Westbeach

[Westbeach]

WB HISTORY INTRO

Time really does fly when you are having fun. Westbeach has been going now for 28 years, that's right since 1979. A lot has happened since. Bindings got real straps, "kicktails" were invented, twin shapes introduced, low backs, baseless bindings, waterproof jeans, then fat pants, headbands, Sorels, then the first snowboard specific boots, neon, the US Open, then the Westbeach Classic, rodeos, then backside rodeos, the Olympics. Wow. Westbeach has grown up snowboarding. Check out our history on the timeline below.

WESTBEACH TIMELINE

1979- Westbeach founded in Calgary as a shop.
1980 - The party really gets going.
1981 - Burton introduces it's legendary Backhill board.
1984 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" rocks the nation.
1987- Westbeach is one of first companies to make snowboard specific outerwear
1987 – Westbeach store in Vancouver founded
1990- Three surfer logo introduced. Soon after becomes iconic.
1989- Westbeach Classic starts. Rob Rebagliati wins the halfpipe event and gets the cover of Transworld that day.
1990 – Snowboarding growing at 30% a year
1991- “The Westbeach Canada Snowboard Classic” moves to Blackcomb. Rob Morrow wins Pipe. Many years of mayhem ensue. Cheers to good times!
1992 – Option makes first boards under name “Never Snowboards”
1992 – Kevin Young wins “The Westbeach Classic” while riding for WB. Teammate Devun Walsh and him introduce the “jam format”. Seen for the first time, now the norm.
1993- WB team included Devun Walsh, Kevin Young, Dionne Delasalle, Roberta Rodger, John Boyer, and Sluggo. Best team on the block. Period. And better yet, good to see all still kicking ass.
1993 – WB introduces "Gunz Jeans", a.k.a. oversized jeans, to market and defines the look of snowboard outerwear. Other companies follow the style while skiers take ten years to catch on.
1993- Salomon buys Bonfire Snowboarding. Corporate schmorporate.
1993- Kevin Young on Westbeach, and Ingemar Backman, pioneer the rodeo flip. All next season kids crash on their heads’ trying to get inverted.
1994 – “The Westbeach Classic” includes new event, the “Boardercross”. Terje Haakonsen wins both the Halfpipe and Boardercross events. WB cheerleaders break men’s hearts leaving them lusting for more.
1996 – Todd Richards wins newly introduced “The Westbeach Classic Big Air event”. Fireworks and nudity ensue.
1996 - Billabong Starts making snowboard gear while Westbeach opens European Headquarters in Innsbruck.
1997 – Westbeach rider Chris Brown wins “The Westbeach Classic Big Air” in front of 10,000 at the bottom of Whistler. Hot tubs, nudity, booze, parties, and fireworks ensue.
1997 - Westbeach becomes affiliated with Morrow Snowboards.
1998- Kevin Sansalone wins “The Westbeach Classic Big Air”.
1998 - Westbeach continues to help millions get laid worldwide.
1998- Westbeach team comprised of Tyler Lepore, Josh Dirksen, Andrew Crawford.
1999 – Intrawest buys the right to the Classic and it has not been staged since.
2000 - Snowboarding goes to the Olympics. Jocks still suck. Ross makes a comeback, as a pot head snowboard slalom racer.
2000- Volcom starts making snowboard gear. Welcome to the party and thanks keeping it real!
2001 - Skiers start copying snowboarders more than ever. Trend will continue till present day.
2002 – Still kicking,Westbeach parties on.
2004 – Westbeach rider Marc Andre Tarte does the first ever cab 1260 in the Innsbruck Air& Style. SNBC.DE starts as a "little boy´s game" in August.
2005 – Westbeach opens stores two more stores in Europe, Innsbruck and Bristol.
2006- Westbeach releases Phenom Jacket. The world’s first breathable, waterproof, photo luminescent jacket.
2007 - The party continues

[Snowboard Werbung]