ISPO Part 2: Float airbag video rocks Munich

Posted on February 2nd, 2012 by edge | 8 responses

The European crowd took note this week of the hottest new player in the Euro airbag market: BCA. While we’ve been producing airbags in North America for three years, we only recently got coveted TUV and CE approval to sell them across the pond. At the ISPO show, which ended Wednesday in Munich, Euro retailers especially took notice when we whipped out our secret weapon: footage of our recent airbag save in Colorado. Introducing a new product in a sterile trade show environment is one thing, but showing it working in a violent, real-world avalanche is 100 times as effective. Talk about cred!

Steve Christie/Backcountry Access on Munich's U-bahn

Guerilla marketing at its finest: BCA sales director Steve Christie brazenly displays our airbag save video to ISPO attendees and train passengers on the crowded Munich U-bahn.

Meesh Hytner, Float airbag avalanche survivor

Pro snowboarder Meesh Hyttner shows off the Float airbag that saved her life last weekend in Montezuma, Colorado.

BCA was still gloating at ISPO after winning two awards the previous week at the Outdoor Retailer Show: Safety Product of the Year (Tracker2) and New Product of the Year (Float 18). BCA’s Marketing VP celebrates with Ambassador of the Year award-winner Jeremy Jones.

Retailers were upbeat, thanks to a banner snow year in much of the Alps. Between that, a slate of new BCA products, and our bold new marketing initiative over there, we’re primed for a full-on European assault in 2012-13. Hmm, I guess that means we’re gonna have to get over to the Alps a little more often…

Df

IT IS DISGUSTING THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROMOTING THE STUPIDITY OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT BLATANTLY DISREGARDED AVALANCHE WARNINGS!

SINCE TRIGGERED AVALANCHES THAT DAY WERE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO HAPPEN, WAS SHE UP THERE “TRYING” TO GET IN AVALANCHE TO “TEST” YOUR PRODUCT?YOUR DEVICES SHOULD BE A BACKUP FOR ACCIDENTS, NOT INSURANCE THAT NOTHING CAN HAPPEN. PROMOTING SUCH LACK OF JUDGEMENT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE.IN ADDITION, CLEARLY FROM THE VIDEO THE AIRBAG WAS ON THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF HER BODY THUS IS HAD NOTHING TO TO WITH THE “SAVE.” THE CONVEX ROLLING OF THE TERRAIN FEATURES AND SHALLOW DEPTH KEPT HER ON THE SURFACE. WHILE THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE HELPED HAD SHE FLIPPED OVER – THAT IS SIMPLY NOT WHAT HAPPENED. THE AIRBAG BARELY TOUCHED THE SNOW.

Atblaster123

“your devices should be a backup for accidents…” BCA could not have said it better themselves and that’s exactly how this product was used. And i don’t know what video you watched, she’s clearly on her back with the airbag on the uphill side for the majority of her ride. When a car company shows a crash in an ad do you whine about that also? And this is not an ad, this is a chick in a real avalanche.

Thetaz

Well said.

Thetaz

I meant well said atblaster123

Slick

So by extension, all avy safety equipment manufacturers promote stupid behavior when one of their beacons (or other devices) saves someone’s life?? Get a clue dude!! It also sounds like you’ve never made a mistake or a bad choice in the backcountry….good for you.

BlkMtn

So BCA is making this idiot chick the face of their company? Pathetic!
BCASteve

She’s actually quite intelligent and very nice, I met her at the SIA show on the first day. It’s so easy to use the internet and “armchair quarterback” in situations like these, but we’re hoping we can provide information and make this a positive learning experience for everyone interested.
William

She is beautiful.

ISPO Part 2: Float airbag video rocks Munich

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