The end of an era: Powder mag is done.

Harvey · Oct 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/x/status/1312501163292389376

Sick Bird Rider · Oct 4, 2020

The corporate plug has been pulled on Powder, Bike, Surfer and Snowboarder magazines. For many of us, the first issue of Powder was always a signal of the new ski season to come, now we'll have to find something else. Telemark Dave sent me a text from a bookstore this morning, offering to buy me a copy of the last issue, which of course I took him up on. I really enjoyed Bike mag as well. The article linked below, by a former editor of both Powder and Bike, Steve Casimiro, tells a better story than I can. Here's a great quote:

These titles did more than just fill their pages with stoke, they conveyed philosophies that rippled throughout their worlds. They showed that adventure could be more than just recreation, that it could be the path to lives better lived.

Bike, Powder, Snowboarder, and Surfer Magazines Shut Down

Harvey · Oct 4, 2020

When I saw this last night on Mike Rogge's twitter feed, he implied that the shutdown was not permanent.

I had a back and forth with Dave Reddick on Instagram just a few days ago and it seemed like business as usual, so I don't think he knew.

Bike, Powder, Snowboarder, and Surfer Magazines Shut Down

Owner American Media pulls the plug less than two years after buying the titles

www.adventure-journal.com

Sick Bird Rider · Oct 4, 2020

I just read through the thread on TGR, there is some chatter there about the shutdown being temporary. Casimiro's article certainly suggests a full shutdown, and he would have some inside dope, don't you think? I learned about it through a post that TD shared, by Grant Gunderson, long-time photographer for Powder.

raisingarizona · Oct 4, 2020

I don’t believe it’s temporary. That doesn’t make sense to me.

gefiltephish · Oct 4, 2020

Wow. Dirt Rag earlier this year and now Bike Mag, and Powder. All have been favorites over the years. Bike Mag when Mike Ferrentino (?) was editor was really top-notch. Bummer for sure.

Harvey · Oct 4, 2020

Think about it. Who pays for content? The internet has trained us to think it all should be free. And if you try to show people an ad while they read your work, 30% block it.

Print is the first casualty because the out-of-pocket is so high.

Your content has to be excellent and indispensable for people to pay for it.

Check out this pic that was sent to me by Greg Stump when they were filming Blizzard of Ahhhs. Think of the costs involved:

photo by Greg Stump

Warp daddy · Oct 4, 2020

Not surprising

Sick Bird Rider · Oct 4, 2020

Harvey said:
Check out this pic that was sent to me by Greg Stump ....

View attachment 6335
photo by Greg Stump

Photo not showing, Harv. And I agree, print magazines have a really tough go those days.

MarzNC · Oct 4, 2020

A print magazine for skiing in Australia only published for 2020 because there was a successful Kickstarter fundraiser to pay the printing costs. The magazine is put out once a year in May, a month before the Aussie ski season starts.