2008 KJUS World Magazine released

We just released the 2008 issue of our annual magazine KJUS World. The issue is filled with spectacular images from our photoshoot in St. Moritz last season as well insightful stories on speedriding and our athletes Bode Miller and Casey Puckett. As was the case with last year's issue, there is also an overview of the complete line, including our new SPIRIT Collection.

Last season's issue was in a very large format, larger than tabloid. The size brought the images to life. This year the dimensions are much more manageable and the quality of paper is superb, which enhances the amazing images.

Click the cover image to download a preview of the current issue including a story on a trip to Hublot watches by Lasse Kjus and Bode Miller immediately following World Cup finals last season.

Copies of KJUS World are available at our dealers worldwide. If you don't have a dealer near you email us your address and we'll gladly mail you a copy.

I found it on ebay!

You just never know where you are going to find a brand evangelist or members of your brand's tribe.

It's always good thing to see where your brand or the competitions' are showing up. And if you don't have a TJ Maxx or Marshalls nearby it's pretty easy to check out ebay. Below is a little score card of current listings by a number of skiwear brands. Obviously arguments can be made either way for a brand's health based on the number of listings (longevity in the market, distribution, market penetration, etc). However, we have a very focused distribution model and like to see little to no KJUS listings on ebay- 5 is actually the most we've seen over the past few month.

But there is more to it than just the numbers. If you read the descriptions for the listings you can often get an idea if your marketing messages are making any penetration. For instance, this was the description for one of the KJUS listings:

My friend, Evan, only wears black. Thinks he’s Clint Eastwood of the ski hill. So, when his wife bought him this incredible outfit as a gift, he didn’t want it because it wasn’t black. So, his wife asked I’d sell it since I own all kinds of Kjus apparel. Unfortunately, she clipped and threw away the tags. I would keep this outfit myself, except I already own 3 Kjus jackets and two pants.

This is your opportunity to own the finest ski wear ever created… at a fraction of the retail price. Please don’t ask to purchase either item separately. This auction is for the ENTIRE OUTFIT. It is brand new without the tags. IT HAS NEVER BEEN WORN. NEVER EVEN BEEN OUTSIDE!!!

O.K., -- You want to talk Function or Fashion? If you’ve skied any of the high-end resorts throughout Europe or North America, there’s really only one brand of ski apparel that really stands out – for its technical design, incredible look and world-class craftsmanship. The line was developed by one of the world’s foremost World Cup Racers, Norwegian National Champion, Lasse Kjus. Who better to design world-class ski apparel than an elite ski racer who spends hours upon hours on some of the most challenging mountains in all kinds of weather conditions.

My tailor, Jerry, is also a skier. Before I bought my first Kjus Jacket he examined it closely. He couldn’t believe the quality of the stitching. And the fabric – it stretches. He declared it the “ultimate” in fashion and function.

Then, there’s the fit. It’s somewhat slim fitting and truly compliments those who are in good shape. Whether you’re in the lodge or the lift line, you’ll note that people just tend to stare at you as if you’re someone special (like a celebrity!). They look because you simply standout when wearing Kjus apparel. The lines and the way this apparel drapes on your body is just so much more "sophisticated" than the bundled-up frumpy look of most ski apparel.

I encourage you to go to a retail store and try on the KJUS Men’s Large Jacket and Pants to see if it fits… but more importantly to fully understand why this line of apparel is truly state-of-the-art in ski apparel.

You’ll note how the pants are like wearing silk. You’ll especially feel it up on your quads when you slip them on. Then, move around and feel how the fabric stretches. If you’re an athletic skier or racer, the mobility will astound you. Finally, just look in the mirror. You’ll instantly see what I mean about the more “sophisticated” look and fit.

This obviously was not just a regurgitation of a of a manufacturer product listing. Yes, he's looking to move product, but nonetheless the description is persuasive and hits upon many of the key words we associate with the KJUS brand- he is an evangelist.

The eBay ski apparel score card-

1. The North Face- 1211
2. Bogner- 88
3. Prada- 60
4. Phenix- 48
5. Nils- 31
6. Descente- 29
7. Post Card- 16
8. KJUS- 5

KJUS Skiwear announces excellent order results for the winter collection 08/09

Cham/Switzerland, May 6, 2008- While the majority of ski apparel brands continue to see flat sales, KJUS skiwear over the past eight years has had consistent double digit year over year growth which has lead to its position as the recognized leader in the premium and high tech oriented ski clothing sector. LK International AG today reported that its worldwide net order results for the 08/09 winter collection of its KJUS Skiwear brand increased by 40%.

This season, the young Swiss company launched the KJUS Spirit Collection, a sporty and fashionable after ski collection of ski sweaters and cardigans and ultra-lightweight down jackets for ladies and men. The CIO and VAL ultra-lightweight down jackets are sure to be coveted prizes for next winter with their use of fresh colors in eye-catching designs.

Reto Holzmann, COO of LK International AG is very pleased with the sales results:”These brilliant results are an indication that we are on the right track and that our clients’ reception of next year’s KJUS Skiwear Collection as well as the new KJUS Spirit Collection was very positive. We are very proud to be working so successfully with our partners in 29 different countries around the globe. We are especially pleased by the growth in a number of our key countries, including Germany where pre-orders for this period increased by 58%.”

Holzmann went on to report the results from other key countries included Austria with a 38% increase, Switzerland with 32%, and the United States of America with 27%.

Connoisseurs of design and skiwear alike appreciate KJUS for its attention to detail and use of lightweight and advanced materials to create skiwear with a clean design with unobstructed freedom of movement. These are the essential attributes that have constituted to the success of the brand. KJUS Skiwear will follow this strategy of uncompromising skiwear into the future as it ventures into new territories off-piste.

KJUS is “Uncompromising Skiwear”, characterized by straightforward design, perfect fit and total ease of movement. KJUS and KJUS systems are registered trademarks of LK International AG based in Cham (ZG, Switzerland) who develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes KJUS brand products. The KJUS products are currently available in selected shops in 29 countries world-wide including Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Finland, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Latvia and the United States of America.

KJUS is proud to be associated with some of the world’s most recognized skiers. KJUS team riders include: Lasse Kjus, Norway; Bode Miller, USA; Casey Puckett, USA; Daniel Mahrer, Switzerland; Michaela Gerg-Leitner, Germany; Karin Roten, Switzerland; Mario Reiter, Austria; Frederik Luytkis, Norway; Ylva Nowen, Sweden; Sara Orrensjö, Sweden

www.kjus.com

KJUS World Magazine

This week we received the first copies of KJUS World, a brand magazine. KJUS World is impressive on a number of levels. The first striking aspect is its sheer size- the magazine measure some 16" tall by 13" wide. This size truly brings the images to life, which brings me to the second aspect- the imagery. Page after page the magazine features amazing images that capture the essence of KJUS. And finally, it is packed with information about what makes KJUS so impressive.

See the KJUS Spirit Collection 08/09

We have mentioned the KJUS Spirit collection a number of times on the KJUS World USA blog and have posted a few images here and there. Now you can see the collection on our Facebook Fan page. We are preparing to relaunch KJUS.com in the coming month. We'll be sure to let you know when it is "live" and you will be able to see the complete 08/09 Collections- Ski and Spirit.

Until the launch of the new web site we'll be posting sneak peaks of the collection on the Fan page. And while you are there become a KJUS fan and if you have an image of yourself in KJUS, please share it with the other KJUS fans.

KJUS W 09/10 Web-site

We are excited to announce the KJUS W 09/10 web-site is now LIVE.

Some new content has been added:

1). Order the W 09/10 edition of KJUS WORLD
2). Streaming KJUS movies
3). Download KJUS wallpaper
4). Comment section "Your Ideas"

We invite you to www.kjus.com and look forward to the next season.

KJUS World USA Blog- One Year Old

Today we celebrated our one year anniversary of the KJUS World USA blog. We look forward to another great year for KJUS and the blog. It's been a pretty quiet summer, but fall is upon us and we'll have lots of news and information in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Thanks for reading and don't hesitate to drop a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

KJUS and the City- Day 1

Two weeks ago we ventured into New York City for a number of meetings, including some time with Bode, Casey Puckett, one of our suppliers, a retailer, and some media. We had said we'd be posting updates via Twitter, but had some technical difficulties. What follows is the first of two posts on the trip.

On the first day we met with Bode in his agent Lowell Taub at the offices of CAA Sports. We discussed the season, his feedback on the product he'd worn all season, and went over preliminary designs for his 09/10 uniform. After lunch we interviewed Bode for a story to run in next year's KJUS World Magazine.

After Bode, we met with Casey. His shoulder is on the mend and he is very motivated for next season. We discussed the possibility of expanding the Ski with Casey program (keep an eye here for updates) and did a fitting for his race uniform. Skier cross athletes are not allowed to wear tight one piece suits like the alpine racers. Last season, Casey essentially raced in gear "off the rack". This year he'll be racing in what might be consider "off the hook" or Casey might consider "so KJUS". This winter Casey stopped in at our head office in Cham and met with designers to work on a race uniform for this season.
Pants are the toughest to get a good fit for. Above Casey was testing out one of the prototypes that were brought in for him to try on. After trying on pants of various materials, we found one that Casey felt would give him the best performance. Roman Stepek, KJUS Director of Design and Development was on hand to take measurements and preparations for the next round of prototypes.Once Casey's fitting was complete we headed back to our hotel and prepare for the evening, which included a reception for Bode, by his other sponsor SuperFund. SuperFund was kind enough to invite us to their event where they invited about 150 avid skiers and Bode fans from the New York area to meet Bode. The event was a lot of fun as everyone was really passionate about skiing and excited to meet Bode.

Bode is the one in the way back with baseball cap on.We had some mannequins on hand in Bode's 08/09 Uniform

After the reception the KJUS team went to dinner while Bode, Casey and friends went to POP Burger. We all met up later that night... and that story is for another time.

Welcome to KJUS World USA

KJUS continues to be force in the skiwear world and in the US. Here we will post news, stories, and things we feel will interest our sales representatives, dealers, and KJUS skiers.

"That's So KJUS"

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling around the Rocky Mountain territory with our International Sales Manager Nico Serena and Rocky Mountain Sales Representative Bruce Mackenzie. We had a great trip visiting many of our dealers in Park City, Aspen, and Vail, including Cole Sport, Gorsuch, Aspen Sports, Hamilton Sports, Beaver Creek Sports, and Performance Sports to name a few.

While in Aspen we had an evening out with Casey Puckett, who joined the KJUS team this year and will be looking to add to his trophy case in skier cross. Casey is a force in the sport and is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. You can keep tabs on his progress on WCSN where he has a blog. In his most recent post, he discusses his most favorite new saying...

My agent, Lowell Taub, had such a good experience working with the company he replaced the phrase “that’s so awesome, great, wonderful, fantastic, etc.” with “that’s so Kjus,” and now I’ve adopted the phrase. So anytime you think something is awesome, you can just say “that’s so Kjus!” People may or may not know what in the world you’re talking about, but they will.

Puckett, you're so KJUS-

Bode's Back.

The World Cup Season opener is in Soelden this weekend. As we announced earlier this fall, KJUS is the official uniform supplier for Bode and his team, which yesterday he announced would be called Team America. He has a great group supporting him and we are excited to see him break Phil Mahre's record for most World Cup wins by an American- Bode is only 2 wins away from tying Mahre.

It looks like we may have to wait a another few weeks for Team America's debut as Bode has injured his back and as of the latest reports seeing him in the start house this weekend is doubtful. It's too bad if he doesn't start because all eyes are on him to see how he fairs as an independent. However, it is early in the season and there are lots more racing to be had this winter. It is not the time for Curt Schilling-esque heroics. Let's hope that Bode give's himself the time he needs so that he's healthy and strong for the rest of the season and that his season ends in much same manner that it likes like the Red Sox will- World Champions!

Go Sox and Go Bode!

Happy Valentine's Day

This week there was news that a number of ski babies entered the world over the last several weeks. Congratulations to Kirsten Clark (Raymond, ME), Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT) and Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) on their new babies.

Kirsten is from just up the road from our U.S. offices in Farmington, ME and now resides in the Truckee area. Word from her local KJUS rep is that she'll be seen in KJUS when she gets back on the slopes.

A special congratulations to Sarah and her husband as they named their little one Lasse. And yes, after none other than Lasse Kjus.

KJUS Welcomes Sara Orrensjö to Freeride Team

Today, we announced that Sara Orrensjö, one of the world's top female freeride skiers, has joined the KJUS team of riders. You can learn more about her on her website, or if your Swedish isn't what it should be, try here.

These shots of Sara also give a sneak peek of next year's KJUS line. In the top photo she's wearing the 08/09 ladies Fomula in Java, and in the bottom photo she is wearing the ladies Val jacket, which is part of the new Spirit Collection we are introducing next fall.

The Off Season

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning on Summer for many of us. All but a few ski resorts have shuttered for the season and we focus on other outdoor activities.

The majority of us at KJUS are avid golfers. Our CEO Didi Serena handicap is in the single digits. Others of us aspire to lower our handicaps by as much. Both Casey Puckett and Bode Miller enjoy getting out on the course. Bode recently competed in the World Ski & Golf Championships where we put on the Team America race suit before lacing up the spikes (soft of course).

His team, Team Kitzbuhel, took the title. Bode won the ski and he finished 10th overall in his class.

Another sport enjoyed by a number of us at KJUS is sailing. As a Swiss company, we can no longer the excuse of a land locked country to not sail- thanks to the America's Cup success of Alinghi. In the US, our brand manager races weekly on Casco Bay. But the big sailor in our midst, is Lasse. As we reported this winter he sails a Melges 24. This week he is competing in the Melges 24 World Championships in Porto Cervo, Italy. Wind has been an issue since racing started last week, and Lasse seems to have had some issues himself as he currently sits in 99th spot of 105 boats. There's still lots of racing left, so lets hope he gets good wind and strong starts in the following races and moves up some places.

View other images from the racing action at http://www.outsideimages.co.nz/

Bode Joins the Team

Some exciting news here at KJUS. Bode Miller will be wearing KJUS through the 2010 games. He's a guy who doesn't make any compromises and as such left the US Ski Team so he can travel in his now famous RV around the World Cup circuit. We'll be following his season closely, as he looks to eclipse Phil Mahre's record for most World Cup wins by an American.

When will it be in stores?

It's been some time since our last post. It's summer time and we're a winter sports brand, so we enjoy the warm weather the best we can before our busy fall season. This is not to say that we've been sitting on our hands. We've been busy preparing for the season- creating marketing materials,developing ads, and readying the warehouse.

You know the season is not far away when the phone calls, emails, and wall posts start inquiring about when the new collection will be available. The first shipments of jackets and pants recently arrived in our warehouse and we anticipate to have all our goods in by the end of the month. This means that our dealers should have KJUS in stock by mid September or early October.

The first pieces to come in were some that we ordered early because we knew there would be great demand for them. For the men this is the Pikes jacket and for the ladies it's the Viper.

These are the top two jackets in our Authentic line for 08/09 and both feature stretch fabrics, waterproof zippers, Dermizax EV waterproof breathable technology, Schoeller PCM climate control, and PrimaLoft insulation.

The Pikes also happens to be the jacket of choice for Bode Miller and Team America for the 08/09 World Cup Season. This season you will be able to purchase the team uniform from our retail partners like Gorsuch Ltd.

Speaking of Bode, he was recently the focus of a cover story in New Hampshire Magazine: Being Bode: Young Man of the Mountain. In the story they mention his upcoming BodeBash that will take place at his homestead in Franconia, NH, August 23-24. The weekend event consists of an afternoon of tennis, an evening "growers dinner", and a day of golf. Register here

If you happen to be closest to the pin you might win a KJUS Pikes jacket.

Vote for Lasse!

Lasse Kjus has been nominated for the Name of the Century for Follo, Norway- the translation may not be perfect. Lasse is one of 10 candidates who have brought the most recognition to the Follo area of Norway.

Lasse grew up in Siggerud, Norway, about a half hour south of Oslo. He learned to ski at Troll Valley ski area and from there went on to be one of the World's all time great skiers and the name sake of KJUS skiwear. You can read more about Lasse, his new found love for flying and his candidacy here- http://tinyurl.com/5taqg7

Polls are open. Vote early and often. You have until November 7th to cast your ballot for Lasse- http://tinyurl.com/552mha

1 Day to Beijing, 554 Days to Vancouver

Tomorrow evening, the Beijing Olympic Games open. While all eyes are on the world's best summer athletes, the Vancouver Organizing Committee announced the schedule of events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

KJUS could be represented by two athletes at the Winter Games; Bode Miller and Casey Puckett. Bode will have a packed schedule with events almost every other day, while Casey's skier cross qualifying and finals are all one day, February 21st.

Casey and Bode are busy training for the upcoming season. Bode is currently in Treble Cone, New Zealand. Casey is at home in Aspen completing rehab on his shoulder.

Bode breaks out the KJUS Team America race suit for Kitzbühel training

images: Reuters

Bode was 15th today in training in Kitzbuhel- he was 5th in yesterday's training. He's looking to pass Phil Mahre as the American with the most World Cup Wins. The Hahnenkamm would be an amazing place to do so. The weekend schedule currently is Super G Friday, Downhill Saturday, Slalom Sunday.