Kirschner Family
Based on Vashon Island, Washinton, the Kirschners began their company by making animal cages and splints using plastics just after World War II. Wanting to remain cutting-edge, Bill Kirschner was always looking for new products to develop, and in 1961 made his first pair of fiberglass skis.
Seattle and Growth
Realizing the skis he had made worked very well, Kirschner took his product to Anderson & Thompson Ski Co., a company based in Seattle that developed ski technology. Impressed with Kirschner's skis, the company convinced him to move to Seattle to begin production. In 1964, Kirschner commercially produced 250 pairs of the now famous K2 skis.
The Late '60s
By 1969, K2 produced more than 20,000 pairs of skis each year and had a staff of 83 employees.
Into the '80s
After several mergers and incarnations, by the '80s, K2 had established itself as a major player in the ski industry. By 1988, K2 recognized the potential in snowboarding and began producing boards along with skis. In the late '80s, K2 recognized the talents of Doug Coombs and made him a sponsored athlete and development technician.
Growth and Tragedy
After years of successful partnership, Coombs, a sponsored K2 skier and world famous mountaineer, fell to his death in 2006 in the French Alps. K2 produces a ski in his name as a memorial.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
