FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

K2 Promotes Phillips to International Freeride Ski Team

VASHON ISLAND, Wash. (December 20, 2005) – K2 Skis today added big mountain rider Bryce Phillips, 28, to its premier international freeride ski team. Phillips will ride K2’s all-mountain Apache Series skis in photoshoots and films alongside legends Shane McConkey and Shane Szocs. Seattle-based Phillips has skied as a regional athlete for K2 since 1998 and had a phenomal season last year that resulted in extensive magazine coverage in 2005. The November issue of Skiing featured Phillips on the cover.

“Bryce has been a local K2 athlete for a long time. He’s someone who we took care of who generated plenty of exposure for K2 around the Pacific Northwest on a regional level,” said Mike Gutt, K2’s marketing manager. “Over the past few years Bryce has stepped up his skiing and proved to the industry that he is among the top international big mountain riders in the sport. Now he’s working with some of the top industry photographers and magazines and is frequently invited on trips with other leading athletes. These trips have paid off from Bryce as you would be hard pressed to pick up a single ski publication right now and not find a picture or article about him. Bryce is still that local K2 ripper in our eyes, but one that has succeeded and grown up as a professional skier in our backyard and has more than earned himself a spot on K2’s Freeride Team right alongside some of the best skiers in the sport.”

Phillips primarily skis out of Alpental and Whistler and makes frequent trips to Europe, Alaska and South America for photo shoots with the industry’s top talent, including friend and photographer Damian Cromwell who has skied and worked with Bryce for more than seven years.

“Bryce has grown to become one of the world’s best,” Cromwell said. “He’s one of the most talented and reliable skiers I’ve worked with. And he’s handsome.”

In addition to K2, Phillips is a member of Helly Hansen’s international ski team and is sponsored by the Summit at Snoqualmie, Spacecraft, Evo Seattle and Evogear.com.

“K2 is by far the most progressive ski company in the business and likes to take risks,” Phillips said. “They work with their athletes in a way that no one else has been able to replicate and they continue to set the pace with the best product and marketing. I signed with K2 for a number of reasons but first and foremost, I love the product and the company’s direction. I’ve been representing K2 for a number of years. Getting the opportunity to be able to represent at a higher level and help take the entire line to a new level is definitely something that I am very excited about. Moreover, being mentioned in the same sentence as “Shane and Shane”, in my mind two legends of the sport, is a huge honor.”

In addition to his skiing exploits, Phillips is the founder of online action sports retailer Evogear.com and Evo Seattle, its new sister storefront in Seattle’s Fremont district.

“K2 is our best selling ski line both in the store and on line,” he said. “Hopefully working with K2 as an athlete will help drive already strong retail sales and bring more people into the sport.”
For more information on K2’s 2005-06 product line and team news visit www.k2ski.com or call 800-426-1617.
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122 NW 36th ST
Seattle, WA 98107
[Fremont]
www.evogear.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL SNOWBOARD ICON GORIO BUSTAMANTE JOINS EVOGEAR

SEATTLE, Wash. (December 15, 2005) – Evo, the new snowboard, ski, wakeboard and lifestyle fashion store that’s drawing a flurry of action sports athletes to Seattle’s Fremont district, today hired on snowboard icon Gorio Bustamante to assist with the development of its snowboard department. Bustamante comes to Evo after managing the influential snowboard department at Olympic Sports—a 40-year-old Seattle retail institution that closed its doors this summer.
Bustamante brings to Evo his hard earned retail experience on the sales floor along with his knowledge base, ability for training, mentorship, leadership, and industry connections. Ultimately he wants to encourage people to get off the couch and go outside for recreation. He is deeply experienced matching people to the appropriate gear which he believes makes or breaks the growth in skiing and snowboarding.
“If people don’t have a good time due to bad gear advice they are likely to give up and go with a sport that’s easier to pick-up,” he said. “It’s important for them to have a great experience. Evo has the right gear to appeal to all levels of snowboarders and skiers.”
Bustamante also intends to help Evo with its kids programs to ensure parents understand gear options and receive good advice on value and performance.
“It shouldn’t be an accident that a kid loves snowboarding and wants to stick with it for a lifetime. The right products will help them develop confidence and passion for the sport.”
Bustamante grew up skiing and eventually entered the life of snowboarding with his brother 15 years ago when they went in on a K2 XTC Dan Donelly board together. Once he learned how to snowboard in powder he stayed with the sport and became a major influencer in the Northwest snowboard community.
Evo, based at 122 NW 36th St. in Seattle [Fremont], is the retail storefront for Evogear.com, an extensive web-based action sports and lifestyle fashion retailer. For more information on the store, visit www.evoseattle.com or call 206-973-4470.
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