Ethan Korpi has been promoted to the position of Eastern Competitions and Promotions Coordinator and will be responsible for servicing the promotional communities in the Eastern USA. Sam Beck, the new Western Competition and Promotions Coordinator, will cover a large territory servicing the race clubs and freeride programs in the Western USA states but will be based out of Utah.

Gephart Goes Global at K2

K2 Sports promoted Graham Gephart to Global Brand Manager for the K2 Outdoor group. His brand management and global market responsibilities will include the strategic direction, development and execution of all programs relative to the positioning and use of product and brand in the marketplace for the Tubbs and Atlas snowshoe brands and Madshus and Karhu ski brands.

“Graham will lead a very talented and creative group in programs that have distinguished themselves in marketing, events, and branding,” says Jeff Mechura, Global Brand Director for K2 Sports. “Over the past three years, Graham has championed the Atlas, Madshus, and Karhu brands with exceptional capability.”

Swix USA to Distribute Uvex

Swix Sport USA announced it has reached an agreement with Uvex Sports GmbH to become the exclusive distributor of Uvex winter sports products for the U.S. market starting August 1, 2009. The Uvex winter line including snow sports helmets, goggles and sunglasses will be shipped from the Swix Wilmington MA warehouse beginning August 1, 2009. Swix will also assume all sales and marketing functions for the Uvex winter sports products.

Hugo Re-Ups with Kastle

Kästle announces the extension of Canadian freeskiing champion Hugo Harrisson’s professional team contract. Harrisson was the first North American named to the inaugural Kästle Pro Team in 2007. A dedicated big-mountain skier, Harrisson’s input was integral to the design of the MX108, introduced this past season.

We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Hugo,” says Kästle Ltd. president, Siegfried Rumpfhuber. “Hugo has been an invaluable resource in the development of our Freeride line of skis. He combines outstanding skiing skills, and communicates effectively with R&D what he needs out of his equipment. We are currently working and testing on a dedicated big-mountain powder ski, which will be a HH pro model launched next winter.”

NZ Avy Rescue

And way down south, two men were rescued after being buried under tons of snow in New Zealand in an avalanche that was 200 meters wide! The men were heli-skiing the Ragged Range when they triggered the slide. A third member of the party died. Check out the riveting report here in the NZ papers: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2672807/Heroic-guides-dig-out-skiers