Ski The East

What does anyone think about STE, the brand, the website - skitheeast.net all of it? I'm curious.

That phrase “ski the east” says it all. That’s a gem. The first Meathead Films video I ever ordered was Born From Ice. It was a pretty cool movie but the coolest thing about it was the little sticker inside the DVD case. Also, they made a movie called Epoch a while ago which was different then most ski movies in that it contained a lot of history. That’s one I can actually go back and watch again once or twice a year.
The brand nowadays seems more about selling ugly, overpriced apparel. I did buy two T-shirts and a hat from them when the ran a closeout years ago but most of what I see on the website doesn’t really appeal to me.

What Brownski said.
   However, I feel like they don't include NY for some reason. That Whiteface part they did was much needed IMO. Overall I think it's good for the sport.

I think, broadly, that the idea of "branding" a thing, then making money off of the brand is getting a bit played out as the market gets oversaturated (On Instagram, I follow the "Jerry of the Day" guy, the "All About Aprés" guy, etc.). Making money off of instagram followers & selling tee shirts with logos on them seems to be a successful way to generate income now, but it seems a bit hollow. Maybe I'm just jaded because I follow a bunch of #vanlife accounts and they all need to support their travel with this kind of stuff.

"Ski The East" has always seemed a bit different because they produced real good content and had cool ideas.

Why do you ask, Harv? Are you gonna start producing NY Ski movies? Ski NY tee-shirts and shot glasses?

MC2 5678F589 wrote

Are you gonna start producing NY Ski movies? Ski NY tee-shirts and shot glasses?

Nope. That sounds like work to me.

Wife got me a shirt from them a few xmases ago, nice quality. I have the DVD epoch. I think they are good for hype but getting old.

Slalom Tokyo Drift seems to be what all the kids are following these days.

I like the general phrase "Ski the East" as it pertains to....skiing the east! Reppin' EC with my Ski the East license plate frame because I thought it looked cool and was relatively cheap.  For me it was more about the thought of east coast skiing than supporting the brand.  As mentioned, their goods are way expensive.  I like to follow their mini video series' throughout the winter.  Definately more New England oriented

I wear STE gear everywhere.  The tshirts are well made and very comfortable, and the hoodie is also great.  It's a great convo starter when you're out west or international.

Based on this guy, the goggle sporting, no-hat-wearing guy with Rossis from '75, I'm not the target market.  By a long shot.

BTW, are all the guys from Motley Crue modeling ski gear?

HA! That's no shit. Why is it all my ski stuff from when I was a kid is now back in style. Go figure.

T shirts are real comfortable and average price. If these guys are making living or more ,more power to em.

Ski The East

Those three words speak to me. I don't even totally understand it.  Partly it's like rooting for the Mets. The Yankees are Utah, the Mets are the East.  The Mets have far fewer championships, but when they do score, it is so much sweeter. I guess that's why I like NY too. I'm drawn to the underdog.

I don't know anything about the history of skitheeast.net beyond the fact that the brand is somehow connected to Meathead. The home page, and 90% of the site is selling merchandise. The remaining 10% is video including some decent and occasional weather video from Kelly, a Boston guy who can't see much past Killington. To me the brand itself lacks the passion that the phrase elicits in me.

Sure they have a business, almost everybody needs a job. And hats off to them for choosing a brand that inspires a dedicated audience.  But I always find myself wishing that skitheeast.net would be dedicated, at least in part, to telling stories about people like you guys living their life and chasing snow.

Harvey wrote

.  But I always find myself wishing that skitheeast.net would be dedicated, at least in part, to telling stories about people like you guys living their life and chasing snow.

1. They do. Their "working for the weekend" series with Ben Leoni (sp?) Is pretty sweet
2. Stories about people like us are... Uninspired? Stories about people like Tbatt are way better. People like us (weekend skiers, working stiffs) read stories about people "living the dream" to get inspired or remember our Glory days. Tough to read stories like: "and then  I waited in a lift line for 8 minutes, rode a lift for 11 minutes, and skied a groomer"

Skiing the east ain't easy for cross-country skiers either.  I asked about xc mercy, but they were clear and polite that they were focused on alpine.

I'm good with that.  Won't be going back to the site unless I hear that they're posting inspirational new video.

Working for the weekend is cool.  Still the only clue that it is there on the homepage is a link in the footer. That makes it seem like an afterthought to me. I like the way Patagonia does it.

I consider tBatt one of us. You too, I think you do some pretty cool stuff.  Personally when writing for the frontpage, I try to focus on the mindset, passion and making the most out of opportunities, leaving lift lines and that kind of stuff out of it. Guess we have to agree to disagree on it.

SkiTheEast is pretty good, the guys have been around for a long time and transitioned from MeatHead Films, and they've long catered to a pretty mixed crowd generational wise.

They have branded well and honestly the East needed something like it 10 years ago when they got going with the SkiTheEast brand, which mind you was a response to the Youtube generation coming into swing and what I'm sure were declining revenues from their yearly films which transitioned to a website, web series and building out a brand.

They supported a good deal of young eastern skiers over the years, Line Ski's Traveling Circus guys all started out with Meathead and then supported by SkiTheEast, with Will Wesson and Andy Parry being Rochester natives.

They have been doing what they love and earning a pay check from it for a very long time, who are we to judge?

I love everything they do. I think their clothing line is really cool.

I didn’t realize they were Meathead films, I guess I had a hunch and thought they must be affiliated though. Anyways, skinmovies are pretty much dead, I’m surprised companies like TGR are still doing em.

raisingarizona wrote

 Anyways, skinmovies are pretty much dead, I’m surprised companies like TGR are still doing em.

When talking to some industry people about this, from my understanding, the athletes in them have paid sponsors that contribute to the production costs of the films being made. Distribution has become tricky and certainly there is plenty of competition to go around.   Though this can be said about everything.  The barrier to making films and producing quality content has become that much easier than the days when we all shot 35mm or super 8 film for movies..

Not sure if ski movies are dead, though I think in order to survive, they will have to evolve.  Good thing I don't make a living from the stuff we produce which all 10 of you in this forum watch from time to time. I will say though, lately we have had a couple of perks, so we know its not that bad.

We are going to be posting less of our stuff on the forums from this point forward, you know where to find us.

Blogs are dead and forums are dead too. It doesn't affect my motivation right now.

I don't think NYSB could ever be profitable or solvent as the content scope is too narrow. In my twenties I took something I loved and tried to make a business out of it. It killed it for me.

I don't know much (or anything) about the film business. Adam and Tansy, the couple that made Snowfarmers, make a living doing commercial work and follow their passion on their own time. I think that is easier.

Ray how do you imagine ski films will or should evolve?

Harvey wrote

Ray how do you imagine ski films will or should evolve?

Good question.. Though look at Candide, he certainly has changed how a ski film can be done, though not many people in the world can ski like him, or have the guts.  I know I have neither and never will in this life.   Everything has to be more and more extreme, or to be in sound bites these days, though think a good story is what is lacking, that sadly most people don't have he patience for.  I know we are not interested in that person.  

Sherpas Cinema has done a good job at telling an overall story, message to their film which compels me to watch their work. Black Crows has done great work too and obviously Jordan Manley's work really inspired our format and we remain in contact. Jordan, though is making his real money from other work than ski films.

Here is a nice film in FRENCH by Black Crows -https://www.outsideonline.com/2261526/black-crows-shapes

As long as their skiing and equipment to be sold, there will be ski movies and films.. As long as their are ski resorts and hotels, there will be ski films. The model has to be sort of a blended partnership between the products, services and venues in the films in order to survive.

This could be said about most things to be honest...

We know there is no living at what we do, so we do it for the love of it. Irony is, as we got better we had less views though more view time which is what we prefer.  Who cares about the clickthrough if the viewer is going to be there for 10 to 30 seconds. That customer is just window shopping......