Most of the time we don’t pay much attention to our serial numbers, instead focusing on the graphics or stickers of our boards. However, if your skis or snowboard were to suddenly go missing, how would you get it back? Gear can disappear in seconds - during a quick warm-up break, a restroom stop, or a short pause at the lodge.
That's why understanding your snowboard's serial number and utilizing resources like Ski Board Registry are crucial for any snowboarder.
Ski Board Registry: Affordable Peace of Mind
Ski Board Registry was created to address a growing issue in snow sports - skis and snowboards going missing with little chance of recovery. It offers simple, effective services that empower skiers and snowboarders to secure their gear, recover lost equipment, and deter theft. Whether you’re a casual weekend rider, a parent managing family gear, or a seasoned skier with a significant investment in your equipment, registration provides a practical way to establish ownership and improve recovery odds.
How Ski Board Registry Works
Ski Board Registry works like a pet microchip for your gear - not live tracking, but verifiable ownership that can help reunite found equipment with its rightful owner. Unlike GPS or Bluetooth tracking devices that rely on batteries, nearby phones, or ongoing subscriptions - and that can be removed or disabled - Ski Board Registry focuses on ownership verification, not location tracking. Recovery is never guaranteed, but registration adds a critical layer of protection that improves the chances your gear can be identified and returned.
Key Features of Ski Board Registry:
- Register your skis or snowboard in your secure account and establish verifiable proof of ownership.
- Optional durable, waterproof stickers available to members to visibly identify registered gear.
Have a question or need help getting started? Affordable peace of mind for skiers and snowboarders.
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Burton Snowboard Serial Numbers: What They Mean
Since the early 90’s, Burton has had a fairly consistent process for applying serial numbers to their snowboards. The most informative number in the serial is the first number.
Here's a breakdown of what the first digit of a Burton snowboard serial number indicates:
| First Digit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1st quality production board |
| 2 | Factory 2nd or blemish |
| 5 | "On Snow Demos" for industry testing (often without production graphics) |
| 9 | Originally meant for a rep or employee (often ridden by pro riders) |
Got a vintage board with a serial number under the ptex on the base? That is another interesting bit of history. Compare the numbers on the top with the numbers on the base. They are probably different.
Ski & Snowboard Theft - The SnowDocK® Solution
In the 1990’s, when snowboarding was growing by leaps and bounds there was a lot of competition between retail stores who all wanted to carry Burton boards. Burton would often sign exclusivity contracts with local shops, agreeing to sell boards to one and not their competition. The serial numbers on the bottom of the boards were linked to individual reps who sold Burton to the retail shops. Often times, businesses that weren’t supposed to sell Burton would end up with Burtons on their shelves, disrupting the edge that shops with an exclusivity contract.
Snowboard Prototypes
Prototypes have always had their own set of numbers. Somewhere at Craigs is a file that records each number and lists the exact model and features of a board. Not all prototypes are made in Vermont, factories in Austria, China and Dubai have the ability to make prototypes as well. On older BMC protos, you will often find something as simple as sharpie writing, denoting either a number, or if you are lucky, an actual description of the board. Over the last few years, the Craig’s prototype facility has stamped its name into the boards it makes.
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