SOS Outreach Moves in with K2 Sports

Press Release

• September 09 2008
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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - SEATTLE, Wash. (September 8, 2008) – SOS Outreach, the Edwards, Colo.-based not-for-profit that organizes snow sports programs for underserved youth, has announced its plans to open a Pacific Northwest office in September. SOS, formerly known as Snowboard Outreach Society, will reside in the K2 Sports global headquarters in Seattle. SOS, founded in 1993, offers snowboarding and skiing programs for underprivileged youth to build character and self esteem through adult mentoring, community service opportunities and life skills workshops. All programs integrate the five SOS core values of: Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion.

“K2’s spirit always has been inspired by the youth movement in winter sports,” said Robert Marcovitch, K2 Sports president. “Our relationship with SOS is a perfect fit. The work that SOS is doing is vital to the future of our industry and a true benefit to the youth that go through their programs. It’s a privilege to assist them as they grow their outreach programs.”

K2 Sports moved out of its Vashon Island, Wash., home in 2007, into a 310,000-square-foot facility in Seattle that houses its 220-member U.S.-based product development, sales, marketing, distribution and operations team.

“SOS has managed programs in the Pacific Northwest for the past decade,” said Arn Menconi, executive director for the organization. “It’s exciting for us to team up with K2 which has a history of leadership and commitment to serving youth and growing winter sports participation. With K2’s support we anticipate we’ll grow our programs to 4,000 participants on snow at 40 ski resorts nationwide this season.”

SOS recently hired Lindsay Davis to run the Seattle SOS office. She will start on September 8 and focus on growing the organization and its programs in the Northwestern states. SOS anticipates expansion from 300 participants to 750 in Washington and Oregon during the 2008/2009 season. Participants will be served at Summit at Snoqualmie, White Pass, Mt. Spokane, Meadows, Timberline, Ski Bowl and Hoodoo. For more information on SOS, visit www.sosoutreach.org.

About K2 Sports:

K2 Sports, based in Seattle, Wash., has achieved unparalleled success through innovative product offerings, marketing programs and multiple brand acquisitions. The company is globally renowned for its non-traditional advertising, graphics and high performance products throughout its portfolio. With wholly-owned subsidiaries in Canada, Central Europe, Japan, Korea and Scandinavia and distribution in more than 60 countries, K2 Sports continues to assert its position as a global leader across multiple categories of sporting goods.

In 2007 K2 completed the build-out of its global headquarters and its American distribution center in Seattle. Currently K2 Skis, K2 Snowboards, K2 In-Line Skates, Ride Snowboards, Atlas Snow-Shoe, Madshus, Karhu, Line Skis, Full Tilt, Morrow, 5150, Planet Earth, Powder Ridge, Little Bear and Tubbs operate out of the Seattle facility. Earlier in 2007 K2 was acquired by Jarden Corp., a New York Stock Exchange-listed consumer products company that owns popular brands such as Sunbeam and Mr. Coffee. K2 is a division of Jarden’s Outdoor Solutions business that includes other leading industry brands such as Marmot, Volkl and Coleman. For more information, visit www.k2sports.com.