Couloir Closes Up Shop...
Our Thoughts
4/30/07--
A little commentary on the demise of Couloir.... They are calling it a "merger"
and as the new owners of the old Couloir subscription base, you
can't blame the crew at Backcountry magazine for trying. Still,
as has been noted elsewhere on the Web, a merger is "commonly
voluntary," and while "a merger can resemble a takeover...
in some cases, terming the combination a "merger" rather
than an acquisition is done purely for political or marketing
reasons." There was nothing voluntary in the way Couloir
went out. As anyone who was close enough to witness the struggle
first-hand will likely tell you, right to the end publisher Craig
Dostie poured the entirety of his always considerable heart and
soul into the continuation of his title, despite his feeling
that the market was just not big enough for two print magazines
and and a strong online publication.
At the very end it was just Craig
himself burning the midnight oil, and pulling the all-nighters,
to get what would turn out to be the final issue of Couloir to
the printer. There were clues of what was about to happen in
that last issue. The Peter Kray-penned tribute to Dostie was
excellent, but it read like an obituary for those of us who had
any idea what was going on behind the scenes.
No, the ultimate demise of the brand
was not among the best-case scenarios Dostie would have been
likely to have penciled in on any list. When all was said and
done, it's hard to know for sure if he even went with his most
personally favored exit strategy. One thing is for sure, Craig's
devotion to his loyal readers undoubtedly played a big part in
his final decision to allow Backcountry to acquire the remaining
assets of Couloir, fulfilling his obligation to his subscribers.
That he signed on with Backcountry, for whatever length of time
he did, to help make the transition work, also says a lot about
Dostie the man.
Craig Dostie has been, and will
continue to be, a giant in the little world of telemark and backcountry
skiing. When the end came for Couloir, he had the luxury of entertaining
multiple offers for his future services, including a serious
job offer from us (in the memorable words of Big Tim as the positive
aspects of this unique proposition were being discussed, "Sometimes
oil and vinegar make the best salad dressing..."). As of
just three or four weeks ago, how all of this was going to play
out remained uncertain. Not any longer.
We wish Craig and our friends at
Backcountry the best of luck. Print and new media have often
proven to be complimentary, think TV-Guide magazine and television.
Strong magazines and competition for the viewer's time and attention
is of ultimate benefit to all. With so many ways both new and
old to share the stoke, the future of the media privileged to
serve our sport has never seemed brighter. We are really psyched
to be a part of it. |