Words: Tyler Macleod
Photos: Owen Ringwall
Despite a well-documented existence to the point of overexposure, its still difficult to pin down the true ambiance that surrounds Jackson, Wyoming. Its a geographical oddity that somehow synthesizes cowboy culture and LA-fueled overindulgence within the same vein–a place where generations-old ranches still reach for the horizon while celebrities simultaneously seek refuge within their multi-million-dollar retreats.
In Teton Village, the direct hub of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, its not uncommon for the local moose to engage in awkward confrontations with the fur-clad, high-earning members of our society. Theres a constant clash between the wild and the domesticated. Between the bygone and the present. But somewhere in the midst of all of this–between that true Wyoming grit and the fabricated world beyond–lies the palpable heartbeat of our own snowboard community. Much like Jackson, weve been torn between the push toward mega-resorts and industry trends, while still clinging to our DIY roots and simple affinity for the turn.
Luckily that gritty, rough-around-the-edges work ethic proves very much alive in Wyoming and beyond. Each year at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the entities that comprise one end of our communitys spectrum meet up for one truly authentic snowboarding experience: the JH Shaper Summit. Now in its seventh year of existence, the JH Shaper Summit–spearheaded by longtime local and snowboarding purist Rob Kingwill–brought together brands both big and small for three days of board testing, shared visions, ShredTalks, and a celebration of snowboardings past, present, and future.
In a large tent just steps away from the iconic tram, well-known brands like Nitro, Never Summer, and Arbor brushed shoulders with niche shapers like Franco Snowshapes, Elevated SurfCraft, and Grassroots Powdersurfing. Among them were other companies on the rise–the likes of Weston Backcountry, Cardiff Snowcraft, and Telos Snowboards. It was a broad spectrum of shapers, some with wide appeal and others with cult followings, pushing snowboarding forward while conserving the purity of its past. For them, the art of the turn and the search for untracked lines are still paramount. They always will be.
Neary 150 testers from all corners of the snowboard community rifled through nearly 500 different boards–some powder specific, others quiver killers, and a few sheer novels–while Mother Nature blessed the Teton Mountain Range with over six feet of snow over the course of just five days. It was the recipe for a truly organic snowboard testing experience, where the turns were deep, the terrain was bountiful, and the vibes were at an all-time high. For three days, testers experienced the thrill of strapping into new and dynamic shapes, while the companies who constructed them benefited from the extensive feedback provided. All of the results will be compiled as part of the events Rated Radical Test, which will be available in the very near future on
RatedRadical.com. If you’re looking to upgrade your quiver with some truly progressive powder designs, you now know where to look.
But the overwhelming highlight of this years Shaper Summit was the chance for everyone in attendance to experience one of the most historic months of February in all of Jacksons history–a month where 23 of the 28 days saw reported snowfall, where each of the three days of the Shaper Summit started and ended with bottomless turns, and where every powder board was thoroughly tested in its most ideal environment. Like many times in the past, Jackson delivered the goods. Theres an energy here that can never be replicated, at least not until the Tetons next historic snowfall.
The point being, snowboarding is alive and well. Both in Jackson, Wyoming and beyond. While there will always be that push and pull between past and future, between authenticity and artificial, the core of our community–and certainly the town of Jackson–will always remain true to itself. We’d like to thank people like Kingwill and events like his JH Shaper Summit for making damn sure of that.
The future of snowboarding is in good hands, and those looking to expand their quiver with a progressive board shape will have many radical rides to pick from next season.
Continue below for words from three of this year’s distinguished brands about boards that stood out to us as truly awesome designs.