Hey Everyone, and welcome back to another instalment of Brand Knew! The weekly segment where we take a look at the brands we carry in both our Edmonton Snowboard Shop and Leduc Snowboard shop. This week we're highlighting a real fan favourite, Nitro Snowboards!

 

Brand Knew: 8 things you might not have known about Nitro Snowboards

1. Nitro Snowboards was founded in 1989 in Seattle Washington by Tommy Delago and Sepp Ardelt 

Nitro has a long and storied brand history. While the brand was officially founded in Seattle Washington, the real birthplace is probably closer to the German mountains of Bavaria. Owner Tommy Delago, inspired by skateboarding and surfboarding, but being entirely unable to surf where he was from, first saw snowboarding in skateboarding magazines. Once he saw photos from back in those very early days of snowboarding, he found himself thinking that this was his way to finally surf. (The Origins of Nitro Snowboards with Tommy Delago | 28 Winters, Red Bull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffRO-_Qe9Kg)

2. Nitro Snowboards is a truly international brand

Born in the mountains of Bavaria, or Seattle depending on how you slice it, the brand is one of the few in snowboarding that has maintained that international appeal throughout its history. (The brands conception comes from Tommy who came up with it in Bavaria, however the actual company was founded in Seattle Washington.) While not always the most popular brand in North America, the brand has been a core brand overseas for years. It’s only in recent years that Nitros high performance products, rider driven brand focus and social impact has risen to such a high level of popularity. 

Most of the development is done out of Germany in Oberammergau (try saying that 5 times fast), however they have satellite offices around the world, including in Canada, Norway and Italy. 

3. They’re one of the few brands that makes elite level boards, boots, and bindings. 

There are a select few brands that make truly elite level products in Snowboarding Boots, Snowboarding Bindings and Snowboards themselves. Brands like Capita (check out last weeks blog) (link) make phenomenal boards. Union (link to search) makes top tier bindings, Thirty Two (link to search) makes excellent boots. But Nitro is one of the few brands that makes products in each category, and definitely one of the only brands that makes a high level, truly competitive product in each of those categories.

The Boards: 

Nitro’s boards are hands down some of the best in the business. They’ve built an incredible team around them, and the team riders actually ride the same boards you can buy off the shelf! While lots of companies out there will release a pro model, or have team riders ride certain graphic that they feel are the most marketable, nitro’s team actually rides the same production boards, not something specially cooked up for them. So for example, when you see Markus Klevland riding the Nitro Beast, he’s riding the same one you could be riding, with no stealthy changes made. 

Another awesome feature they’ve implemented in some of their boards is the “Rail Killer Edge”. For all you jibbers out there, you might know the frustration of blowing an edge or sidewall out after knocking a rail or a rock too hard. By doubling the thickness of the metal in their edges on certain boards like the Cheap Thrills, they make a stronger, more destruction proof board that lasts longer and jibs better! 

The Bindings: 

Formerly known as Raiden Bindings, Nitro bindings are some of the highest performance bindings on the market, with some amazing features. If you haven’t had a chance to ride these bindings we can’t recommend finding a demo day and trying them out for yourself. 

The Nitro Zero binding, available online and in store soon! 

Designed with the philosophy that you shouldn’t notice your bindings, that they should be comfortable, and do exactly what you need them to do without ever getting in your way or changing how your board flexes, they bring together some amazing components to make awesome bindings. They were the first to introduce the mini disk system which reduces the dead spot created under foot where you board cant flex. They’ve also worked with Vibram to create an extra grippy strap that won’t move or need adjustments while you’re riding! 

The Boots: 

This is completely anecdotal, and everyone’s feet are different, but in our experience Nitro makes by far some of the most comfortable, high performance boots on the market. Their high end boots have the unbelievably comfortable Cloud Nine liners which wrap and support the foot so so well. If you’ve never tried a pair of Nitro Snowboard Boots on for yourself, you should absolutely do yourself a favour and see how they stack up to your favourite boot brand. 

They also have, in the Author’s (Rob) opinion the best internal lacing system on the market. Often times one of the challenges with internal lacing systems (the system that keeps the liner tight to the leg, not the outer boot tight) is that you cant quite get them tight, and even if you can, over a day of riding they loosen up a bit. Nitro’s “Re/Lace Liner Locker” is such a simple improvement over the traditional liner lacing system, yet it provides such a fantastic ability to really get the inside of your boot as tight as you want it to be. 

They have a ton of other features of course, including an excellent quick lacing system that rivals all of the best on the market in terms of ease of use and ability to get tight, extra comfy foot beds, Vibram soles and more, but really, just the comfy liners and awesome internal tightening system make these some of the best on the market hands down. 

4. Their team is so filled with amazing stand out riders, from a vast variety of backgrounds, and disciplines. 

Nitro’s international recognition has brought them some of the worlds best snowboarders. Riders who are often quoted as loving the family vibes they get from riding for Nitro. Here’s a few stand outs from their killer team. 

Markus Kleveland 

This. Dude. Rips. Holy cow. 6 times x games medalist, with golds in Slopestyle, Big Air and even Knuckle Huck (such a cool concept) he can absolutely dominate on a snowboard. Ripping on the Nitro Beast, and landing some of the biggest and cleanest tricks you’ll ever see, he’s an absolute treat to watch. 

Christy Prior 

Kiwi shred legend and all around awesome person, Christy Prior is one of Nitro’s top tier female athletes. Well known not just for her insane skills on the board, but also for hosting girls only yoga classes in Wanaka, New Zealand where she hails from Christy is a leader on on and off the board. Whether she’s ripping on the Nitro Mercy board or the Nitro Drop board, she can ride and do it all!

 

Zeb Powell 

Photo of Zeb riding the Big Pink 

Perhaps one of the most easily recognizable riders for Nitro because 0f his unreal antics on the Nitro Snowboards Big Pink, a massive, 208 CM swallow tail that Zeb can be seen busting amazing Back 10’s and other tricks you’d never think possible on such a massive board. 

 

Definitely check this edit get hyped for the upcoming season. 

5. Speaking of Big Boards, Nitro makes some of the most interesting shaped boards on the market. 

From the awesome hard charging power of the Nitro Cannon which comes in sizes from 173-203 cm down to the 149 Fintwin Nitros Quiver series makes a massive selection of different and interestingly shaped boards that stand out from the most of the market with interesting shapes, sizes and concepts. Not a brand to stick to tried and true twin tip Camber boards, their Quiver series offers something for someone who’s ridden tons of different boards and now wants a completely new experience on snow. 

6. Nitro is still owned by the people who started it. 

To Quote Tommy Delago “In a market that is increasingly characterized by anonymous brands owned by large corporations, an authentic and privately managed brand definitely has an advantage “ As a locally owned and operated Edmonton Snowboard Shop (And Leduc Snowboard shop) we always have a soft spot for brands that are still owned and operated by the people who started them. Nitro Snowboards is no different. They’re still 100% run by the people who started them, not some giant conglomerate which we think is super fricken rad. From the original owner still working in product design, to team riders all across the world, Nitro Snowboards is still on the ground level of making snowboarding what it is today. 

7. Nitro started out with huge inspiration from surfing and skateboarding.

Nitro founder Tommy Delago started out skating and always wanted to surf, but stuck in the mountains of Bavaria, it wasn't an option. When he first saw snowboarding, he realized that snowboarding was how he could get into surfing. 

That ethos, bringing the surf and skate style into snowboarding isn’t something unique to Nitro Snowboards. But what is unique is they way they’ve carried that forward. Especially in recent years with boards built for everything from winning X-games big air to putting down absolute top tier street parts. So many exceptional boards, boots and bindings across every side of riding on both the mens and women's side of snowboarding is truly exceptional. 

8. Their Canadian distribution is based right here in Edmonton Alberta. 

Speaking of home grown brands, Nitro Snowboards is one of the only major brands to have its distribution based right here in Edmonton. That means when your supporting Nitro Snowboards, you're supporting a brand that's putting its money and resources right back into our community. Just like us! 

Nitro Snowboards is such a fascinating and storied brand. Their product alone is some of the best in the industry, and their team, and the stories they tell with their brand are all amazing. Nitro’s a brand we’re beyond proud to carry! 

We’ll have new Nitro product hitting the shelves in our Leduc location soon so swing by and check it out! 

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That concludes another weekly instalment of Brand Knew. We had an unbelievable reception of our piece on Capita Snowboards last week and we really can’t thank you all enough for the support. As always, you can hit us up with questions, comments or whatever @rumorboardshop on instagram, rumorboardshop@gmail.com , or via inviting us to your Minecraft server with your comments built in blocks. Whatever works for you! (absolutely no faxes)! 

If you’ve got a brand you want to see us take on, let us know, we’re always looking for suggestions. 

Sources: 

https://www.ispo.com/en/companies/nitro-founder-tommy-delago-snowboard-community-has-changed-better

https://nitrosnowboards.com/30-years-nitro-snowboards

nitrosnowboards.com

https://www.boardsportsource.com/2020/12/02/nitro-on-doing-things-their-way-supporting-the-snowboard-community/