What Happened to ICE USA?

[Squamish]

They made good poles. Any theories on to why they went out of business? Did they have trouble competing with the big guys?

[Skirotica]

I heard they ran into quality control problems. Apparently, they'd test them for durability by shoving them up Jongs' assess. But the jongs all quit to troll TGR.

[Shredhead]

I have a pair I still really like, but have a hard time finding big baskets that fit.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

They went out of business a few years ago,I believe. their shop was next to one of my offices, and I knew some of the guys working there. It was cool to have a local company making a go of it. too bad it didn't take off everyone loved their poles.

[Grape_Ape]

I heard they ran into quality control problems. Apparently, they'd test them for durability by shoving them up Jongs' assess. But the jongs all quit to troll TGR.

Well played.

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

I still ski with a pair(that were warrantied from my original pair) and have a backup pair of brand new ones in the garage for when these fail...IF they fail. Maybe they made poles that were too durable, but they were super easy to deal with on the warranty front. I found some Scott baskets that fit 'em for when you break the originals. They were in Park City, right?

[raisingarizona13]

Plake was skiing with them for a while. I had a pair and I loved them, I was actually wondering the same thing about a month ago.

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

Too bad. Good poles but pretty heavy IMHO.

[brutah]

I still ski with a pair(that were warrantied from my original pair) and have a backup pair of brand new ones in the garage for when these fail...IF they fail. Maybe they made poles that were too durable, but they were super easy to deal with on the warranty front. I found some Scott baskets that fit 'em for when you break the originals. They were in Park City, right?

yes they were in Park City. And I believe it was their 100% guarantee/warranty that did them in. I had ICE USA poles growing up, my parents loved them because whenever i broke one, we could just go trade it in for a new pair and I broke a lot of these poles. carbon shatters when it gets really cold, I remember lightly tapping my pole on my ski in subzero temps and watching my pole snap in two.

and do people really care about how much their poles weigh? if i stop using my free rental poles (which are the most durable poles I've ever owned) will i be a better skier?

[My Pet Powder Goat]

yes they were in Park City. And I believe it was their 100% guarantee/warranty that did them in. I had ICE USA poles growing up, my parents loved them because whenever i broke one, we could just go trade it in for a new pair and I broke a lot of these poles. carbon shatters when it gets really cold, I remember lightly tapping my pole on my ski in subzero temps and watching my pole snap in two.

and do people really care about how much their poles weigh? if i stop using my free rental poles (which are the most durable poles I've ever owned) will i be a better skier?

pole weight matters to me, its not super important, for me it's more about the swing weight, and heavy poles have a higher swing weight, also climbing all day with real heavy poles is just wasting energy

[Squamish]

yes they were in Park City. And I believe it was their 100% guarantee/warranty that did them in. I had ICE USA poles growing up, my parents loved them because whenever i broke one, we could just go trade it in for a new pair and I broke a lot of these poles. carbon shatters when it gets really cold, I remember lightly tapping my pole on my ski in subzero temps and watching my pole snap in two.

and do people really care about how much their poles weigh? if i stop using my free rental poles (which are the most durable poles I've ever owned) will i be a better skier?

Carbon can shatter in sub-zero temps if tapped? Not so sure about that

[Squamish]

I still ski with a pair(that were warrantied from my original pair) and have a backup pair of brand new ones in the garage for when these fail...IF they fail. Maybe they made poles that were too durable, but they were super easy to deal with on the warranty front. I found some Scott baskets that fit 'em for when you break the originals. They were in Park City, right?

Sterling, have you used your Ice USA poles in subzero temperatures? If you have skied in very cold weather and the poles haven't broken, maybe there is something special about Ice USA's poles. I think the tubes used were very thick. And there was a "bubble" half way down the pole for added strength.

http://unofficialnetworks.com/2011/0...usa-ski-poles/

[Squamish]

They went out of business a few years ago,I believe. their shop was next to one of my offices, and I knew some of the guys working there. It was cool to have a local company making a go of it. too bad it didn't take off everyone loved their poles.

Any idea where I could track down another pair?

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

Interesting that they are heavy, I always thought the ones I have are pretty light, but durable. I agree that the warranty probably did them in. When I have broken them, it was pretty much my own clumsy assed fault when I didn't get a pole out of the snow fast enough in a mogul field and ran the damn thing over. I don't seem to remember if the day was sub-zero or not.

Squamish, I will keep an eye out at ski swaps, CL and such and if I see a pair, shoot you a pm.

[Squamish]

Would anyone be willing to sell me their pair? I'll pair double market price for a used pair!

[changodeoro]

i'll bite...not sure what "double market price" on a pair of "rare, discontinued" ice-usa poles is, but come up with a decent number, pay shipping/fees, and I'll send you a set I have had in the shed for quite some time --50cm I believe.

no pm for jongs i guess...sent you an email...i'll send some pics if you wanna check em out...

[Squamish]

Looks like PM's work for me now. Just sent you one.