K2 Sports

K2 Inc.

Type	Private company subsidiary of Jarden Corp.
Industry	Sporting goods; Action Sports; Running
Founded	1962
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington;
Key people	Robert F. Marcovitch: President and CEO; Jeff Mechura: SVP of Marketing;
Products	Snow Skis, Snowboards,, Ski Boots, Athletic shoes, apparel, sports equipment accessories; others
Revenue	US$718.5 million (2003)
Number of employees	Approx 500 globally
Website	www.k2sports.com

K2 Corporation was founded in 1962 by brothers Bill and Don Kirschner on Vashon Island, near Seattle, Washington in the United States. K2 is known for pioneering fiberglass ski technology, which made skis significantly lighter and more lively than their wood and metal contemporaries. Famous users of K2 skis include Seth Morrison, pro champion Spider Sabich, World Cup and Olympic champion Phil Mahre, and his twin brother Steve Mahre, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist.

In late 1969, the company's rapid growth required new capital and Bill Kirschner decided a well-financed partner was necessary. The company was acquired by the Cummins Engine Company of Columbus, Indiana. Then in November 1976, the company was acquired by a private group of Northwest investors. The group, called Sitca, purchased K2 and its subsidiary, Jansport.

In 1982, company management purchased all outstanding shares of Sitca Corporation from the group of Northwest investors. Management decided to concentrate all resources on the alpine ski market. It sold its Jansport subsidiary, distribution subsidiaries in Canada, France and Austria, and majority ownership of the Swiss distribution subsidiary

In September 1985, Anthony Industries, Inc. acquired 100 percent of the stock of Sitca Corporation. Anthony, an NYSE listed company, develops and manufactures products for leisure and recreational markets under many brand names.^[1]

In 1995, Anthony Industries sold off its Anthony Pools division to its rival, Sylvan Pools, and changed its name to K2, Inc. By 2000, board member Richard Heckmann had assumed control and embarked on a vigorous growth program. In order to remain financially competitive, K2 moved its manufacturing from Vashon Island to Seattle in 2001.^[2] On June 22, 2006, K2 announced it was moving its business office from Vashon Island to Seattle's Industrial District.^[3]

On April 25, 2007 Jarden Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire K2, Inc. for a cash and stock value per share of $15.50. Jarden is controlled by Martin Franklin, a British investor and triathlete.^[4]

Product lines

It is important to note that while there is some overlap in the companies that K2 owns (e.g. K2 also owns Line, which compete directly with K2's self-branded skis), the separate companies retain control of their respective product lines. For all intents and purposes, they are completely different companies.

K2 Branded Product Lines

• K2 Skis
• K2 Skates
• K2 Snowboards^[5]
• K2 Bikes

Other Brands

• Völkl – Skis, Snowboards, and accessories
• Marker – Ski bindings and accessories
• Morrow – Snowboards
• 5150 – Snowboards
• Liquid – Snowboards
• LINE – Skis
• RIDE – Snowboards
• Olin^[6] – Skis
• Madshus – Cross Country Skis
• Holden Outerwear 2002–2007 – Snowboard Outerwear – Holden bought back all shares of the company and went independent in 2007.
• Backcountry Access^[7] - Avalanche rescue

Footwear

• Tubbs – Snowshoes
• Adio – Footwear
• Atlas – Snowshoes
• Full Tilt – Ski boots
• Zoot Sports – Footwear

Apparel

• Planet Earth – Sportswear
• Holden Outerwear until 2007, when Holden became an independent company.

Adio

Adio Footwear

Type	Subsidiary of Jarden Corporation
Founded	1998
Founder	Chris Miller
Headquarters	New York City, New York, USA
Products	skateboard shoes, Clothes, Hats, accessories
Website	www.adiofootwear.com

Adio Footwear was a skateboarding footwear and clothing company, founded by skater Chris Miller in 1999. It was later acquired by K2, based in Carlsbad, California, United States (US); K2 was then acquired by the Jarden Corporation in 2007. Its name is pronounced "audio" or "ad-e-o".

In its early years the company sponsored the Adio Footwear professional skateboarding and snowboarding team.

Industry veteran, Jim Stroesser, was named president of Adio in December 2009.^[8] Stroesser moved the brand's global headquarters from Vista, California, US. to Solana Beach, California, US, in January, 2010.

As of 2012, Adio is owned by K2, a division of the Jarden Corporation, while AL&S and Samsung own the global license for Adio. The brand continues to manufacture and distribute skateboarding footwear and apparel.

Team members as of 2004 included Shaun White, Jeremy Wray, Ed Selego, Nick Dompierre, Danny Montoya, Bam Margera, Brian Sumner, Kenny Anderson, Alex Chalmers and Steve Nesser. In a recent interview in October 2015, ex-member Tony Hawk announced he no longer has a shoe sponsor.^[9][10]

See also

• List of outdoor industry parent companies

References

1. Luhn, Andy (July 23, 2002), K2 Corporation (K2 Sports) -- a History, retrieved 2008-03-12
2. Virgin, Bill (June 23, 2006), "K2 Sports will move offices to S. Seattle", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2007-10-25 Thereafter, the company acquired Rawlings Sporting Goods and Worth, a manufacturer of baseball bats; Brass Eagle and Viewloader in the paintball business; Volkl, Marker, and Marmot.
4. http://www.rcds.rye.ny.us/page.cfm?p=1226
5. K2Sports.com
6. Sterngold, James (January 19, 1997). "A Deft Ski Maker Works a Slippery Slope". The New York Times.
7. Blevins, Jason (January 7, 2013). "K2 buys Boulder’s Backcountry Access". The Denver Post.
8. "Jim Stroesser – CEO & President, Adio Footwear". SDSI. SDSI. 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
9. Transworld (17 August 2004). "SHAUN WHITE JOINS ADIO FOOTWEAR PRO TEAM". Transworld Snowboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3J9c1BF2z8

External links

• Official website
• Jarden
• K2 Inc. history