Whatever Happened To ODR Skis After Shark Tank?

Never let it be said that "Shark Tank" entrepreneurs lack radical inventiveness. Case in point: Kevin Greco's ODR Skis. Greco approached the Sharks during Season 12's holiday episode (which aired on December 4, 2020), hoping to score some funding to aid the company's expansion into the American market. The product, which started out under the name Sled Dogs, was created to bring about a brand new kind of winter sport. While it had already managed to establish itself in Europe (the company was founded in Norway by somebody else), the product hadn't gotten the global attention that Greco felt it deserved.

Greco had obtained distribution rights for the U.S. and wanted the Sharks to help him make his product a hit in the States. The appeal was apparent: Picture a cross between skating and skiing that requires no additional equipment (such as poles) to be slope-ready. They're also easy to maintain and transport, which is another issue faced by those who ski and snowboard. So, did the ODR Skis break through the pack and leave their mark on the winter sports industry? Or did they wipe out in the years since they made their debut and become a "Shark Tank" company that doesn't even exist anymore? Here's everything you need to know about ODR Skis.

Kevin Greco aimed to tempt the Sharks into getting in on the ground floor with snow skating, asking for $350,000 in exchange for a 10% stake in his company. It was an impressive pitch — Greco literally skated into the room wearing his product, and his enthusiasm for it was infectious. However, most of the Sharks were unsure about putting money in due to a lack of skiing knowledge and the fact that ODR Skis projected $1.5 million in revenue for the coming year, which seemed small compared to the potential billions of profit in the ski industry.

There was one other thing that concerned the Sharks: The way in which Greco came to be in charge of the company. As Greco revealed during his pitch, he came aboard after agreeing to become a distributor. He ultimately paid in for the invention's North American distribution rights. The success of the product resulted in the supply line being overwhelmed. Faced with non-payment, Greco presented his partners with two choices: Sell him the company, or he would create a similar product to compete with them directly. The former is what happened.

This hostile approach didn't go down well with the Sharks, with the term "back-stabbing" thrown around the Tank. They dropped out one by one until just Barbara Corcoran — who has some ski know-how and was therefore interested in the product — remained. Corcoran, who has lost out on many deals beyond "Shark Tank," revealed that she was once held to ransom for a million dollars by a business partner in a similar situation, and this made her wary of Greco. She was out, and Greco left with nothing.

ODR Skis was a beneficiary of the "Shark Tank" effect, which is a very real thing. The product sold out after Kevin Greco's appearance on the show, however, supply chain issues and the impact of COVID-19 prevented the company from restocking until Spring 2021. Since appearing on "Shark Tank," ODR Skis' offerings have expanded, with three models now for sale on the company's website: The R-43, the Eclipse, and the Hygen.

The R-43 variant has the widest variety of sizes, while the Eclipse goes up to a large. Last of all, the Hygen has the second-most varied lineup of sizes, but it tends to be the cheapest option, making it the best choice for those who are looking to dip a toe into snow skating without spending a fortune. Customers also have the option to buy additional accessories such as boot guards, travel bags, and wax for maintenance.

Notably, ODR Skis' products have gone in and out of stock over the course of the last few years. However, as of this writing, the company appears to be going strong.