Rad Air Snowboards 2023/24 Preview
Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboard‘s 2023/24 Retail Buyer‘s Guide
Brand: Rad Air
Interviewee: Harry Gunz, co-founder
Construction. This is the place where you can talk to us about the new ingredients in your boards, and how you are building differently. We’re interested in anything new in inserts / edges / cores / sidewalls / glue / resin/ wood types / base material etc here.
Our HAND-LAYED PREPREG EPOXY SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION using a TIP-2-TAIL POPLAR-PALOWNIA WOODCORE and FULL CARBON BOTTOM LAMINATE, CARBON & ARAMIDE STRINGERS IN TOP AND BOTTOM LAMINATES.
What else do you expect?
ABS-SIDEWALLS WITH PRINT, 48 ROCKWELL STEEL EDGE and a STEEL EDGE TIP PROTECTOR plus ALUMINIUM TAIL PROTECTOR, make it a 4*superior construction. DURACLEAR TOPSHEET and a DOUBLE-SINT GRAPHITE RUNNING BASE WITH STONE GRINDING FINISH make it a 5*!
Where are you building, and what factory, in what country? No wrong answer here. What makes this production facility the best solution?
GP87 CHINA. VERY FLEXIBLE AND LONG YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SANDWICH CONSTUCTIONS AND FANTASTIC PARTNER TO DEAL WITH
Which pricepoint is seeing the most action at retail? Premium, bottom or in the middle? What do the people want?
TRICKY QUESTION! DEPENDING ON DEALERS AND WHAT END CONSUMER THEY WANT TO ADDRESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY ROCK BOTTOM OFFERS ON THE MARKET.
Where is the market price?
OUR PRICE IS BASED ON A PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION AND HI-END MATERIALS, NO MASS MARKET.
Consumers are more open than ever to unusual shapes. Got any mad shapes next year? How long will this shape direction last… is it a good thing for snowboarding?
YES, OUR NEW SHAPE HAS CAUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEREVER WE SHOW UP. THE TIP AND TAIL SHAPE IS NOT BUILT FOR LOOKS, BUT OFFERS MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE, BEST FLOATATION AREA, IT’S ALL ABOUT MATHEMATICS.
We’re really interested in graphic themes running through your line. What is your art department feeding you for next year?
RAD AIR HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE A SURFING INSPIRED BRAND. FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS WE HAVE HAD SURFING RELATED GRAPHICS OR SEGMENTS THAT YOU’VE SEEN ON CLASSIC HOT ROD CARS. FOR WINTER 23/24 OUR FOCUS IS A MIX OF VINTAGE AND CLASSIC SURFBOARD GRAPHICS.
What are your top marketing stories for next season? This will help us to put focus on the right decks.
OUR MARKETING BUDGET IS RATHER SMALL. WE FOCUS ON THE WORD OF MOUTH AND PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE PODIUMS OF TOP-2-BOTTOM CHINESE DOWNHILL FREERIDE EVENTS LIKE THE WORLDS LARGEST LONGBOARDING EVENT, THE LONGBOARDCLASSIC STUBEN, PITZTAL WILDFACE, WHITE RING, ALL IN AUSTRIA.
KEY PRODUCT:
TANKER 181 – With this lightweight longboard you’ll find a ride that is the perfect all-around all-mountain board you always wanted. Incredible edge hold makes it a deck that is extremely versatile, no matter if it’s untracked terrain or corduroy groomers.
TANKER 186 – This deck is designed for the big footed or heavier rider or one who wants to take advantage of its wide body shape and outstanding floating performance. Wide bodied but still remarkably quick from edge-to-edge. Its extra surface area offers incredible float and surf ability, especially in waist deep powder and tracked-up terrain.
TANKER 201 – Against popular belief – SIZE MATTERS!
The 201 is the premier RAD AIR flagship. No other longboard is consistantly on the podium of famous longboarding events like the Longboardclassic – the Woodstock of snowboarding. If you crave maximum floatation in combination with rock solid edge hold in a surprisingly quick turning shape, then the new radial sidecut radius of the 201 makes it the board of choice. The Tanker 201 is a true Big Gun that provides an easy and fluid ride in all conditions!
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