Discraft/Innova team players jumping ship?

[CMC206]

Anyone have some more information on all the drama I see on facebook?

[emmarose]

hurry hurry!!! someone fill us in!

[General Scales]

Cale Leviska has left Discraft for what can be assumed to go to Lavonne Wolfe's new company Disc Golf Prodigy
Will Schusterick has followed suit
Ron Convers Jr has left Discraft for DD
Page Pierce is supposedly doing the same (going to DD)
Liz Lopez is undecided but most likely going to DD
Eric McCabe has been spotted playing several rounds with an all Latitude bag and Latitude is fielding an American team this year. He's either going to DD or Latitude (DD discs being molded by Latitude)
Dixon Jowers has left Innova for DD
Devan Owens left Discraft for Prodiscus

Anymore questions?

[Jason Philips]

The most significant thing I have heard is that Dynamic Discs is begining to carry their own line and this is forcing people sponsored to choose who they will stay with. That is the basic idea of what I saw.

[Scott]

It only makes sense that as the arena gets more crowded the elite players will move around looking for the best deal.

If I had a guess, I'd say DD is making a big investment in the futre by offering sweet sponsorships packages to some top-tier players.

[General Scales]

Well not only are Dynamic Discs making discs but one of two things is going to happen:
1.) Dynamic will allow their team players to play with a mixed bag so long as they have a Dynamic Disc in their bag
2.) Dynamic Discs will only allow their team players to play with their product and they are molded by Latitude which would make any Latitude disc acceptable to throw.

Either way it's going to be interesting.

[Jason Philips]

I also believe that with Discraft anyone on that team is only supposed to be throwing Discraft but I could be wrong. That adds to some of this.

[EnigmaSquad]

I am friends with a member of team discraft who has told me earlier this week that in January he will be joining Team DD and will be throwing DD and Latitude exclusively. Not trying to be obtuse but he has asked me not to share his name...

[lion]

Prodigy disc golf is where most are going for sure.

[maynard]

Originally Posted by General Scales

Cale Leviska has left Discraft for what can be assumed to go to Lavonne Wolfe's new company Disc Golf Prodigy
Will Schusterick has followed suit
Ron Convers Jr has left Discraft for DD
Page Pierce is supposedly doing the same (going to DD)
Liz Lopez is undecided but most likely going to DD
Eric McCabe has been spotted playing several rounds with an all Latitude bag and Latitude is fielding an American team this year. He's either going to DD or Latitude (DD discs being molded by Latitude)
Dixon Jowers has left Innova for DD
Devan Owens left Discraft for Prodiscus

Anymore questions?

I just watched a youtube video of Paige Pierce stating that she will not be sponsored by DD next year due to the fact that they now have there own disc line. It would be a conflict of interest, the plot thickens... PS: Garret Gurthie, Ricky Wysocki, and Paul Ulibarri have all also said goodbye to Innova today.

[all2common]

And I am now only throwing Latitude. As the world turns...

[CMC206]

It's pretty interesting. I hope it works out for them.

[Matt B.]

Originally Posted by all2common

And I am now only throwing Latitude. As the world turns...

But Lund continues to out throw you by several feet.

[jdinteg]

Latitude!

Common, I'm all latitude too, and I'm confident I can out throw Lund ;-P

[loki]

I had a latitude rep give me a bag of innova discs and made me promise that I would never throw latitude.

[TYVEK]

Originally Posted by loki

I had a latitude rep give me a bag of innova discs and made me promise that I would never throw latitude.

wow, you must be pretty bad! on a serious note, it is nice to see more and more companies coming out and putting preasure on innova and discraft. not alot of pressure but still its enough to keep the big two from getting to comfortable.

if i was to replace any of my discraft in my bag i would replace it with Latitude discs. they are some extremely fine discs.

[Rebecca]

Close.........but you're still wrong.

You'll have to wait until January 1st.

[TYVEK]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

Close.........but you're still wrong.

You'll have to wait until January 1st.

HUH? who's wrong and what happens on january 1st?

[matt]

Originally Posted by TYVEK

HUH? who's wrong and what happens on january 1st?

x2

[WestsoundBT]

ok, I'll participate in a speculation thread.

Anytime a third party company comes to the table, there are some that think they have to knock someone else out to have a seat at the table. Vibrams setting up to the group ok and didn't have to steal (marketshare) from the others, so I don't think that'll be a big deal with DD or Prodigy to work out their own success. You don't have to be the biggest entity on the block to be successful - just successful enough to meet your own goals.

However, here's my interesting observations and thoughts:

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution is a big thing if you are primarily focused on selling a lower cost commodity. I have a good feeling on how DD is planning their distribution scheme - they already have it going. Maybe add wholesale order capability for regional brick and mortar. No prob there.

What I'm interested in seeing is the Prodigy distribution plan. Same thing - dive into online distribution, and grow ground up with small and medium sized wholesale arrangements? Likely. Or maybe they've got an "ace" in their pocket for a pre-arranged distribution network. There was rumors of an earlier disc golf meets Dicks Sporting goods effort somewhere, and I don't off hand know how Southern centric that would be. (pure speculation)

Additionally, I'm interested to see what happens specifically to touring pros that (perhaps) now have a higher stake in a startup company. Could we see touring pro team members now really drawn into being a notable part of the distribution and sales force? Commission, part equity, percentage of personal sales, blah, blah, blah.. you get it - it changes what it might mean to be one of these team members.

Could many touring pros now start traveling in larger merchandise vehicles, with them having a greater drive to sales as a distributer/point of purchase?

Side note: How awesome for DD that they got the Emporia Worlds bid to work out so well at a good timing!