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!

 

 

Make Your Voice Heard in the Senate!

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!

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]

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Skye McNeill - Seattle, WA
"Dwindle"

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Julie Boake - Alberta Canada
"Unknown Future"

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Glenn Holbrook - Venice, CA

"Regrowth"

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Glen Graves - Mancos, CO
"Blue Kristl"

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Aggie Drelich Smith - Boulder, CO
"Modern Threat"

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Happy voting!

Susan Mol In First Place of Freeride World Tour!

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

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!

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

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!

Venture & POW Snowboard Art Competition

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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.