Venture Snowboards Releases 3 New Shape Shack Boards

As a company on the leading edge of design and innovation, it’s no surprise that Venture Snowboards, based out of Silverton, Colo., is once again pushing the envelope with the Shape Shack, an experimental division charged with dreaming up new and innovative board shapes.

“Pushing boundaries and trying new things is built into the DNA of snowboarding,” says Klemens Branner, Venture’s founder and design engineer, who is heading up the effort with creative input from big mountain legend Johan Olofsson and select guest shapers. “You never know where a good idea is going to come from, so inviting new perspectives into the mix is a great way to spark the creative process.”

Shape Shack boards are produced in small, limited edition runs and made available to the public through choice retailers and Venture’s online store. According to Branner, this small batch approach allows the company to do market research, boost customer involvement, and create innovative new designs simultaneously. “It gives our customers a meaningful way to get involved by voting with their dollars for the shapes they want to see.

From a retailer perspective, the Shape Shack helps establish the demand for a given shape before we add it to the lineup. Everybody wins.” The company’s Euphoria and Zelix models are prime examples. Both started as experimental shapes, but after rave reviews from retailers, customers, and the media, became a part of Venture’s permanent lineup.

What does Branner enjoy most about the Shape Shack? “Of course riding the finished product is the best part! But bringing a new board shape from concept to reality in a short period of time is extremely gratifying.  It brings our whole team together, and because we own our own factory we have control over that process from start to finish.  We can produce pretty much anything that we can dream up, and then walk out the front door and ride it right here in our backyard.  It’s an ideal setup for experimentation without boundaries.”

For 2013 Venture is offering three new Shape Shack designs, all of which are collector’s items, built in limited edition runs of only 25 boards.  Here’s the skinny on the different shapes:

POWDER PIG: Resident Shaper & Graphic Artist: Johan Olofsson

The Powder Pig is the second powder specific shape dreamed up by big mountain legend and pow surfing pioneer Johan Olofsson. Available in a 156 cm length, it has no edges and only two inserts – one near the tip and one near the tail – for attaching a rope. The flat “bat tail,” mellow rocker, and 33 cm width provide uncanny floatation. A true pow surfer’s dream. Say oink as you gorge on the deep stuff!

SKYLAR SPECIAL: Guest Shaper: Skylar Holgate, Graphic Artist: Shanna Duncan

The Skylar Special is a big mountain twin designed by infamous Silverton Mountain guide Skylar Holgate. Available in a 160 cm length and 25 cm waist, with a true twin shape that offers greater maneuverability and effortless switch riding. While this deck’s slightly softer flex makes it fun and playful, quadratics still give it plenty of bite and grip for less forgiving conditions.

From left to right: Powder Pig, Skylar Special, Swallowtail Bomber

SWALLOWTAIL BOMBER: Guest Shaper: Aaron Brill

The Swallowtail Bomber is a classic swallowtail shape designed by Silverton Mountain’s founder and owner Aaron Brill. Lots of length for charging big lines and an elongated rocker profile for effortless float in the deep stuff. 180 cm length and 26 cm width.  Go big or go home.

All of these Shape Shack designs available for immediate purchase through Venture’s  Shopatron store for $595.

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