1% For The Planet Donations

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!

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!