Posted on Fri, Feb 22, 2013 @ 12:14 PM
As a company on the leading edge of design and innovation, it’s no surprise that Venture Snowboards is once again pushing the envelope with the Shape Shack, an experimental division charged with dreaming up new and innovative board shapes.
“Pushing boundaries and trying new things is built into the DNA of snowboarding,” says Klemens Branner, Venture’s founder and design engineer, who is heading up the effort with creative input from big mountain legend Johan Olofsson and select guest shapers. “You never know where a good idea is going to come from, so inviting new perspectives into the mix is a great way to spark the creative process.”
Shape Shack boards are produced in small, limited edition runs and made available to the public through choice retailers and Venture’s online store. For 12/13, the three new Shape Shack designs are limited edition collector's items, with only 25 of each design produced.
What does Branner enjoy most about the Shape Shack? “Of course riding the finished product is the best part! But bringing a new board shape from concept to reality in a short period of time is extremely gratifying. It brings our whole team together, and because we own our own factory we have control over that process from start to finish. We can produce pretty much anything that we can dream up, and then walk out the front door and ride it right here in our backyard. It's an ideal setup for experimentation without boundaries.”
Here's the skinny on the different shapes, available for purchase now through Venture's online store:
POWDER PIG
Resident Shaper & Graphic Artist: Johan Olofsson
The Powder Pig is the second powder specific shape dreamed up by big mountain legend and pow surfing pioneer Johan Olofsson. Available in a 156 cm length, it has no edges and only two inserts - one near the tip and one near the tail - for attaching a rope. The flat “bat tail,” mellow rocker, and 33 cm width provide uncanny floatation. A true pow surfer’s dream. Say oink as you gorge on the deep stuff!
SKYLAR SPECIAL
Guest Shaper: Skylar Holgate, Graphic Artist: Shanna Duncan
The Skylar Special is a big mountain twin designed by infamous Silverton Mountain guide Skylar Holgate. Available in a 160 cm length and 25 cm waist, with a true twin shape that offers greater maneuverability and effortless switch riding. While this deck’s slightly softer flex makes it fun and playful, quadratics still give it plenty of bite and grip for less forgiving conditions.
SWALLOWTAIL BOMBER
Guest Shaper: Aaron Brill
The Swallowtail Bomber is a classic swallowtail shape designed by Silverton Mountain’s founder and owner Aaron Brill. Lots of length for charging big lines and an elongated rocker profile for effortless float in the deep stuff. 180 cm length and 26 cm width. Go big or go home.
Photo above, from left to right: Powder Pig, Skylar Special, Swallowtail Bomber
Posted on Sat, Nov 10, 2012 @ 03:10 PM
Venture Snowboards and Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to welcome winter in style with their 8th Annual Season Kickoff Party scheduled for Saturday, December 15th (Silverton Mountain's opening day).
For the eighth year running, the two homegrown Colorado companies are producing a small run of custom graphics boards and a special winter brew, both of which will be unveiled at the bash.
The partnership between Venture and Ska started nearly a decade ago when the two businesses came together to talk about how they could collaborate. "We jokingly refer to ourselves as the microbrew of snowboards because we build high quality boards from scratch," explains Venture's Lisa Branner. "Ska takes the same approach in crafting their beer, so teaming up seemed like a natural."
This year's Season Kickoff features live music, Ska drink specials, and tons of product giveaways from a host of different sponsors.
The highlight of the evening will be the raffle for a coveted limited edition Ska/Venture custom snowboard. This year's deck features the Mole Stout graphic, and is destined to become a collector's item for beer and snow lovers alike.
The Season Kickoff Party gets rockin' at 8 pm at Silverton's Grand Imperial Hotel (1219 Greene Street). Cover charge is $6 and this is a 21+ event. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies in Silverton. For more information call 970.387.5527.
YOU COULD WIN THIS BOARD!!
Posted on Wed, Feb 15, 2012 @ 01:55 PM
Just back from the SIA SnowShow in Denver, and wanted to share a little preview of Venture's 2012/2013 line with you all. Still staying true to our focus on big mountain freeride boards. Don't they look dreamy??
Posted on Tue, Nov 15, 2011 @ 01:27 PM
Venture Snowboards and Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to welcome winter with our Seventh Annual Season Kickoff Party scheduled for Saturday, December 3rd - opening day at Silverton Mountain!
For the seventh year running, the two homegrown Colorado companies are producing a small run of custom graphics boards and a special winter brew, both of which will be unveiled at the bash. This year's Season Kickoff features live music from The Crags and Farmington Hill, Ska drink specials, and tons of giveaways from Ice Pirates Snowmobile Tours, Purgatory, Purl Wax, Silverton Mountain, Silverton Powder Cats, Smith Optics, Skullcandy, Spark R&D, TREW Gear, Wolf Creek Ski Area and more.
The highlight of the evening will be the raffle for a coveted limited edition Ska/Venture custom snowboard. This year's deck features the Euphoria Pale Ale graphic and the distinctive Venture snowflake, and is destined to become a collector’s item for beer and snow lovers alike.
The Season Kickoff Party gets rockin' at 8 pm at Silverton's Grand Imperial Hotel. Cover charge is $6 and this is a 21+ event. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies in Silverton.
YOU COULD WIN THIS BOARD!!
Posted on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 @ 12:09 PM
Venture's Zephyr Splitboard has received the prestigious Editors' Choice Award from Backcountry Magazine!
As the premier backcountry skiing and snowboarding publication in North America, Backcountry Magazine's endorsement is highly coveted within the snow sports industry. This year's annual product test was held at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, where a selection of boards from top manufacturers were put through their paces both on piste and off. When the powder cloud settled, Venture’s Zephyr Splitboard emerged as a top choice.
According to Backcountry, "Outstanding tester response, exceptionally high scores, and category-leading overall performance contributed to our selection of the Zephyr as a 2011 Gear Guide Editors’ Choice.” Additionally, they commented that the Zephyr splitboard is “the elusive quiver of one: an all-season, all-conditions animal that devours all-things powder.”
The solid version of the Zephyr has been Venture’s flagship board since the company’s founding in 1999. Designed as a versatile, all-mountain powerhouse, it performs well in a range of conditions. It has also received many accolades over the years, including Future Snowboarding Magazine’s Most Valuable Product award in 2007 and 2008.
The split version, introduced last winter, was well received by backcountry riders seeking a precise and controlled ride in challenging and variable terrain. Building on this successful design, the changes for winter 2010/2011 have boosted the board’s performance. A switch from camber to rocker has had the biggest impact, giving the Zephyr splitboard greater maneuverability and float without sacrificing edge hold or performance in less than ideal conditions.
The Zephyr’s victory follows close on the heels of the Storm Splitboard’s success in 2010. The Storm is Venture’s best-selling splitboard model, and also won an Editors’ Choice award from Backcountry last season.
Needless to say, we are stoked to have our splitboards receive such a prestigious honor two years in a row! Look out for the Zephyr's write up in this year's Backcountry Gear Guide, which will hit the newsstands in September.
Posted on Tue, Apr 20, 2010 @ 11:03 AM
Great short segment on splitboarding that aired on RSN earlier this winter. Includes a demonstration with a Venture Storm-R splitboard!
Posted on Tue, Mar 16, 2010 @ 10:28 AM
We are super stoked to announce that big mountain legend Johan Olofsson has joined Venture Snowboards as a product tester, and will be contributing to product design and development.
Initially an accomplished freestyle rider, Swedish-born Olofsson is renowned for being one of the first snowboarders to take freestyle tricks out of the terrain park and into big mountain environments. According to an interview in White Lines, “ What followed was nothing short of mindblowing…he tackled lines which veterans of the Alaskan heli scene had only contemplated in their dreams, with a speed and fluidity that would change the concept of freeriding forever.”
In 1996, Olofsson shook the very foundations of snowboarding with his descent of the Cauliflower Chutes in the Standard Films movie TB5. The ride took him down an Alaskan slope of over 40 degrees and 3,000 vertical feet in just 35 seconds, averaging close to 50 miles per hour. This feat landed him in the 1996 Guinness Book of World Records and solidified his status as a living legend of big mountain snowboarding.
Olofsson’s involvement with Venture began last spring when we sent him a splitboard while filming in Glacier Bay National Park for the Teton Gravity Research movie Deeper. After riding Venture’s Storm splitboard in some of Alaska’s most remote and inaccessible terrain, Olofsson was impressed. I like the solid feel of Venture boards and the first try at riding the Storm was a blast. The rockered shape and snappy turns make it a fun freeride board. You can slash and throw the tail around in all kinds of places. I like to have fun on my board and this one helps.”
The primary role Olofsson will play with Venture will be to influence product design and development. “I’m super stoked to have Johan riding our boards and am looking forward to working with him on continuing to improve our designs,” says Klemens Branner, Venture’s founder and co-owner. “It’s going to be amazing to have one of the world’s most accomplished freeriders collaborating with us.”
Olofsson is also excited about the opportunity, especially in regard to developing splitboards. “ I’m always looking into projects that will progress the sport, in this case freeride boards which are getting to be a rare breed in the industry. The split theory speaks for itself. Working on this level with Venture makes it possible to create and shape boards quickly, and I hope to get some good shapes out there for you all.”
Welcome on board Johan!
Posted on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 11:09 AM
The House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act a few months ago and legislation is currently in the hands of the Senate. While the details of the Senate bill haven’t been ironed out yet, the fight may come down to a few undecided votes - and our collective voice could help tip the scales.
A strong US climate policy will help protect small businesses, jobs and the vitality of our unique mountain communities that draw millions of tourists each year.
The Protect Our Winters “Sixty Days” website offers an overview of the issues at stake, shows the current voting position of each Senator, and gives you an easy way to send an e-letter telling Senators why passing strong climate legislation is crucial to the economic and cultural well being of mountain communities.
If this issue matters to you, please take the time to send a note to your Senator letting them know you want them to support strong climate legislation this Spring. Make your voice heard!
Posted on Wed, Nov 04, 2009 @ 12:23 PM
We're hop - hop - hoppy to unveil the limited edition 09.10 Venture/Ska Brewing decks with a sweet Modus Hoperandi graphic! If you haven't tried this incredible IPA, it's time you touched some to your lips! Ska will be giving these puppies away at special events throughout the winter, including our 5th Annual Season Kickoff Party. Stay tuned for more details!
Posted on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 @ 09:00 PM
Design your own snowboard graphic and help the environment too!
In cooperation with the nonprofit environmental group Protect Our Winters (POW), Venture Snowboards is sponsoring a board graphics competition centered on increasing awareness of the global warming crisis.
Any medium goes – photography, paintings, pencil sketches, you name it – as long as the artwork incorporates the themes of winter, the environment, and activism. So get creative and speak out for the environment!
Entries will be accepted through January 1, 2010, when a panel of judges will select the top ten submissions.The ten winners of this first level competition will receive t-shirts and swag as prizes, and be entered into a second round of judging open to the general public.The winning design will be incorporated into a run of special edition POW boards for winter 2010/2011.The grand prize winner will receive a brand spanking new POW deck emblazoned with their artwork.
Here's the nitty gritty on the competition:
- Submissions are limited to one entry per person.
- Submissions must be received by January 1, 2010.
- Results of the first tier competition will be posted on the Venture and POW websites in mid January 2010.
- Open voting will take place from mid January through late February 2010.
- First tier winners will receive t-shirts and other swag as prizes.
- Second tier winner will be announced in early March 2010.
- Second tier winner will receive a new Venture/POW snowboard.
- Only original artwork will be accepted.
- Employees of Venture Snowboards and POW are ineligible.
- No purchase is necessary.
- This contest is void where prohibited.
- By entering the contest, entrant grants Venture Snowboards and POW perpetual, nonexclusive rights to the artwork.
- Entries will be judged by a panel selected by Venture Snowboards and POW and all decisions are final.
HOW TO ENTER:
Venture and POW logos are available for use in your design. See links at the bottom of this post.
- Electronic submissions should be emailed to info@venturesnowboards.com, with the words "POW Contest" in the subject line.
- Please submit electronic entries as jpg files, no larger than 2 MB.
- Please name your file using the following convention: POW_ yourfirstname_yourlastname.jpg
- Include the following information in the body of your email: Full name, daytime and evening phone numbers, mailing address, email address, title of artwork.
- Electronic entries must be received no later than January 1, 2010.
- Incomplete or late entries will not be judged.
Mail In Submissions
- Submissions by mail should be sent to: Venture Snowboards, Attn: POW Contest, PO Box 547, Silverton, CO 81433.
- Include the following information with your entry: Full name, daytime and evening phone numbers, mailing address, email address, title of artwork.
- Mail in entries must be received no later than January 1, 2010.
- Incomplete or late entries will not be judged.
Logo Files
Venture - Vertical EPS
Venture - Vertical PDF
Venture - Horizontal EPS
Venture - Horizontal PDF
POW - Vertical EPS
POW - Vertical PDF
POW - Horizontal EPS
POW - Horizontal PDF