The sport of snowboarding, once a backyard endeavor with little hope of becoming mainstream, is now a multimillion-dollar industry attracting entire families to the hills for fun and healthy, active vacations. One of the fastest growing sports in the world, nearly 80 percent of first-timers trying winter sports choose snowboarding, according to Bulgariaski.com. Snowboarding has been shaped by a few key manufactures that are committed to finding ways to improve safety, technology and performance, which all translate into more fun on the slopes.
Mervin Snowboards
Mervin was founded in Washington, by snowboarders Mike Olson and Pete Saari, in 1977. Arguably the longest-running snowboard factory in the United States, Mervin, and its two brands, Gnu and Lib Tech, was purchased by Quicksilver in the late 1990s. Gnu brought into popularity "rocker" technology, where boards are flat in the center and lift at the ends, improving response. Lib Tech contributed "Magne Tek", or an edge design in which the the metal edge at the base of the board is gently serrated like a knife, providing enhanced grip on harder surfaces.
Burton Snowbaords
Perhaps the most famous name in snowboarding, Burton was founded and is still owned and operated by Jake Burton in Burlington, VT, in 1979. By developing a talented athletic team, Burton bases much of its research and design on rider feedback, creating an extended line of snowboards for all purposes, intended to meet all budgets. Burton has also expanded its production to include soft goods, backpacks, shoes and eye wear, and is responsible for a nationwide Learn to Ride, or LTR program, providing beginner-specific trainer boards to snowboard areas that are LTR certified. In 2008, Burton sales exceeded $500 million. Recently, all production was moved to Austria.
Rossignol
The one hundred-year-old, French mountain sport company of Rossignol is synonymous with snow sports. Originally all wood skis shaped form hand cut lumber, Rossignol began production on snowboards in 1990, and hasn't looked back. It currently markets men's and women's boards, bindings and men's and women's soft goods like boots and outerwear. With nearly a century of ski manufacturing, the company continues to offer progressive designs each year, like the AmpTek board technology easing the ride, or a micro-computer equipped Chrono Jacket keeping you informed of conditions.
Venture Snowboards
Venture Snowboards represent a small niche of fabricators that are sustained by a specific focus or aspect of the sport, in this case durability. Based in Colorado's San Juan Mountains, Venture hand makes its snowboards from poplar and ash wood, uses wind power and recycled materials, and warranties each board for two years. Venture boards are considered overbuilt, by intention, to withstand abuse and maintain longevity. They are "all-mountain" snowboards, or built for any terrain or condition, according to Snowboarding.com. Twice in the last two years, the company has received acclaim for design and performance.
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