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Skiing Depends on Them

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Three brands shaping a unique skier voice

Line, Orage, and Siver Cartel are three successful companies with unique stories and a common mission: improving products available to young skiers and encouraging skiing's evolution. Each brand is rider owned, skier driven, and fills a gap in new school ski culture with innovation and sick style.

Siver Cartel: From the Slopes to the Street




Siver Cartel founder Mike Nick.

Siver Cartel clothing is the brainchild of freeskiing's own Mike Nick. Introduced to the public during the 2000-2001 season, Siver Cartel's mission is to keep skiers looking sharp when they're not on the slopes. Says Mike, "Too many kids were rocking skate or snowboard gear. Siver provides them an outlet to have the style they demand while fully representing skiing." Rather than launch a line of ski jackets and pants, Nick looked to fill a more urban and public niche with cool, ski inspired casual clothing.





The Adapter Jacket

Young skiers couldn't thank Nick enough for his vision as Siver Cartel sweatshirts, pants, and t-shirts flew off the shelves soon after their introduction. Skiers who spent hours mastering rail slides and perfecting spins now had a brand of clothing as dedicated to skiing as they were.

Orage: Canadian Storm




Orage skier Mike Nick recently spotted off the mountain.

Orage took Quebec by storm in 1989. Eric D'Anjou and Evelyn Trempe, both avid skiers and students at the University of Quebec, planted the company's seeds in skiing, but quickly expanded into a four-season outdoor market. Three years ago, Orage dropped their spring and summer lines to focus on freeskiing. Eric and Evelyn remain vital forces in Orage as the president and head designer respectively. As a company, Orage has an open-minded attitude dedicated to the progression of the ski industry as a whole.






The Women's Orage Tessa Insulated Jacket - Women's

"Freeskiing means something different to everyone. It could mean skiing in the pipe or park or in the backcountry. Orage is for anyone who wants something fresh, different, and functional," says Orage General Manager Amy Carey.

Today Orage focuses on integrating urban style with technical performance.

Line: Changing Your Skis Forever




Eric Pollard making good use of his pro model ski.

Line was born in Jason Levinthal's parents' garage, where he began building his first pair of skiboards in 1995. Over the next three years, he tweaked the ski, both on the hill and off, until it evolved into a full-sized twin tip. In fact, Line has been so successful, and grown so quickly that they are hardly able to find enough factory space to accommodate increasing product demand.






The Line Chronic Wide Alpine Ski.

Line skis are tools for new and established skiers alike to improve their skills without being held back by equipment. Line also actively encourages the next generation of freestyle skiers. "I started Line to grow and rejuvenate the sport as a whole, and to do that we need to bring the sport a young, progressive image."

What Lies Ahead

The success of Siver Cartel, Orage, and Line has prompted other skiers to build their own businesses based on their experiences in the industry. Rider owned companies are no longer a subculture, but the future of skiing. If you are a skier, and you love the sport, these companies have undoubtedly affected your life in some way. And if they haven't yet, they will.