SnoPlanks, a snowboard company that was donated one year ago to Oregon State University – Cascades (OSU-Cascades) by its founders, brought to market its first boards under new student leadership.
The SnoPlanks 2025 line of snowboards – dubbed “Asym Twin” and “Asym Fish” – debuted at the Snowvana Winter sports show in Portland, Oregon in Nov.. The new designs incorporate student-based analysis of the existing designs and market research, and feature the asymmetrical design for which SnoPlanks is known.
The snowboards are available for sale on the company’s website and at Between Evergreens in Bend. They have been purchased by customers as far away as Japan, as well as those in the local community.
Twenty-seven students – majoring in business, engineering, outdoor products and art, media and technology – are employed by SnoPlanks, where they dedicate up to 20 hours a week during the academic term to operating the business. SnoPlanks is believed to be the only student-led company embedded in a university in the country.
“This experiential learning gives us all incredible opportunities to improve our leadership and technical skills in a fast-paced environment,” said Caitlin Colgin, SnoPlanks CEO and a senior outdoor products major. “It’s thrilling to now watch SnoPlanks’ boards heading into customer’s hands.”
“Through the SnoPlanks Academy, students are developing the resume-building skills that employers in the outdoor and other industries look for,” said Todd Laurence, a business instructor and the executive director of SnoPlanks Academy, the academic program that houses the student-managed business. He has mentored the SnoPlanks student leadership team as they transformed it into a student-led venture.
Over the past year the SnoPlanks team has leased space for a design and prototyping facility, hired and managed student employees, negotiated a manufacturing contract and overseen brand design, website development, social media and product marketing, online consumer sales and order fulfillment.
Set up as a wholly owned subsidiary of OSU, the company is governed by a board of directors that includes Sherm Bloomer (OSU-Cascades chancellor and dean); Tim Carroll (OSU College of Business dean), Rebecca Robinson (OSU associate VP for economic development and industry relations), Joth Ricci (former Dutch Bros. CEO) and James Nicol (SnoPlanks co-founder).
SnoPlanks Academy is part of Cascades Edge, a career preparation program for OSU-Cascades in which all undergraduates participate.
