A Look Back at Old Snowboard Brands: A Historical List

This is a list of old snowboard makers we've come across, listed in no particular order.

It is not, nor will it ever be, a totally comprehensive list of all old snowboards made pre-1990. There are too many small-scale companies that quickly disappeared, or home-mades that have long been forgotten. We are only trying to compile the info for a historical perspective and as a reference for collectors.

The focus is on pre-1990, and we applaud all those who made early snowboards regardless of the number made, corporate or small shop, still around or defunct. If you know of any others please message us with the info. Thanks!

Here’s a glimpse into the history of snowboarding through some of the brands that shaped the sport:

• Snurfer - 1965, Sherman Poppen
• Burton - 1970's, Burlington, VT. Jake Burton
• Sims - 1970's, Tom Sims, Santa Barbara, California
• Barfoot - 1970's, Chuck Barfoot
• Winterstick - 1970's, Dimitrije Milovich, Utah
• Avalanche - California
• Lib Tech - Washington
• Skeeboggan - 1930's
• Wickland Bunker - 1940's
• Adirondak Ski Board - 19xx
• Snowplast Hammerplast - 19xx
• Coleco - Skeeter - by Snowcrafters
• Variflex - 1980's / DSI Everest
• Swingbo - by Alpine Surf
• Hy-Arc - Dr. Avalanche - Damien Sanders
• Agression - Origins: Matt Nipper, 1983, began building boards from old Head ski press (boards not named)
• Gnu - Washington
• Hooger Booger - Swiss
• Suanzee - Western Michigan maker of fiberglass hand-painted snowboards 1980's
• Black Snow
• Funky - New Hampshire
• Crazy Banana - Swiss
• Kemper - Ontario, Canada
• Mistral - Maryland
• Snowtech - New York
• Look Lamar - Bert Lamar
• Hot - By Surge Dupraz started in France 1984.
• Plenk
• Crazy Creek - Tied to Crazy Banana(?), Swiss
• Novak Snurfboards - Bob Novak, Michigan
• Gordon & Smith - California
• Elan
• Dynastar
• K2
• Atomic - Ski MFG
• Rossignol - Ski MFG
• Fischer - Ski MFG
• Kastle - Ski MFG
• Kniesel - Ski MFG
• Head - Ski MFG
• Neidecker - ROCKY MOUNTAIN - STEVE LINK, Colorado
• Flight - Summit - Steve Link, Silverthorne, CO 1982, then Silverthorne, CO 1986
• Ultimate Control Boards - Michael Troppman, Carl "Butch" Bronski(?), Lakewood, CO, 1981, thermoplastic
• Slicker - Steve Cathey, CA
• Moss - Japan
• Prop - First twin(?), washers on rear sidewalls for edges. Matt Donovan, Santa Barbara, CA. early 80's.
• Lofo - Louis Fournier
• Morrow - Rob Morrow
• Skifer - Snurfer type board
• White Bear - Snurfer type board
• Bec-Mar Sno Skimmer - Snurfer type boards
• Ski Bombe - By Sea Gliders Co., Montreal Canada. Snurfer type board
• Grell - Snurfr type board, Jeff Grell, Colorado
• Arrow - Snurfer type board
• Antix - 1st year, Michigan
• Lenderink - BLANK supplier (MICHIGAN wood products supplier to early snowboard makers)
• Wild Duck
• Nitro - Seattle, WA. Tommy Delago and Sepp Ardelt. Formed in 1989 / established 1990.
• Ripcurl Snowsurf Co. - Thierry Donnard. Victoria, Australia. 1980's (Euro mfg?)
• Solo Ski - San Diego, CA. Mark Vance, John West. Integral circular rotating binding built in board
• Checker Pig
• Heavy Tools
• Elfgen
• Duparz - Serge Dupraz
• Apocolypse Surf - Regis Roland, 80's early swallowtail models
• Carbon Surf
• Winter Surf - Founded by Sergio Aghemo, Turin. Italy 1985. Later mfg Hoffstetter, Germany(?)
• Snow Surf (Lusti) - Founded by Rudi Probstl & Micheal Geyer, 1978 Bavaria, Germany
• Clem Surf
• Sweet Surf - Mfg in France
• Hawaii Surf - Eric Gross, French made
• Bird Surf - 1983-89, French, by E. Mayhew, (sponsored Jean Nerva & Phil Martin)
• Surf Key
• Snowfish - Swiss
• Skull Skate
• Swift - 1983, Co. Tracy/Tim Canaday (of Never Summer). Burton like boards
• Kriss - "Escape" model. Jeff Grell design & mfg., 1986/87, Colorado
• Crystal Ocean - Pre-Avalanche design, Damien Sanders, California
• Swash
• Seam - Euro
• Storm - Alberta, Canada
• Vortex / Techtonic - Quebec, Canada
• Hiper - Denver, CO, by Myron Knappschafer [Hyperslick base (borrowed from snowplow blade technology]
• Ski Board - Late 70's, by Bob Webber (precurser to Sims flying yellow banana base)
• Maui
• Mamboo - Australia
• Dea
• Jacks - Italy
• Jester
• Jazz
• Transition - 80's. Brampton, Ontario, CAN. Legendary skater and all board maker Wee Willie Winkles.
• Gussade - California
• Steep & Deep
• Local Motion Hawaii
• Powder Stick - 1983-1992. Calgary, Canada, Lindsey Rodgers, formed early 80's, later became "Option SB" Snowboards
• Snowfish
• SKOSH - Bill O'Connell, Carrie Campbell, Proto's built 1974, Littleton, CO
• Fanatic - 1989
• Pogo
• Vector
• Vortex - Quebec, Canada
• Alpha - By Attack International. Mfg Austria. Late 1980's wind surfing company
• Aloha - Inferno - Pinzgau, Austria, late 1980's
• Glacier
• Lipstick - Mfg by F.R.G.
• Rabbit - By Anders Wittusen, OSLO, NORWAY 1983
• Mountech - Anders Wittusen, Norway
• Pee Funk - Anders Wittusen, Norway
• Utopia - Anders Wittusen, Norway
• Razor Blade
• Eskimo - Munich Germany Late 1980's
• Sno Guarantee
• Fun Dominator
• Eigenbrau
• A-Team - Jack Smith, Gary Fluitt, John Brunson. Morrow Bay, CA late 1970's. Made sand-boards too
• Ultra
• HF - French (Pyrenees Mountains), early 80's
• Naked Boards - California. Made in factory that became Agression
• Nectar - California
• Rebel Skate & Snow - Oregon
• Boulder Boards/Aggression - Colorado
• Town & Country Snow Stick - Canadian
• Largo Bigfoot
• Kniesel
• Delbert Pumpernickle - ?
• Snurf - French brand from 1983-87 by skateboarders R. Backes and the Almuzara brothers.
• Radical
• Contra Line
• Ska Board - Colorado, established 1981(ish)
• Gar - Colorado
• Omni - Australia, 1986?. Small batch. Originally skate makers
• Shady Sharks - 1987, Carsten Cappi (made for EBI), low volume
• Booger You - Wave 270, late 80's, made by "Greg" Extreme Boardsports, Glenelg-Adelaide, Australia, low volume
• Chaix Vanom - Small French maker 1984-1986
• Saxo Fun - Small French maker
• Circle One - 1983. English wind surf co that got into snowboards
• Wave - Adelaide, Australia. Greg?. 1980's
• Ayack - Ski Surf, Japan, mid 1970's - early 80's
• Johly - Previously Ayak, Japan late 80's
• Brandy(?) - Allen Rech, CA. Swallowtail, mid rudder, side fins, yellow topside, 1984.
• Polar - Euro
• Outland - 1983/84 low vol, BC Canada, by James Kalssen (US open dh champ late 80's) colab with Neil Daffern.
• Surfneige - French, models Aspen-1 1985, Aspen-2 1985/86.
• Skyrider - Big Foot model, United Kingdom, 1980's.
• Snowboard-Surfboard Co. - Wider surfboard like snow deck with a rope.
• Snow-Surfer - Very wide surfboard like snow deck
• F2 (Fun & Function) - 1988, Austrian made
• Sonic - Souther California. Stainless steel base.
• Surfavo - Homemande brand out of Italy. Massimo Di Ponzi - maker.
• Transition - Collingwood, Ontario Canada. Wee Willie Winkles family factory. Invented "Skyhooks".
• Freeway - 1980's "West" Germany
• Bradar - 1986.

From the chart you can see how old the companies are, how long they've been making snowboards, which companies are independent and which are owned or licensed by other companies.

Read also: Is the Gnu Antigravity Snowboard Worth It?

This list only covers 56 past and present snowboard manufacturers. There are tens or possibly hundreds more snowboarding companies that could also be added if you include every Tom, Dick and Harry who puts their name on a board.

In this list of the main players in the market, 62% of the manufacturers are independent which is a fairly meaty majority. Most companies that start manufacturing snowboards are independent companies. Across these companies, 82% were independent when they produced their first snowboards.

It's also unlikely that the manufacturer will remain independent in the longer-term as it becomes more and more likely that the company will be acquired. 75% of the youngest 20 companies are independent, but just 32% of the oldest companies are independent.

Independent companies on average have less experience in making snowboards. They've only been making them for an average of 14 years compared with the owned companies who have an average of 18 years of experience.

In general the longer you have been making something the better you get at it and the more likely your products will be of better quality. It's not a perfect measure because younger companies are often able to be more adaptable and can on occasions produce more creative designs, think of Bateleon and their triple-base technology.

Read also: Battle Bindings: Performance and Value

You'd think that the companies with the best claims at being independent and consistently sticking it to the man would be the ones who have retained their independence for the longest periods of time.

Burton - the snowboard behemoth and hugely successful business run by Jake Burton who proved himself to be considerably better at running a business compared to of any of his peers.

Barfoot - a guy who had completely the opposite journey to Jake Burton, who now makes just a few boards a year and markets them through an antiquated web site.

Here is a table summarizing the key differences between independent and owned snowboard companies:

Characteristic	Independent Companies	Owned Companies
Independence at Start	82%	N/A
Current Independence (Top Players)	62%	38%
Independence (Youngest 20 Companies)	75%	25%
Independence (Oldest Companies)	32%	68%
Average Experience	14 years	18 years

The following is a list of businesses known for manufacturing skis.

Read also: Renting Snowboards in Whistler Blackcomb: What You Need to Know

• Armada was founded in 2002 by a group of professional skiers and the ski and snowboard photographer Chris O'Connell.
• Founded by Alois Rohrmoser. This manufacturer created the first ski used to ski Mount Everest by Hans Kammerlander in 1996 on the Atomic Tourcap.
• Independent freeskiing-oriented company based out of Chamonix, France.
• Founded by Toni Arnsteiner. Launched as a joint venture between Dynamic and Starflex skis. Produced a variety of fiberglass products, including skis, then sailboats and sailplanes.
• Started winning on the World Cup circuit in 1964 and became famous as the ski of Ingemar Stenmark. One of the largest brands through the 1960s and into the 80s, and became a force in the downhill racing market with their C4 design in the early 1980s.
• Founded in St. Paul, Minn. by Harry and Hart Holmberg and Ed Bjork, to make metal laminate skis. Introduced the Head Standard, the first successful metal/wood composite ski, and took over the majority of the ski market in the US and UK in the 1960s.
• Was slow to move to fibreglass, and Howard Head left the company in 1969 handing it to AMF. AMF rebuilt the brand in the 1970s and became a force again, purchasing Tyrolia.
• Founded by Bill and Don Kirschner to make fiberglass skis on Vashon Island, Wash. In 2001, manufacturing was moved to China and the executive offices to Seattle. In 2007, consumer products company, Jarden Corp, bought out K2 and its subsidiaries.
• Started ski production in 1919 and becomes Kneissl Ski in 1921. Introduced the composite "White Star" in 1960, sparking a revolution in materials.
• Founded by James Satloff and Dan Chalfant, and pioneered the use of bamboo in its full ski line. Introduced a radical-sidecut mini-ski in 1995, and then developed this basic idea into one of the first twin-tip skis in 1999. Purchased by K2 around 2002.
• Only major producer left in Norway. Begins production of fiberglass skis in 1974. Purchased by K2 in 1988.
• Major player in the 1970s and 80s with their Mark IV. Licensed their line to K2 in 1986 and exited the business.
• Founded by Toivo Peltonen (1921-2007). Currently owned by Normark Suomi Oy, a Rapala VMC company. Historic producer of mainly cross-country but also other types of skis such as Telemark, Big Mountain, and Hunter. Started production under the Rønning brand in 1936, and is currently the only producer of wooden skis in Norway.
• Introduced one of the first successful all-round fibreglass ski designs. Built a major conglomerate in the 1990s, including Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange, Look, Kerma, and other brands.
• Began as a family-owned shop making saw blades, then ski edges beginning around 1947. Expanded to make bindings (1955), then ski boots (1979) and cross-country ski gear, then golf (1985), the alpine skis (1989). Purchased by Adidas in 1997 and sold to Amer Sports (owner of Atomic, Wilson, Suunto, and other brands) in 2005.
• Used a new fibreglass/epoxy technique that was well-liked but very expensive. Introduced a stainless steel cap-ski in 1989, but was very expensive to produce and went out of business in 2001.
• Distributed in the 1960s by Sears in the US. Purchased by K2, and in turn, Jarden in 2007.

The following list consists of companies known primarily for their ski boots. Some entries are duplicated from above, but not all.

• Formerly Chouinard Equipment (founded in 1957), Black Diamond first entered the ski market in the early 1980s with the XCD telemark binding.[6] Today, Black Diamond designs and manufacturers a full line of skis, boots and bindings for alpine, telemark and touring pursuits.
• Chris and Denny Hanson developed the rear-entry boot while working at Lange, and left to form their own company. Successful during the 1970s, mis-steps during the early 1980s led to their bankruptcy in 1984.
• K2 launched its first boot production on Vashon Island in 1975. That effort failed. Purchased Raichle Flexon molds and started Full Tilt around 2006; launched a boot line under the K2 label in 2013. Sold to Jarden Corp. and then to Newell Rubbermaid.
• Introduced the first plastic ski boots in 1962, and followed up with a greatly improved model in 1965/66. After 1968, they were a must-have for racers, and rapidly took over the market. Nordica was formed in Montebelluna, the center of Italian ski boot manufacturing to this day.
• Entered the plastic ski boot market in 1968, following the lead set by Lange. Nordica pioneered use of the removable, customizable innerboot. Also produces skis and other equipment today. Another contender for title of "first plastic boot", Rosemount was an all-fibreglass shell with a unique side-opening design.
• Was in the process of introducing a rear-entry model in 1973 when they were purchased by G.H. Bass, then the United States distributor for Raichle. Introduced the famed SX series of rear-entry boots in 1979, and was a major success through the 1980s.
• When the rear-entry design rapidly fell from favour around 1990, they purchased the San Giorgio factory and turned to traditional front-entry designs.
• Formed in Montebelluna in 1960 to produce leather work boots, the company introduced the Moon Boot for apres-ski. They followed this with their first ski boots in 1973.

These brands, along with many others, contributed to the evolution of snowboarding. Their innovations, designs, and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped the sport we know and love today.

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