Snoplanks Snowboards | Hand Crafted in Bend, Oregon
When snowboarders make snowboards, everyone wins. Hand crafted production in Bend, Oregon allows SnoPlanks founder James Nicole and his team to tweak every aspect of their boards to create a ride that is unmatched in powder and on hard pack. Their in house production, just miles from the Three Sisters Wilderness, also lets SnoPlanks shapers immediately test their creations on the slopes of Mount Bachelor and on some of the best backcountry riding on the west coast. SnoPlanks is building the snowboards we all want to ride.
Watch the videos and read our Q&A with James below to learn about SnoPlanks' unique approach to snow sliding and the technology that makes their boards so special. The night after giving us a tour of their facility, SnoPlanks was awarded $100k at a venture capital conference. We can't wait to see how they expand their setup!
When did you make your first snowboard? How'd it turn out?
I made my first snowboard in my garage in 2012. It was a steam bent piece of 1/2" plywood that I shaped down into an edgeless, reverse sidecut fish using a planer and disc sander. I inserted T Nuts, painted it, glassed it, and hiked it out to Todd Rim for a rip. She rode... and I was immediately hooked on the process of riding your own product. I made about 100 changes to version 2 and the process has never stopped since that day.
Why is it important to produce all your boards in house? Why Bend, Oregon?
We love Bend. There is an incredible entrepreneurial spirit here that is contagious for start ups. When we started this company we knew that building everything in house was at the core of the brand. We are not ever going to be one of those "handcrafted" brands that brings their boards in from China, waxes them, and claims handmade. We are manufacturing this product from the ground up and couldn't be more stoked. Obviously having the backcountry access we have as well as Mt. Bachelor within 20 minutes is a huge draw as well.
Tell us about your construction. Why bamboo?
Bamboo is truly an incredible material. The strength to weight ratio is unmatched, the flex is unique, and the responsiveness on snow speaks for itself. It is a rapidly renewable resource and fits well with our environmental initiatives. We have tried a lot of materials over the last 5 years and nothing compares to bamboo.
Most brands these days are doing all types of crazy profiles, yet you use a fairly simple “Flat Rocker” profile on all SnoPlanks. Why is this the ideal profile for your boards?
Yes indeed, multi camber has gone semi crazy these days and a lot of riders are getting back on classic camber boards to get the power and control they desire. We have found through years of R and D that flat is truly universal. It does incredibly well in any condition from POW to hard pack and gives the rider the control and effortless flow that SnoPlanks are known for.
Some of your boards don't have metal edges. What are your "Hybrid Edges" and what are the advantages or disadvantages?
The hybrid edge is the next generation of our edgeless tech. It is a marriage of ptex, bamboo, and carbon fiber to create a drag free unbelievably fast ride. This season, the Hybrid Fish and Model S utilize this edge tech and are mind blowing in anything from 2 - 36 inches of fresh. Obviously you don't want to drop in to a field of blue ice on one of these shapes, but as a deep day quiver board they are truly mind expanding.
The boards look and sound amazing, but lets face it, they're a pretty big investment. Are SnoPlanks built to be daily rippers or quiver boards for only the deep days?
Both. We have deigned our boards to be all around rippers that shine in powder. The Snodisc and Snoday are true daily driver twins and the Model A and Snofish are directional boards that allow you to surf anything from groomers to wind lips. SnoPlanks are not "powder only" decks, in fact if you are looking for a do it all board then we highly recommend a Plank. You will immediately be getting into a board that is unmatched in pow and super surfy on any tweener day which makes for a lot of fun every day!
Tell us about your team? We always love to see our guy Randal Seaton. Any big plans for the season?
Our team is unreal this year. Obviously Randal Seaton needs no introduction as his style on a snowboard is so smooth. His ability to make everything look easy makes him a joy to watch.
Will Dennis is our team manager as well as a shaper for SnoPlanks. As you can see in our edit, his backcountry charging is next level. His brother JD Dennis goes bigger than most...a lot bigger, and has been unmatched is races in the last couple of years. He placed first in the Rat Race and second in the Dirksen Derby, not to mention second in Hella Big Air at Mt. Bachelor.
Forrest Devore was not only the first SnoPlanks ambassador but has helped push the innovation of the product from day one. His power and style turn even sloppy conditions from water to wine and as a two time Gerry Lopez Big Wave winner there is no doubt that his style is right at home on a Plank.
Marissa Krawczak is a backcountry charger that placed top 10 on the Freeride World Tour this year and Will Burks is heading up our ski team with some serious innovation coming for 2017.
We are super stoked on newcomers to the team Jonny Sischo and JD Platt, and we have some amazing photographers and videographers on board as well! This season is truly going to be one for the books!
Any thanks, shout outs, or things you'd like to add?
We are so hyped to be working with Tactics this season, start your Sno dances early, and quiver up for a deep winter!
Proud Co-Founders, Ryan Holms (left) & James Nicol (right)