VAN NUYS, Calif., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. – a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment and accessories under the Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn brands – today announced its largest and most aggressive commitment in skate innovation through its recent purchase of MLX Skate's technology. The newly created Easton Speed Institute will combine MLX's innovative skate insights with Easton's design and engineering prowess, leading to a new skate concept expected to be in market for the 2013 hockey season.
"As a brand, Easton is at its best when it reinvents categories with game-changing innovation," said Chris Zimmerman, president of Easton brands. "We believe there is a unique opportunity to provide a new approach to the art and speed of skating. I am excited that Easton is committing to the skate category in a way that parallels our leadership in hockey and lacrosse sticks, baseball and softball bats, and helmets."
Dave Cruikshank, four-time Olympian speed skater and founder of MLX, has joined the Easton Speed Institute as Chief of Speed, bringing with him a lifetime of work, skate research and development, and a new approach to making hockey players faster. As an international skater for 16 years, Cruikshank has achieved numerous skating accomplishments including: Junior World Champion 500m; Olympic Trials Gold Medalist; World Cup Medalist; and four-time USA Olympic Team Member.
"The Easton Speed Institute is about innovating a fresh approach to hockey skate designs that speaks to optimizing speed and creating the ultimate skater's skate. The Easton Speed Institute will reinvent how a hockey skate performs, and I am thrilled to be a part of this new team that will create game-changing products," said Cruikshank.
"Bringing Dave and MLX's technology into the Easton family gives us the ability to reinvent skates in a way no one has before. Dave's remarkable insights into the world of power skating are an exceptional compliment to Easton's expertise in performance engineering and design," said Zimmerman.
Cruikshank founded MLX to optimize the potential of both National Hockey League players and grassroots athletes by designing superior equipment with the key elements of comfort, protection and performance. The company's roots are based in using a powerful new approach to skate performance that has been known to speed skaters for the past two decades. With the development of Easton's new skate, the MLX skate brand will no longer be marketed.
Cruikshank will be joined by Easton veteran Dmitry Rusakov, who will lead a team of designers, engineers, developers and biomechanical experts to drive innovation. The Easton Speed Institute will be located at Easton's headquarters in Van Nuys, California and in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Easton bought MLX skates
#1
Posted 09 November 2011 - 05:50 PM
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#2
Posted 09 November 2011 - 06:09 PM
#3
Posted 09 November 2011 - 07:26 PM
#4
Posted 09 November 2011 - 08:56 PM
always looking for non Reebok L & XL shells......
#6
Posted 09 November 2011 - 11:56 PM
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#7
Posted 10 November 2011 - 12:00 AM
I lean more to Dupes' line of thinking..With the backing of a multimillion dollar company,and with the technological advancements Easton is know for..I only see an upside in this merger:)I love my MLX skates too, I'm excited to see what will happened.
#8
Posted 10 November 2011 - 10:08 AM
I lean more to Dupes' line of thinking..With the backing of a multimillion dollar company,and with the technological advancements Easton is know for..I only see an upside in this merger:)
I hope so but I'm still skeptical. I know that it's kind of "apples and oranges" but too many times I've seen a great local restaurant be taken over by a bigger company that comes in and ruins everything because they're trying to take short cuts to help their bottom line. hopefully Cruikshank being involved will prevent that from happening.
always looking for non Reebok L & XL shells......
#9
Posted 13 April 2012 - 11:53 AM
Im anxious to see the final version
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#10
Posted 13 April 2012 - 01:07 PM
#11
Posted 13 April 2012 - 02:47 PM
A couple weeks ago I had the chance to see the first prototype ,hand made in Montreal, MLX Easton skates, the Mako.
Im anxious to see the final version
ok, so here's the big question and as a MLX owner I completely trust your answer: will current MLX disciples like me be happy with the direction Easton's going?
always looking for non Reebok L & XL shells......
#12
Posted 13 April 2012 - 02:53 PM
ok, so here's the big question and as a MLX owner I completely trust your answer: will current MLX disciples like me be happy with the direction Easton's going?
I'd also like to know that, as well as if they looked to be a little bit of a higher cut skate.
#13
Posted 13 April 2012 - 04:02 PM
ok, so here's the big question and as a MLX owner I completely trust your answer: will current MLX disciples like me be happy with the direction Easton's going?
from the first prototype I saw, I would say yes, the fit seems be very similar then MLX.
Easton has very high expectations for the Mako skates.
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