News From 9,318'

7th Annual Season Kickoff Party!

2011-11-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

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 7th 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 Purgatory, Purl Wax, Silverton Mountain, Silverton Powder Cats, Smith Optics, Skullcandy, Spark R&D, TREW Gear, and 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 (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!!

ODIN SPLITBOARD NAMED EDITORS' CHOICE!

2011-08-05T09:26:00.000-06:00

We are stoked to announce that Venture's new Odin 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 by a crew of 35 independent testers. When the powder cloud settled, Venture’s Odin Splitboard emerged as a top choice.

According to Backcountry, outstanding tester response, exceptionally high scores, and category-leading overall performance contributed to their selection of the Odin as a 2012 Gear Guide Editors’ Choice. Additionally, testers gave it the “Best in Pow” award, and said, "When the stakes are high, you want the Odin underfoot."

The Odin is the result of a close collaboration between legendary rider Johan Olofsson and Venture’s founder and design engineer, Klemens Branner. Dubbed Odin after the Norse god of war and wisdom, this big mountain beast is a nod to its creators’ Viking roots and is the ideal choice for hard charging freeriders who like to pull out all the stops.

Tailored to Olofsson’s riding style and preferred terrain, the Odin combines all mountain precision with powder specific features for uncompromising performance across the full range of big mountain conditions. Moderate sidecut delivers wide arching turns and quadratic sidecuts offer plenty of grip, while a rockered shape and serious stance offset promise plenty of float when Mother Nature gives up the goods. As with all boards in the Venture line, the Odin is available both solid and split.

The Odin is the third board in the Venture quiver to receive an Editors’ Choice Award, following close on the heels of victories by the Zephyr Splitboard in 2011 and the Storm Splitboard in 2010. “Three Editors Choice awards don’t lie,” says Branner. “To receive such an incredible honor three years running is a huge statement about the quality and performance or our boards. Clearly the backcountry community feels we’re doing it right.” Olofsson agrees, and is excited be pushing the boundaries with innovative new designs. “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. Working on this level with Venture makes it possible to create and shape boards quickly, and I hope to get some more good shapes out there for you all in the future.”

The Odin Splitboard will receive special coverage in this year's Backcountry Gear Guide which will hit the newsstands in September. A preliminary write up can be found online at http://bit.ly/EC2012.

Find detailed product specs and more information on the Odin Splitboard here.

SOLITAIRE Trailer from Sweetgrass

2011-08-04T13:37:00.001-06:00

Check out the trailer for Sweetgrass Productions' new film SOLITAIRE. It's got some awesome footage of Venture splits in action, especially under the feet of Kyle Miller. As usual, Sweetgrass has done a fantastic job, and we're proud to be a sponsor. Tour dates TBA, so stay tuned!

11.12 Lineup Available for Pre-Order!

2011-07-27T15:21:00.001-06:00

Though summer is in full swing, here at Venture we haven't stopped thinking snow for a second. We are busy building boards and gearing up for winter.

The annual revamp of our website for the 11.12 season is now complete so give it a gander and get all the beta on our latest and greatest board lineup, including the new Johan Olofsson signature model, the Odin.

Pre-order now through the Venture Webstore and reserve the board of your dreams before they sell out!

TWS Biz Profiles Venture

2011-04-22T14:00:00.004-06:00

We were recently interviewed by Transworld Snowboarding Business about Venture's ongoing commitment to the environment. Below is a snippet from the story:

"Lisa Branner and husband Klem stepped into the snowboard manufacturing ring 12 years ago, founding Venture Snowboards in remote Silverton, Colorado with the vision of creating a more environmentally friendly snowboard. Over the years, their vision and efforts have evolved.

Lisa won’t run a product just because it’s environmentally friendly; the product has to be durable, and Venture focuses on improving the quality and performance of its snowboards while minimizing environmental impact. The company only uses wood approved by the Forest Stewardship Council for their cores, uses a comprehensive recycling program and has converted its entire operation to run on wind power.

While the Branners and Venture continuously look at ways they can make their company more environmentally friendly, they also realize that these changes must be practical, and durability cannot be compromised—otherwise, they’ll just end up in the dump. Our contributor Michael Sudmeier recently caught up with Lisa Branner about Venture’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly." Check out the full story here!

King of the Hill

2011-04-15T13:41:00.004-06:00

A big congrats to Will Brommelsiek, the new reigning King of the Hill!

Will recently won the King of the Hill big mountain snowboard competition at Thompson Pass, AK, riding his trusty Venture of course.

Way to go Will!

This accomplishment is not to be underestimated. Will competed against many well known pro riders like Rob Kingwill and Mike Basich, who placed 6th and 7th respectively, in the comp. It's also worth noting that two of the top five riders were on Ventures. The #4 competitor - Brandon Reid - also rides a Venture as his board of choice.

Check out these links for more info on King of the Hill and Tailgate Alaska:

ESPN.com

Tailgate Alaska

Snowboardermag

Spring Fling!

2011-03-22T16:13:00.002-06:00

Join us on Saturday April 2nd for our Spring Fling party! We'll be celebrating the return of the unguided season at Silverton Mountain with live music from Waiting On Trial and a raffle for lots of great prizes - including one of next's season's decks! The party gets rocking at 8 pm at Silverton's Pride of the West. This is a 21+ only event. See you there!

Gearing Up For The SIA Show

2011-01-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready to hit the road for the annual Snowsports Industry America "Snow Show" in Denver, where we will unveil the 2011/2012 lineup. Transworld recently interviewed Venture's Lisa Branner about what's in store. Read the interview here,
and check out a sneak peak at the new line below!

Venture Featured in Hemispheres!

2010-12-15T08:00:00.002-07:00

United Airlines' in-flight magazine is running a full page write up on our Zephyr splitboard - just in time for all those holiday travelers! Check it out here!

6th Annual Season Kickoff Party!

2010-11-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

Venture Snowboards and Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to welcome winter with our Sixth Annual Season Kickoff Party scheduled for Saturday, December 4th - opening day at Silverton Mountain!

For the sixth 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 Salem 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, and Wolf Creek Ski Area.

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 Pride of the West (1323 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 970.387.5269.

YOU COULD WIN THIS BOARD!!

Win a limited edition Ska Modus Hoperandi Board!

2010-10-25T11:09:00.000-06:00

We are teaming up with Ska Brewing to help raise funds for our public lands! Donate $17 to the Conservation Lands Foundation and you can be entered to win a limited edition, custom Ska snowboard emblazoned with their Modus Hoperandi graphic! Just CLICK HERE to enter before November 5th!

Born In The USA

2010-08-19T15:25:00.001-06:00

How many snowboard companies actually produce their decks in the good old USA? According to Transworld, only seven! Venture is proud to be one of them.

Order Your Limited Edition POW Board Today!

2010-07-23T14:53:00.000-06:00

To increase awareness of environmental issues and the global warming crisis, last winter Venture partnered with the nonprofit group Protect Our Winters (POW) for a snowboard design contest. The winning design, created by Canadian artist Julie Boake, artfully captured the contest's themes of winter, the environment, and activism. This limited edition POW graphic is now available by special order on any of Venture's solid boards.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to POW to support their work to reverse the global warming crisis by uniting and mobilizing the winter sports community to have a direct and positive impact on climate change. Order your limited edition POW board today and help us support this worthy environmental cause!

Order Details:

Orders for limited edition POW boards must be received by August 15, 2010.

You may choose any length/width combination of our solid Zephyr, Storm or Helix models.

A 50% deposit is required at the time the order is placed.

POW boards will ship on a rolling basis from September - December 2010 as they come off the production line.

DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM HERE.

For more information about POW visit their website:

www.protectourwinters.org.

THINK SNOW!

Zephyr Splitboard Wins Editor's Choice

2010-06-24T12:19:00.000-06:00

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.

Jarrett Luttrell Rides All CO's 14ers!

2010-06-10T11:26:00.005-06:00

Jarrett Luttrell recently made history - he became the first snowboarder to climb and ride all 54 of Colorado's 14ers from their summits. It's an amazing accomplishment - congrats Jarrett! And we're stoked to say he bagged some of those peaks on his trusty Venture splitboard!

For more info, check out the following stories about Jarrett:

Transworld Snowboarding

Wild Snow

Scootpalooza! A Benefit for Scott DW Smith

2010-04-23T12:44:00.000-06:00

Our buddy and kick ass action sports photographer Scott DW Smith - known and loved far and wide as "Scoot" - broke his femur early this spring while riding and shooting at Telluride, providing us with a great excuse to come together and drink some beer.

Join us next Friday for Scootpalooza - an evening of great music, great beer and great silent auction items to raise money for his medical bills!

Groovy tunes provided by Fuzzy Killing Machine and other musical guests. Amazing auction goodies from the likes of Osprey, Ska Brewing, Mountain Boy Sled Works, Montanya Distillers, Venture Snowboards and many others! Tongue-tingling brews from the mighty Ska Brewery! Details on the benefit below:

Friday, April 30th

6 - 9 pm

Ska Brewing World Headquarters

225 Girard Street

Durango, CO

We'll see you there!

Splitboarding on RSN

2010-04-20T11:03:00.001-06:00

Great short segment on splitboarding that aired on RSN earlier this winter. Includes a demonstration with a Venture Storm-R splitboard!

POW Contest Winner Announced!

2010-03-29T13:50:00.001-06:00

The winner of the Venture/Protect Our Winters board graphic contest is "Unknown Future" by Julie Boake. Congratulations Julie!

Our panel of judges liked the clean look of Julie's design, as well as its illustration of the role that mountains play in the water cycle.

Julie will take home the grand prize - a brand new Venture deck emblazoned with her very own artwork. These limited edition POW boards will be available for sale this fall and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Protect Our Winters. Stay tuned for details!

The runner up, Aggie Drelich Smith's "Modern Threat" wins a 09/10 Venture board and the top ten contestants will receive Venture swag as prizes.

Many thanks to all the participants who put their time, energy and creativity into their designs!

Spring Fling on April 3rd!

2010-03-23T11:00:00.001-06:00

Opening weekend of the unguided season at Silverton Mountain starts the first weekend in April, so come on up to shred the gnar and then join the Venture crew for an evening of movies, music and madness at our Spring Fling party on Saturday April 3rd!

We'll be screening Signatures from Sweetgrass Productions as well as TGR's short film Generations, raffling off a custom graphic Protect Our Winters snowboard and other great prizes, and stomping our feet to the musical stylings of Durango favorite Waiting On Trial.

The Spring Fling gets rockin' at 8 pm at Silverton's Pride of the West (1323 Greene Street). There is no cover, but proceeds from the raffle will benefit Protect Our Winters and the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies. For more information call 970.387.5269.

Hope to see you there!

Johan Olofsson Joins Venture!

2010-03-16T10:28:00.000-06:00

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!

Make Your Voice Heard in the Senate!

2010-02-19T11:09:00.003-07:00

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!

Cast Your Vote!

2010-02-15T14:02:00.037-07:00

What a great response we received for the first ever Venture/Protect Our Winters snowboard art contest!

More than 50 entries poured in from creative folks across the continent, each putting their own spin on the contest themes of winter, the environment and activism.

Our panel of judges convened last Friday to review the submissions and select the top ten finalists. They are:

Julie Boake
Pete Connolly
Aggie Drelich Smith
Glen Graves
Steven Harris
Glenn Holbrook
Emily Kuang
Skye McNeill
Eric Sakotas
Joe Weber

All of these participants will receive t-shirts and other Venture swag for their participation in the contest.

From these ten, our judges whittled it down to their five favorites - posted below. Now comes your chance to cast a vote for your favorite entry!

To vote, use the poll in the top left hand column of this blog. You may also vote in person at the Venture factory showroom here in Silverton.

Polls close at midnight on Monday, March 15, 2010 and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards. The top artwork will be used in a limited edition run of Protect Our Winters snowboards for winter 2010/2011, and the winning artist will receive a board emblazoned with their artwork as grand prize!

Many thanks to all of the participants who put in the time, energy and creativity to make this contest a success. We couldn't have done it without you!

[click on the images below to see a larger version]

_____________________________________________________________________________

Skye McNeill - Seattle, WA
"Dwindle"

_____________________________________________________________________________

Julie Boake - Alberta Canada
"Unknown Future"

____________________________________________________________________________

Glenn Holbrook - Venice, CA

"Regrowth"

_____________________________________________________________________________

Glen Graves - Mancos, CO
"Blue Kristl"

_____________________________________________________________________________

Aggie Drelich Smith - Boulder, CO
"Modern Threat"

__________________________________________________________________________

Happy voting!

Susan Mol In First Place of Freeride World Tour!

2010-02-11T10:34:00.002-07:00

Venture rider and Crested Butte, CO local Susan Mol is currently in first place for women's snowboarding in the Freeride World Tour. Here she is on the podium in Chamonix. Congrats Susan and good luck with the rest of the tour! Tear it up girl!!

Follow the action here:
http://www.freerideworldtour.com/en/

Splitboarding Is The Answer

2009-12-16T15:45:00.001-07:00

From love handles to lift lines there are few things that can't be improved by a nice backcountry tour. Because splitboarding is the answer!

Fifth Annual Season Kickoff Party!

2009-11-16T17:18:00.002-07:00

Venture Snowboards and Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to welcome winter in style with their Fifth Annual Season Kickoff Party scheduled for Saturday, December 5th - Silverton Mountain's opening day!

For the fifth 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 Freeman Social and Fuzzy Killing Machine, Ska drink specials, and tons of giveaways from Bubba's Boards, Ice Pirates Snowmobile Tours, Inferno Snowboard Shop, Purl Wax, Silverton Mountain, Silverton Powder Cats, Smith Optics, Skullcandy, Spark R&D, and Wolf Creek Ski Area.

The highlight of the evening will be the raffle for a coveted limited edition Ska/Venture custom snowboard. This year's deck features the Modus Hoperandi 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 Pride of the West (1323 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 970.387.5269.

YOU COULD WIN THIS BOARD!!

Ska/Venture Limited Edition Decks

2009-11-04T12:32:00.004-07:00

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!

Homegrown in the Mighty San Juans!

2009-10-22T09:29:00.001-06:00

The inside scoop on Venture, put together by one of our favorite powder hounds, Jason Ebelheiser.

Venture & POW Snowboard Art Competition

2009-10-12T16:55:00.011-06:00

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.

Venture and POW logos are available for use in your design. See links at the bottom of this post.

HOW TO ENTER:

Electronic Submissions

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

Limited Edition POW Snowboards!

2009-10-11T17:02:00.000-06:00

Venture Snowboards is proud to announce a partnership with Protect Our Winters.

Protect Our Winters (POW) is a non-profit environmental organization formed in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones. The organization’s mission is to reverse the global warming crisis by uniting and mobilizing the winter sports community to have a direct and positive impact on climate change.

For the winter 2009/2010 season, Venture will emblazon all its Euphoria powder boards – both solid and split – with the POW logo, and donate a portion of sales from these boards to POW. Get a POW board under foot today, and help ensure there's pow for the next generation of riders!

Check out the POW Euphoria board here.

THINK SNOW!

From the Factory Floor

2009-10-07T14:29:00.001-06:00

We're hard at work building boards for you to play on this winter. Follow this link for more production pics!

Fun At Ska Brewing

2009-09-23T14:49:00.005-06:00

Our tapping party for Euphoria Pale Ale last Friday was a blast, packing the Ska tasting room with folks eager for the start of winter.

A-DUB ROCK kept the party pumping with their special blend of Rocky Mountain Reggae.

Arlo from Ska and Lisa from Venture present a VERY excited winner with the grand prize giveaway - a brand new Venture Zephyr!

No doubt about it, this guy was stoked. We hope he enjoys the ride!

A longtime Venture/Ska devotee packs his trunk with sixers of the hoppy elixir. His reason for hoarding beer? "I'm going to Utah..." 'Nuff said!

Best of Test!

2009-09-17T12:13:00.004-06:00

The retailers have spoken: Venture's Storm-R model is a "Best of Test" in the Rocky Mountain territory!

Snowboarder Magazine's Best of Test Snowboard Review takes the pulse of savvy shop staffers at the largest on-snow retailer demos in the nation.

Snowboarder queried more than a hundred riders at events in California, Colorado, Michigan, Vermont, Utah and Washington last spring to find their picks from literally thousands of demoed models.

Hardpack, pow, moguls, boxes, banks, cliffs, corduroy, quarterpipes, halfpipes, steeps, cat tracks, glades, loose granular - you name it, these testers rode it all. Keystone, CO played host to this event in the Rocky Mountain territory, and when the final votes were in, Venture's Storm model took top honors!

One tester commented on the board's "great control and precision," while another stoked rider said "this thing charged all over..the mountain."

Venture is surely onto something with the newly redesigned Storm, as the split version of this model was also named a Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice.

Read more about the Best of Test Review on Snowboarder's website, or visit www.venturesnowboards.com for the full skinny on the Storm!

THINK SNOW!

Old Man Winter Comes Early...With Tap In Hand!

2009-09-07T15:40:00.006-06:00

Fans of Ska Brewing's deliciously quaffable Euphoria Pale Ale won't have to wait for the arrival of Old Man Winter before they can tickle their taste buds with that frosty brew...it will be released mid-September this year! What's more, Euphoria will now be available in cans, providing a lightweight, impeccably packable container for everything from your backcountry hut trip to the apres ski tailgate party.

Come dance your best snow dance and celebrate the tapping of the first Euphoria keg with the Venture and Ska crews on September 18th! We'll have live reggae music from A-DUB ROCK and will give away lots of free swag, including a brand new 09/10 Venture snowboard. We hope to see you there!

Ska/Venture Tapping Party
Friday, September 18, 2009
5 - 8 pm
Ska World Headquarters
225 Girard St, Durango, CO

Snow in the San Juans

2009-08-25T12:05:00.004-06:00

First signs of winter in the mountains today - a dusting of snow on August 25th! That's Grand Turk and Sultan viewed from the Venture factory.

Transworld's "Shred Lightly" Column

2009-08-06T10:47:00.004-06:00

Transworld Snowboarding gave a nod to Venture in September's "Shred Lightly" column for our ongoing sustainability efforts. Pick up a copy at the newsstand or check out the clipping on our news page!

09.10 Website Now Live!

2009-07-23T11:22:00.010-06:00

We've updated the Venture website with all the beta on the 09.10 lineup, as well as some awesome new photos - including pics of Johan Olofsson and Jonaven Moore riding Venture splitboards during the TGR crew's recent trip to Alaska for the Jeremy Jones film "Deeper." It's great fodder for daydreams...check it out and get that winter stoke going!

Storm Splitboard Wins Editor's Choice!

2009-06-29T12:40:00.002-06:00

Venture's Storm - R Splitboard has received the coveted Editors' Choice Award from Backcountry Magazine!

As the premier backcountry skiing and snowboarding publication in North America, Backcountry Magazine doesn't make endorsements frivolously. This year's annual product test was held in March 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, our Storm - R 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 Storm as a 2010 Backcountry Magazine Editors' Choice."

The Storm - R Splitboard is a new addition to the Venture lineup for winter 09/10. Based on our first generation Divide splitboard and developed in conjunction with Silverton Mountain, this deck craves big lines and burly terrain. Moderate taper and a softer nose provide float for untouched powder fields, while a stiffer midsection and tail lend stability and control in unpredictable big mountain conditions. Our re-design for 09/10 includes a rockered shape and slightly softer flex pattern for increased freedom and mobility, and a new surf-inspired nose that keeps you from augering into the deep stuff.

The Storm - R Splitboard will receive special coverage in this year's Backcountry Gear Guide - look for it on newsstands in September!

Finally on MySpace

2009-06-15T13:34:00.000-06:00

We've now got a basic MySpace page going - be sure to check it out!

http://www.myspace.com/venturesnowboards

09/10 Graphics - Sneak Peek!

2009-06-01T12:35:00.003-06:00

Here's a little sneak peek at next season's board graphics....Enjoy the eye candy!

Zephyr (all mountain)

Storm (big mountain freeride)

Split Storm (formerly called the Divide)

Helix (true twin)

Euphoria (powder specific)

We will be offering all four models in split and solid versions, and will also be introducing some rockered shapes into the lineup. Stay tuned for more info a little later this summer!

Think snow...

Tweet! Tweet!

2009-05-28T12:53:00.002-06:00

Yes, we finally succumbed to peer pressure and will now be chirping away like a happy little birdie on Twitter. Follow us for all the latest, greatest, totally banal information!

And for those Facebook junkies out there - we're working that angle too.

Myspace coming soon....

1% For The Planet Donations

2009-05-15T16:06:00.008-06:00

For the third year running, Venture Snowboards is donating 1% of its annual sales to grassroots environmental organizations as part of its membership in 1% For The Planet.

1% For The Planet is an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet. Members recognize their responsibility to and dependence on a healthy environment and donate at least 1% of their annual net revenues to environmental organizations worldwide. Launched in 2001 by Yvon Chouinard (founder of outdoor clothing company Patagonia, Inc.) and Craig Matthews (owner of Blue Ribbon Flies), the 1% FTP alliance has grown from 21 members in 2002 to more than 1,146 participating businesses worldwide. Together, these businesses have generated more than $30 million in contributions to environmental causes.

For 2008, Venture has chosen two beneficiaries for its 1% donation: The Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies and Protect Our Winters.

Based in Venture’s hometown of Silverton, Colorado, The Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies (CSAS) was founded in 2003 by big mountain skiing legend Chris Landry. Recognizing that mountains are “the water towers of the world,” CSAS studies and monitors mountain ecosystems and snowpacks, their health, and the impacts of climate change on the greater mountain environment. Their work provides vital information for understanding many of the critical issues of our time – issues like water supplies, environmental policy, and how to adapt to global warming.

Protect Our Winters (POW) was formed in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones with the mission to unite and mobilize the winter sports community to have a direct and positive impact on climate change. The organization focuses on: inspiring its members to become involved locally; educating the next generation of environmental leaders; supporting innovative, alternative energy projects; and establishing corporate and resort partners as leaders in the fight against global climate change.

If you care about snow, you can make a difference too - volunteer your time or make a donation to CSAS, POW, or your favorite environmental organization today!

Grand Prize Winner Announced!

2009-05-01T12:27:00.007-06:00

The grand prize winner of Venture Snowboards’ season-long “Mountain Life” photo contest is Amy Flygare of Benson, Utah.

Amy’s determination to win this contest was unflagging. She submitted photos each of the seven months of the contest, and two of these won top honors. Her September submission took the cake, winning the judges’ approval instantly. “She looks so graceful,” said one. “She’s pointing it like she means business,” commented another. Others approved of the use of shadow and light, and the awesome backcountry setting. Her hand-drag and shadow really put things over the top. The judges are still a little miffed that Amy won’t share the location of this photo in order to keep folks from poaching her secret spot. Maybe now she’ll let us in on her little secret?

We hope Amy makes many good turns on her prize – a brand spanking new Venture deck. Enjoy the ride Amy!

Many, many thanks to all the contest participants who shared the stoke this winter! You can check out a slide show of all the awesome submissions we received in the sidebar of this blog.

March Photo Winner

2009-04-10T11:45:00.006-06:00

The winner of this month's photo contest is Jon Gellings of Anchorage, AK.

Our judges felt that Jon’s photo of three snowboarders working for their turns on Hatcher Pass in AK showed the true spirit of backcountry riding. One judge commented that “The riders are dwarfed by the amazing backdrop of mountains, which really puts things into perspective.” Jon also won the January competition, giving him a two in seven chance of winning a snowboard in the second tier grand prize competition.

This month's competition participants really pulled out all the stops, and their photo entries were over the top. Check out these amazing runners up...

Here's Stone Parker shredding in Valle Nevado, Chile. Yeaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

David Mower submitted this pic of his bud Oliver Adams dropping into a gnarly line near Silverton on his Venture Divide.

We loved the play of shadow and light in this great twilight pow shot submitted by Tim Fraley.

Kevin Beavers, of Mandala Dyes in Durango, deserved an honorable mention for this shot of his custom tye dyed board (dubbed "Gnarlene") and t-shirt, both emblazoned with the Venture flake.

And finally, Jason Brooks got brownie points for busting out this jib on a vintage Venture ride!

To recap, the monthly winners of Venture’s “The Mountain Life” photo contest winners include:

September: Amy Flygare

October: Josh Hejtmanek

November: Eric Flygare

December: Natalie Cromwell

January: Jon Gellings

February: Amy Flygare

March: Jon Gellings

These monthly winners will be entered into the final grand prize competition, to be judged in late April, and one lucky shutter bug will walk away with a brand spanking new Venture snowboard. Stay tuned for the results of the final round!

"My Own Two Feet" A Success

2009-04-08T18:03:00.006-06:00

Our screening of the splitboarding film My Own Two Feet was a great success - standing room only, a happy crowd of snow lovers, and a fat wad of cash donated to Silverton's Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies. As you can see from the photos below, a very jolly Winnie the Pooh and Tigger were in attendance that night, as well as an assortment of local kids. Would you believe these guys shredded some crazy pow in those costumes the next day at Silverton Mountain?

Thanks to everyone who came out to see the film and show their support of splitboarding, human powered recreation, and environmental issues! Also, a very special thanks to Lyn and Eric at Steam and Steel Cafe for providing an awesome venue for the show and to the folks at Leeward Cinema and Protect Our Winters for producing a stoke-filled movie.

My Own Two Feet in Silverton 4/4!

2009-03-25T16:42:00.012-06:00

We're teaming up with the folks at Leeward Cinema and POW (Protect Our Winters) to bring a screening of the splitboarding film My Own Two Feet to Silverton on Saturday, April 4th.

The film focuses on human powered backcountry adventures in the Sierra Nevada, and features snowboarding heavies Jeremy Jones, Chad Otterstrom, Tom Burt, and Josh Dirksen plus many more. It's opening weekend of the unguided season at Silverton Mountain, so come on up for a sick day of riding, then stick around for the show!

The film starts at 8 p.m. at Steam and Steel Cafe (1309 Greene St, Silverton). $5 cover includes a raffle for some fabulous door prizes. $2 beers and wine will be available for purchase.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Center for Snow & Avalanche Studies. Hope to see you there!

View the My Own Two Feet Trailer here .

February Photo Winner

2009-03-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

The winner of this month's photo contest is Amy Flygare of Benson, UT.

Amy's photo of her husband Eric raising a humongous powder cloud in the backcountry got our judges' collective motor running. It's also worth noting that Amy has now won two of our monthly competitions, giving her an even better chance of winning a snowboard in the second tier grand prize competition that will take place in April.

Several other pics were chosen by our judges as runners up, including these creamy powder turns submitted by Jescee Adams.

Devon Balet's photo of a rider bursting from the trees on a Venture Divide made us all yell "touchdown!"

Clayton Hamilton couldn't resist submitting this photo of his "pride and joy" (that's a Venture Divide, of course) on a recent backcountry outing in the San Juans. We loved this pic because we can see one of those chutes from town!

We loved Casey Lorenzen's dramatic black and white photo.

And finally, Scott Jones' photo elicited a deep belly laugh from just about everyone in the room - neck deep and loving it!

Many, many thanks to all of this month's entrants!

If you missed out on this round of Venture’s photo contest, you still have one final chance to get a shot at the grand prize – a brand spanking new Venture board. The last monthly competition will take place at the end of March. The monthly winners from September through March will then be entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor... as long as it reflects life in the mountains. Click here for details on how to enter.

Until next time, think snow!

Webstore Launched!

2009-03-01T15:50:00.003-07:00

We're asked all the time about how people can get their paws on Venture t-shirts, hoodies, pint glasses and other swag without making the trek to Silverton. With the launch of our new webstore you can purchase these items, as well as a limited selection of used and previous season's decks, directly from our website!

As a special spring promotion, we're offering a March Madness special: FREE SHIPPING on all orders within the continental U.S. during the month of March.

Don't delay - visit the Venture Snowboards WEBSTORE today!

January Photo Winner Announced

2009-02-08T12:59:00.005-07:00

This month's winner of "The Mountain Life" photo contest is John Gellings of Anchorage, AK.

John's photo of splitboarders skinning above the clouds inspired an almost mystical mood amongst our judges. It also elicited comments about the beauty and grandeur of a great backcountry tour. John will be rewarded with a Venture t-shirt and pint glass, and will also be entered into the grand prize competition, giving him a one in seven chance of winning a brand spanking new Venture deck.

Other pics our judges found worthy of honorable mention include Eric Flygare's photo of splitters getting ready to drop in on a line in Northern Utah. Wish we were there!

Phil Simon's photo of topping out at Whistler Blackcomb also made us drool.

Barb Watterson's photo of Amy Flygare ripping a sick backcountry line elicited oohs and aahs.

Lastly, Ben Boccia's pic of a toy truck emblazoned with the Venture logo got a good chuckle out of the crew.

Many thanks to all the photographers who entered this month's competition. Clearly you're all getting out and getting after it!

If you missed this round, you still have two more chances to get a shot at the grand prize – a brand spanking new Venture board. Monthly competitions will take place from now through March 2009, with winners entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor... as long as it reflects life in the mountains.

Click here for details on how to enter.

Think snow!

Product Testing Mission

2009-01-17T17:42:00.018-07:00

Our friends at Silverton Powdercats treated us to a day of awesome turns in the San Juan backcountry earlier this week. We used the opportunity to take the crew on a little product testing mission. Prototype boards for the 09.10 season were under foot - including some new rockered shapes. We can't say too much about next year's top secret board lineup at this point, but you can see from the photos below that we had a rockin good time!

Thanks to Jon, Todd and Tim at Silverton Powdercats for hooking it up (including a great lunch spread!). Check out their operation at www.snowcat-powder.com. And muchas gracias to photographers Scott Smith and Jason Ebelheiser for spending a powder day behind the lens!

December Photo Winner Announced

2009-01-02T15:09:00.008-07:00

The winner of this month's photo contest is Natalie Cromwell.

Natalie's photo of fellow rider Chris Gallardo bursting from a cloud of cold smoke elicited hoots and hollers from our judges, who also commented on the photo's use of crisp black and white imagery. Natalie will be rewarded with a Venture t-shirt and pint glass, and will also be entered into the grand prize competition, giving her a one in seven chance of winning a brand spanking new Venture deck.

Several other photos earned our judges' accolades this month as runners-up, including Sam Kikuchi's photo of some determined hikers earning their turns on the Center Ridge at Alyeska Resort in AK.

Gene Sackman's very artistic black and white photo of Aspen trees taken near Telluride, CO also appealed. Can I get a copy of this to hang on my wall?

Kelly Chaffee's shot of a rider shredding a couple feet of freshies in the White Mountains of New Hampshire was noted for its great composition - our judges really liked the way the trees framed the rider. Yay for New England pow days!

Lastly, Dave Dunmeyer's shot of a Colorado local launching over a trail sign in downtown Pagosa Springs, CO was chosen for its composition and perfect timing. Too bad that's not a Venture under foot!

Many thanks to all the photographers who entered this month's competition. There was definitely some great eye candy in this batch!

If you missed this round, you still have three more chances to get a shot at the grand prize – a brand spanking new Venture board. Monthly competitions will take place from now through March 2009, with winners entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor... as long as it reflects life in the mountains.

Click here for details on how to enter.

Think snow!

Wolf Creek Pow

2008-12-16T20:03:00.003-07:00

Just rode Wolf Creek today with four feet of snow and no people. The snow set up just a bit so we were able to stay on top of it. They opened Alberta lift at about noon and no one was over there. Fresh lines in step bowl that blew overhead. The water fall area has slid and is still boney but on either side of it is good. Knife ridge stayed closed all day. High winds and blizzard conditions made visibility poor but we managed to kill it anyway. Should be good all week long. Why aren't you riding? J

"The Wish List" Film Screening

2008-12-16T10:14:00.002-07:00

Join the crew from Venture Snowboards as we sponsor a screening of the film "The Wish List" here in Silverton! The film features awesome backcountry ski and snowboard footage from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana and British Columbia. Our Divide splitboard will make an appearance underfoot!

Event Details:
Steam and Steel Cafe
$5 cover
Beer, wine and food will be available for purchase
Doors at 6:30, film starts at 7 pm

For more info or to see the film trailer visit the Blacksmith Productions website:

www.blacksmithadventure.com

Season Kickoff Craziness

2008-12-08T08:47:00.005-07:00

Our 4th Annual Season Kickoff with Ska Brewing was a blast! Some choice pics below of the Freeman Social and the winner of this year's limited edition Ska board!

Demo Tour Announced

2008-12-01T12:12:00.004-07:00

Get a Venture under foot at one of our 08.09 winter demos! Demo tour dates are as follows:

For more info, visit our website: www.venturesnowboards.com.

Hope to see you on the snow!

November Photo Winner

2008-11-30T12:22:00.004-07:00

The winner of this month's photo contest is Eric Flygare of Benson, Utah.

Eric’s photo captured the essence of the perfect powder day, with his friend Jenny Swanson emerging center stage from a cloud of the white stuff. One judge’s comment sums it up: “Cold smoke – Boom!” Eric will be rewarded with a Venture t-shirt and pint glass. His photo will also be entered into the second tier grand prize competition, giving him a one in seven chance of winning a snowboard.

Other photos that our judges felt worthy of honorable mention include a springtime photo of Amy Flygare shredding the gnar in northern Utah. Mmmmmmm, corn.

Mat Holgate's photo of his dog Nacho taking a leak after a day of face shots got a laugh out of our judges. Check out the snow beard and that back leg extension!

Jim Ferrigno's photo was noted for it's unique composition, although all the judges agreed it would be better with a Venture!

Finally, Skylar Holgate's photo of South America Snow Sessions coach Mauri Cambilla captured our attention for its great composition and rip roaring rooster tail. Too bad he's a skier...

Many thanks to the 20+ photographers who entered this month’s competition. If you missed out on this round, you still have four more chances to get a shot at the grand prize – a brand spanking new Venture board. Monthly competitions will take place from now through March 2009, with winners entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor... as long as it reflects life in the mountains. Click here for details on how to enter.

Think snow!

Telluride Is Open!

2008-11-27T19:11:00.004-07:00

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving then riding with a bunch of turkeys?

Paul Goodman BS Brodeo the mini jump

View of the Tride backcountry

Season Kickoff 12/6!

2008-11-20T14:47:00.011-07:00

Venture Snowboards and Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to welcome winter in style with their Fourth Annual Season Kickoff Party scheduled for Saturday, December 6th.

For the fourth 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 James and the Devil and The Freeman Social, Ska drink specials, and tons of giveaways from Bubba's Boards, Inferno Snowboard Shop, El Diablo Snowcats, Pedal & Powder, Purgatory, Purl Wax, Silverton Mountain, Spark R&D, and Wolf Creek Ski Area.

The highlight of the evening will be the raffle for a coveted limited edition Ska/Venture custom snowboard. Emblazoned with the zany worm from Ska's Mexican Lager label and the distinctive Venture snowflake, this year’s decks are destined to become collector’s items for beer and snow lovers alike.

The Season Kickoff Party gets rockin' at 8 pm at Silverton's Pride of the West (1323 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 970.387.5078.

YOU COULD WIN THIS BOARD!

October Photo Winner Announced

2008-11-11T11:42:00.004-07:00

The winner of Venture Snowboards’ October photo contest is Josh Hejtmanek of New Castle, Colorado. Ooooo....spooooky!

Josh’s photo of a unique and snow-inspired jack-o-lantern really captured October’s spooky holiday spirit – and the attention of our judges. The carved squash was ablaze with Venture’s signature snowflake, which one judge commented “really shows Josh’s Venture pride.” His attention to detail was also noted, and his accuracy in reproducing the highly detailed flake. Josh will be rewarded with a Venture t-shirt and pint glass. His photo will also be entered into the second tier

grand prize competition, giving him a one in seven chance of winning a snowboard.

This month’s photo contest brought in nearly 30 entries from all over the world, including several submissions from our snow loving compatriots in Spain. There was a common theme for the runners up this month - like the winning submission they all had a certain glow about them...

Eric Flygare's photo of a warm campfire and an icy igloo was pretty captivating. Our judges thought the figure in the background looked a bit ghost-like. Maybe they just had ghouls and goblins on the brain thanks to Halloween...

Our judges thought that Shane Hopkin's photo was reminiscent of the work of Ansel Adams. Great contrast of light and dark, and look at all those stars!

We couldn't resist the opportunity to share at least one snowy pic with you. Ramon Mazkiaran's photo of a backcoutry treck inspired us to get out and get after it!

Many thanks to all the photographers who participated this month! If you missed out on this round, there are still five more chances to get a shot at the grand prize – which is a brand spanking new Venture board. Monthly competitions will take place from now through March 2009, with winners entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor....as long as it reflects life in the mountains. For details on how to enter, click here .

THINK SNOW!

September Photo Winner!

2008-10-05T15:22:00.016-06:00

Our September photo contest winneris Amy Flygare of Benson, Utah. Check out her sweet line...makes you drool, doesn't it?

Amy’s photo won the judges’ approval instantly. “She looks so graceful,” said one. “She’s pointing it like she means business,” commented another. Others approved of the use of shadow and light, and the awesome backcountry setting. The judges’ only complaint was that Amy didn’t share the location of her photo - presumably to keep them from poaching her secret spot!

Congrats Amy! You'll be receiving a bunch of Venture swag in the mail, and your photo will also be entered into the second tier grand prize competition, giving you a one in seven chance of winning a brand spanking new snowboard!

This month's photo contest brought in more than 20 entries from all over North America, including submissions from New Hampshire, Montana, and British Columbia. Subject matter was all over the map. Below are three runners up that the judges felt deserved honorable mention.

Judges agreed that Mike Taormina's photo came with the best story. "This was the view of an early morning inversion atop lone peak in Montana, April of 2007. The best part of the day was that, down below, nobody knew it was a bluebird day up top. Patrol let myself and the other tram operator ride a normally roped off line referred to by them as "Tits Up." Negotiating the rock-lined chutes that took us into the fog you see in this picture was one of the great moments I have had on a board (It was indeed a Venture, which I was sold by Grizzly Outfitters there in Big Sky). Thanks for the great board, which stood up to the scree fields like a champ." Awwww...that made us feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Tyler Kind got brownie points for including a Venture board in his photo but the backcountry flavor, composition, and scenery are really what got him honorable mention. Here's what Tyler had to say about his submission: "I broke my Arbor A-frame last winter at Silverton and bought a Venture Storm while there to replace it. The board is the best ride on the market and I continually spread the positive word about your amazing boards. This photo is me in the back country near Vail. I look forward to seeing you guys at Silverton once the snow sticks...Thanks for taking my riding to the next level!" You're welcome, Tyler!

Kyle Zimmerman's photo of his friend Brandon was just plain hilarious. It's entitled "Aunt Jemima Jesus," and here's how he describes it: "All you need on a springbreak trip to Silverton is long underwear and syrup...mmmmm." Mmmmm indeed Kyle!

Thanks to all the photographers who participated this month! If you missed out on this round, there are still six more chances to get a shot at the grand prize – which is a brand spanking new Venture board. Monthly competitions will take place from now through March 2009, with winners entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The contest theme is "The Mountain Life" and anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor....as long as it reflects life in the mountains. For details on how to enter, click here.

New Lift Installed in Telluride!

2008-10-05T13:07:00.002-06:00

I went out with the top T-ride brass on Oct 1st to watch the heli drop the towers for the new lift in Revelation Bowl. For more photos check out http://www.snowboard-mag.com/node/32707

17th Annual Inferno BBQ Sale!

2008-09-25T13:16:00.002-06:00

Sept 27th and 28th at Durangos Oldest and Finest Snowboard Shop!

Save up 50% off of last season's snowboard gear from Venture, Burton, Ride, Capita, Forum, Special Blend, Nikita, Bonfire, and more, at our 2876 N. Main Ave location! Free food, and Telluride representatives will be on hand selling season passes.

Also save to 40% off of skateboards, shoes, and apparel, from Vans, Nike SB, Lakai, Matix, RVCA, Baker, Girl, Chocolate, Independent, and more, at our new downtown store at 1001 Main Ave.

Inferno Board Shop
1001 Main Ave (970) 259-8669
2876 Main Ave (970) 259-2818
Durango, CO 81301

Season Kickoff Announced

2008-09-24T17:17:00.002-06:00

Mark your calendars - the date for Venture and Ska Brewing's 4th Annual Season Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 6th, 2008. We'll welcome winter with live music from James and the Devil and The Freeman Social, Euphoria Pale Ale drink specials, and lots of free stuff - including a grand prize giveaway of a limited edition Venture/Ska snowboard. More details to come so stay tuned!

First Taste of Winter

2008-09-11T15:21:00.004-06:00

Today Old Man Winter visited Silverton for the first time this season! Here are a couple of pics to get your motor running...

"The Mountain Life" Photo Contest Announced

2008-08-25T16:24:00.029-06:00

One lucky shutter bug will win a brand new deck. Will it be you?

Venture Snowboards is sponsoring a season-long series of photo competitions this winter with the theme "The Mountain Life." Anything goes - lifestyle, action, scenic, humor... as long as it reflects life in the mountains. So get creative and capture the essence of the mountain life. Extra credit given for shots that include a Venture snowboard!

First tier competitions will take place monthly from September 2008 through March 2009, with t-shirts and other Venture swag as prizes. Monthly winners will be entered into a second tier competition, to be judged in early April. The grand prize for the second tier contest is a brand spanking new Venture snowboard.

The nitty gritty on the competition:

Submissions are limited to one photo per person per month.

Monthly submission deadlines are as follows: 9/30/08, 10/31/08, 11/30/08, 12/31/08, 1/31/09, 2/28/09, 3/31/09. Submissions received after these dates will roll over into the next month's competition.

Results of monthly competitions will be posted on the Venture Snowboards blog early the following month.

Winning photos will be displayed on the Venture Snowboards website and blog.

First tier winners will receive Venture t-shirts and other swag as prizes.

Second tier winner will be announced in early April.

Second tier winner will receive a new Venture snowboard (splitboards excluded).

Only original photography will be accepted.

Employees of Venture Snowboards are ineligible.

No purchase is necessary.

This contest is void where prohibited.

By entering the contest, entrant grants Venture Snowboards perpetual, nonexclusive rights to the photo.

Entries will be judged by a panel selected by Venture Snowboards and all decisions are final.

Here's how to enter:

Email your submission to info@venturesnowboards.com, with the words "Photo Contest" in the subject line.

Include the following information in the body of your email: Full name, daytime and evening phone numbers, mailing address, description of photo, name(s) of subject(s), and location.

Photos must be jpg or tif files, no larger than 2 MB. Please name your file using the following convention: yourfirstname_yourlastname_submissionmonth.jpg.

Incomplete entries will not be judged.

Now grab that camera and get snapping!

Oh How Time Flies...

2008-08-24T16:23:00.003-06:00

I used to make this kid clean the toilet at Inferno, now he works at Transworld Snowboarding.

Waiting...

2008-08-22T19:09:00.001-06:00

... and patiently at that.

ImageSmith Shares the New Zealand Stoke!!

2008-08-22T13:28:00.005-06:00

Headed to New Zealand on Monday... can't stand still and super charged for the trip!!! Set up the board bag last night loaded with my freshly tuned on Storm 165 Venture locked and loaded!!! We'll be sending tons of pix as we can .... the stoke is on!!! near record snow in NZ!
peace
Scott Smith
The ImageSmith

Venture Debuts "The Bomber"

2008-01-01T14:09:00.002-07:00

Aaron Brill, founder of the rogue ski area Silverton Mountain, has long dreamed of designing his own snowboard. Now his ideas are becoming reality through a partnership with Venture Snowboards.

Venture has become the ski area’s official snowboard sponsor and maintains a fleet of demo boards at the mountain. In addition, Venture’s founder and design engineer, Klemens Branner, has been collaborating with his counterpart at Silverton Mountain to develop a big mountain deck, influenced by the terrain that is fast making Silverton a legend. “I’m really excited to be working with Aaron and to tap his expertise. Our initial prototypes have performed well, and I think some revolutionary designs will come out of this partnership,” said Branner.

In 06.07, input from Brill was used to develop Venture’s big mountain board, the Storm. For 08.09, they’ve tweaked the Storm’s design by adding a modified swallowtail. “The tail is forked as with any other swallowtail, but it curves upward like a standard board rather than being flat,” says Branner. “This means you can ride switch, which is damn near impossible on a traditional swallowtail, and still have all the powder-specific benefits.” After putting the board through its paces on Silverton Mountain, Brill seems happy with the design: "This board rips all big mountain conditions with no loss of torsional rigidity typically found in other swallowtails, and when it gets extra deep the unique tail kicks in for optimum powder riding and no leg burn."

The limited edition Silverton Mountain Swallowtail features custom Silverton Mountain graphics, and is available exclusively at Silverton Mountain. For more information call Silverton Mountain at 970.387.5706 or visit the mountain's website.

3rd Annual Season Kickoff Party - 12/8/07

2007-11-01T14:39:00.002-06:00

Welcome winter in style! Join the Venture crew and the characters from Ska Brewing on Saturday, December 8th for our third annual Season Kickoff Party.

This year's bash features live music from The Freeman Social and In A Day, the release of Ska's winter brew, Euphoria Pale Ale - named after our powder board, of course - and a raffle for a coveted Ska/Venture custom snowboard. We'll have drink specials and tons of giveaways from Bubba's Boards, El Diablo Snowcats, Inferno Snowboard Shop, Kokopelli Bike & Board, Pedal & Powder, Purgatory, Purl Wax, Silverton Mountain, Spark R&D, and Wolf Creek Ski Area, to name a few. All party-goers receive discounted lift tickets at Silverton Mountain on Sunday!

The party gets rockin' at 9 pm at Silverton's Pride of the West Saloon (1323 Greene Street). Cover charge is $5 and this is a 21+ event.

Factory & Showroom Now Open

2007-09-15T14:42:00.000-06:00

We're now officially open for business in our new hometown of Silverton, Colorado. Where better to locate a grassroots snowboard company?

Situated at 9,318 feet above sea level, Silverton is surrounded by the rugged peaks of the San Juan Mountains - Colorado’s largest mountain group. Outside of Alaska, no other mountain range in the U.S. has a higher average elevation. The town of Silverton is also home to the extreme ski area, Silverton Mountain, and its expert only terrain. Combined with the nearly limitless backcountry opportunities, it will serve as an ideal proving ground for our boards.

If you find yourself in our neck of the woods, come on by for a visit. We're located at 951 Greene Street, right next to the laundromat.

Zephyr Named "Most Valuable Product"

2007-09-01T14:02:00.005-06:00

We're stoked to announce that our flagship board, the all-mountain Zephyr, has once again been named a Most Valuable Product by Future Snowboarding Magazine.

Future’s 2008 product review included more than 130 boards from 40 manufacturers. The focus of the test was on all-mountain boards – boards that excel regardless of terrain, conditions, or riding style. After being waxed, detuned and covered with a special decal to ensure anonymity, the boards underwent two weeks of rigorous testing at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Only 40 boards emerged with top honors and the prestigious FSMVP rating.

After being put through its paces, Venture’s Zephyr 151 Narrow has again landed in the top ten of the Women's Premium category, taking sixth place for boards in the $400 - $550 price range. Check out the News page on our website to read the review.

Ska Rides Again

2007-08-30T14:47:00.000-06:00

Venture Snowboards and the characters at Ska Brewing are once again teaming up to produce a limited edition beer and a small run of custom graphics boards. This year's decks feature Ska's zany comic book characters, along with the distinctive Venture snowflake.

The partnership between Venture and Ska started when the two homegrown 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."

Several limited edition boards will be given away this winter at events across the state. Stay tuned for details - and look out for Euphoria Pale Ale on tap and in bottles throughout the southwest.

Movin' On Up

2007-01-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

We're taking our environmental commitment to higher ground with a sustainable snowboard factory in Silverton, Colorado (elevation 9,318 feet). Design plans for our new 4,000 square foot building include passive and active solar features, as well as the use of sustainable, recycled, and reclaimed materials throughout. The building will house Venture's production facility, as well as administrative offices and a small showroom. Groundbreaking is planned for the spring of 2009. In the meantime, you can find us at 951 Greene Street, on Silverton's main drag.