Images & Story Courtesy of Moss Snowstick
Moss Snowstick was born of a very simple desire – to surf on snow. From the first prototype created by founder Shinzo Tanuma, the legendary Japanese surfer and shaper, Moss Snowstick has devoted over 40 years to designing and testing boards in the single-minded pursuit of this goal.
They create boards that make beautiful turns, replicating surfing in any condition the mountains present. At some point, snowsurfing earned a reputation for being something that can only happen in backcountry powder snow. The truth is, it can be done anywhere you find snow and a slope; both on and off-piste, regardless of the conditions. Moss Snowsticks are all snow and all terrain snowsurf boards that are designed to change the rider’s perspective of the mountain, transforming snow-covered terrain into three dimensional snowsurf playgrounds.
In 1971, Shinzo Tanuma created the first Moss Snowstick prototype, which was made from urethane foam and fiberglass, much like a traditional surfboard. He test-rode the prototype at the Akakura Onsen ski resort in Niigata, Japan, and there began the story of the world's oldest snowsurfing maker.
What is the Moss design philosophy?
Nothing but surfing, period. All inspiration comes from surfboard shaping theory, design, and riding as well as outlines that Shinzo created in the past. Every shape is connected and relates closely to another. For example, the Wing Swallow derived from the shape and riding of the U4. The Jellyfish evolved from the Wing Swallow. The C3 came from a mixture of the PQ, Jellyfish and Fishbone models.
We design our boards to replicate surfing as closely as possible on any snow. In our product tests, we spend more time on icy and hardpack snow conditions to ensure core materials, outlines and bottom shapes work and turn great in those conditions. Powder is the last priority because if a board rides great and makes you smile in not-so great conditions, that board will ride awesome and even better in soft conditions.
