OVER 120 YEARS
OF INNOVATION

A century of ingenuity and innovation from a family owned Swiss company driven by a passion for action sports.

 

Since 1887, Nidecker has remained a family business on the cutting edge of manufacturing technology. For generation after generation, our products and innovations have helped evolve every industry we have been a part of. We began as master woodworkers, starting with wheels and tables and then evolving to sleds and skis before moving on to producing industry leading snowboards, which are now our primary focus. Our products are currently distributed in 32 countries and have won multiple awards for innovative designs and materials.

1887

In 1887, Henri Nidecker I founded the company in the small town of Etoy, Switzerland on the shore of “Lac Léman” (Lake Geneva). Trained as a carpenter, Henri I mastered the art of bending wood and obtained the region’s first electric motor in 1897. With this powerful new electric tool he produced the most sought after ladders, chairs, furniture, carts and wheel barrows.

1912

At the turn of the century the Nidecker workshop moved to Rolle, Switzerland. Employing woodworking techniques learned from his father, Henri II produced his first skis in 1912 using Ash wood. By 1946, Henri II had taught his son Henri III the trade, and soon after Henri III built the first composite skis made from Ash and Hickory wood.

1962

Nidecker was at the forefront of the rapidly expanding European ski market in the 60’s and 70’s and in 1962 broke new ground as one of the first to manufacture skis using metal and fibreglass. By 1969 Nidecker used their expertise to launch the first pair of virtually unbreakable cross-country skis.

1984

Nidecker began designing snowboards in 1982 and the first 50 boards were handcrafted in the Rolle workshop in 1984 and featured 3D-base contours. Nidecker snowboards were an overnight success and by 1985 over 700 boards had been sold, mainly in Switzerland and France. Soon after, a team of Nidecker sponsored athletes won the 1986 Alpine Snowboarding World Cup.

1987

From 1987, Nidecker focused on snowboards and designed new models every season. The “Gun” model was one of the first innovative shapes that had similar curves to a modern day snowboard. Nidecker also produced one of the first youth snowboards during this time. In 1990, Henri IV expanded the snowboard line to include snowboard boots and bindings.

1991

By 1991 the Nidecker snowboard business was booming and selling boards in over 25 countries. In 2002, Nidecker collaborated with a leading Swiss university to produce the first “Megalight” snowboard weighing less than 3 kg. In 2007 Nidecker developed new techniques for welding wood and produced the lightest snowboard in the world at that time, the “Ultralight”.

2010

2010 marked the debut of Nidecker brand Stand-up Paddleboards. Building on the success of Nidecker’s SUP boards that are primarily made for flat water, the company founded a signature brand with legendary California surfer Laird Hamilton that specializes in SUP boards designed for waves. “Laird SUP” is now a leading SUP manufacturer with a complete line of boards for all types of paddleboarding.

2011

In 2011 Nidecker joined forces with freeride snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones and founded “Jones Snowboards”. This was followed by the inception of “YES Snowboards”, developed with four of the most renowned freestyle snowboarders in the world. Then the “NOW” brand was launched with former pro snowboarder JF Pelchat. The final brand in the portfolio was the debut of “Slash by Gigi Snowboards”, a collaboration with freestyle snowboarder Gigi Ruf.

2015 and beyond

Nidecker currently manages seven leading action sports brands including Jones Snowboards, Now Bindings, Slash by Gigi Snowboards, YES Snowboards, Laird SUP, as well as the namesake Nidecker brand which produces snowboards, snowboard boots, snowboard bindings and also SUP boards. As the oldest family owned business and leader in action sports, the Nidecker family is still thriving and focused on future success.

Global commercial enquiries

Daniel Avener

uk@tlc.international

US commercial enquiries

Jake Avdiev

usa@tlc.international

Marketing and PR

Kate Berry

kate.berry@tlc.international