkl in Dec 2004. Then Jarden gobbled them up and other brands that were in the group in 2007 for $1.2 billion. Now Rubbermade bought Jarden and all of their holdings that include Volkl and K2 for $13 billion.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
My latest Ski!
I just can't believe that the recommend string tension is 62-70lbs on these racquets. That just seems insanely high to me. I was thinking of string this beauty up at 55lbs. @retrowagen what are your thoughts on this?
I just can't believe that the recommend string tension is 62-70lbs on these racquets. That just seems insanely high to me. I was thinking of string this beauty up at 55lbs. @retrowagen what are your thoughts on this?
dje31
Professional
I'll see your Fischer and raise you with Rossignol. Ditto for both.
Autodidactic player
Professional
A few of my Fischers:
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Ja, @vsbabolat , 55 pounds sounds just about perfect! My concurrent Superform XL is strung at 45 presently, and it's much too trampoliney... No control.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Nice Fischer's! What is the name of the Wood one that's silver?A few of my Fischers:
Autodidactic player
Professional
There is only one wood racket pictured, it's the third one from the left in the last picture. It's called the "King Size Compound". The two silver rackets are the "Stan Smith" (left) and the "Powershot" (right). Both are graphite composites. I have one other Fischer woodie, the "Power Wood":
dje31
Professional
A quartet of Volkls. It's funny, growing up in the Northeast in the 80s I always equated skiing and tennis. Most of the ski shops upstate also sold tennis racquets and most of the tennis shops sold skis. I guess the brand sharing helped that. Never thought of it that way.
Between the seasonal nature of each sport in the northeast, and single vendor sourcing for two different sports, it made sense to do so.
And yes, both have typically been considered "rich white people sports." Just add golf...
macattack
Professional
Yes, I was thinking golf as well. Good call. The seasonal nature of the sports make sense too.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Yes, The Kingsize Compound! That the one. I always wanted to hit with one of those.There is only one wood racket pictured, it's the third one from the left in the last picture. It's called the "King Size Compound". The two silver rackets are the "Stan Smith" (left) and the "Powershot" (right). Both are graphite composites. I have one other Fischer woodie, the "Power Wood":
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Dankeschön!
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retrowagen
Hall of Fame
Bitteschön!
PT630Wannabe
Professional
I just found a Rossignol F-200 Carbon at the thrift store. So I'm in the club by a nose.
PT630Wannabe
Professional
PT630Wannabe
Professional
Oh wait, I was already in the club!
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
I have one that I need to string up.
PT630Wannabe
Professional
It's quite a weighty beast, isn't it?
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
Yes, and very flexible.
Please write your impressions when you will try these two. Interesting if there any differencies in play? Thank you.Posted this in the C10 Pro thread, but figured I'd drop the pictures in here as well. One fishscale and one bumblebee. Very excited to try these after having so much success with the PB10 Mid.
Please write your impressions when you will try these two. Interesting if there any differencies in play? hankPosted this in the C10 Pro thread, but figured I'd drop the pictures in here as well. One fishscale and one bumblebee. Very excited to try these after having so much success with the PB10 Mid.
