Zephyr Splitboard Wins Editor's Choice

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!

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

Johan Olofsson Joins Venture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!