The acquisition of Karhu’s North American cross-country ski business, which was spinned off by the Finnish sports company by the same name in the ‘nineties, complements nicely what K2 did a while ago by taking over Madshus, the Norwegian Nordic ski specialist.
In practice, K2 has bought the North American rights to the Karhu brand for Nordic and telemark skis as well as an American alpine ski brand, called Line, from Trak Sports USA of Burlington, Vermont for an undisclosed amount. Trak closed its ski manufacturing plant in Quebec last year, readying to move the production part to China, but it has now decided that K2’s powerful facilities in China can do the job better.
Karhu launched its North American operations in Canada in 1976, focusing on cross-country and back-country ski products. Doug Barbor, who helped set up the North American business, subsequently bought the rights for snow products in North America together with some partners. Trak subsequently added the Line brand of twin-tip free-ride and free-style skis, launched in 1995 by Jason Levinthal.
Barbor will remain at Trak, which will continue to make snowboards for Burton, but Levinthal and other officials of Trak’s ski division will move to K2’s headquarters in Vashion Island, Washington.
