Prototype vs. “prototype”

[Erik Timmerman]

A couple of years ago Nordica started with the prototype Enforcers. When I first saw one I thought it was cool, some lucky guy gets to ski around on a prototype ski and provide feedback that will eventually make it into a production ski! Imagine my surprise when just a few days later, I see production Enforcers en masse. Clearly it’s just marketing, now we see it more and more and keep pretending it’s real.

This is what a real prototype looks like. some day 4frnt may make this ski... or not.

 

[Philpug]

Yes, this is clearly been a marketing ploy from many brands and even mocked by others who went as far as calling their early run a Bro-totype that the bro's got the ski do ski. These are nothing more than seed skis and there to create conversation amongst influencers. You are right, what you have pictured is probably an actual prototype, a test mule as auto manufactures would call it. In the past most of the testing I have done was late stage evaluations when they were working on flexes. In most instances they looked like production skis. Currently we are working with a brand with some actual prototypes that look just like the skis off of rack graphic wise but are different flexes.

 

[Andy Mink]

I've seen more K2 Mindbender "prototypes" on the hill than some manufacturers' current lineups. And it does get the buzz going, no doubt.

 

[ScotsSkier]

At Vielhaber Skis (Scotland!) in the 70s, we just put a plain white sticky backed plastic top sheet covering on the test/protypes, sometimes with "Test" scrawled in Black sharpie....

 

[Erik Timmerman]

Yes, this is clearly been a marketing ploy from many brands and even mocked by others who went as far as calling their early run a Bro-totype that the bro's got the ski to ski.

LOL, never heard that before.

 

[Tom K.]

I've seen more K2 Mindbender "prototypes" on the hill than some manufacturers' current lineups. And it does get the buzz going, no doubt.

But haven't these gone "production" already? I thought I saw numerous widths already listed as available for sale to the general public.

Darned if I remember where, though.

https://www.pugski.com/threads/introduction-2020-k2-mindbender-collection.13484/

 

[Andy Mink]

But haven't these gone "production" already? I thought I saw numerous widths already listed as available for sale to the general public.

Darned if I remember where, though.

https://www.pugski.com/threads/introduction-2020-k2-mindbender-collection.13484/

Yes, K2 did hit the market last week with several models of the Mindbender. In prior weeks I saw several of the blue and white "protos", different colors than the final skis.

 

[James]

A couple of years ago Nordica started with the prototype Enforcers. When I first saw one I thought it was cool, some lucky guy gets to ski around on a prototype ski and provide feedback that will eventually make it into a production ski! Imagine my surprise when just a few days later, I see production Enforcers en masse. Clearly it’s just marketing, now we see it more and more and keep pretending it’s real.

This is what a real prototype looks like. some day 4frnt may make this ski... or not.

View attachment 63108 View attachment 63110

I remember seeing the prototype of the Solomon BBR at Snowmass around like 2009. It looked like that, clear resin over wood. Except it had the now distinctive and extinct, lawn dart shape.

 

[Shawn C.]

It's only January, but "brototype" is an early contender for word of the year. Hilarious!

 

[Lorenzzo]

I don't know if it's ok for me to say, but I'm skiing on a prototype for a prototype right now.

 

[SpikeDog]

Back in the mid-90's, my brother had a pair of prototype K2's that were just plain-Jane wood with resin tops. He worked at a shop in Boise. We futzed around at a big vendor show at Solitude that winter, and got to ride snow-blades for the first time.

 

[cantunamunch]

It's only January, but "brototype" is an early contender for word of the year. Hilarious!

Can we have a field tag for Brototype? @Philpug ?

 

[ARL67]

Better trademark "Brototype" before someone at TGR claims they invented it.

Just like whoever first said Stockli's are "infused with baby seal skin" -> brilliant description !

 

[cantunamunch]

Just like whoever first said Stockli's are "infused with baby seal skin" -> brilliant description !

This post makes me want to listen to Ferryland Sealer all over again.