Kemper Splitboards 2024/25 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Splitboarding 2024/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Kemper
Interviewee: JIB HUNT - OWNER

How would you describe the current state of the snowboard market? What big developments, changes, challenges, and/or opportunities are you seeing and how is your brand navigating them?
The snowboard market is paying the price for an oversaturated bike inventory issue that has crippled the bike brands and dealers. With the addition of no snow in the northeast of the United and in Europe, the snowboard industry as a whole took a big hit for the 23/24 season. I believe who makes it through the aftermath of this year, will be set up for future growth and stability. If a snowboard brand tells you they are doing great, they are probably not telling the truth.

Following overall price increase, any positive developments with regards to manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics and the changes you’ve made? Are there any examples you can share of how your business pivoted effectively? What developments are you seeing with regards to product pricing?
We are making a big and exciting move for 24/25. We are offshoring all snowboard and splitboard manufacturing from China to our own manufacturing facility in Heber City, Utah USA. This will give us better chance to control our destiny and to become agile with the highs and lows of production. We will be taking on production for a select number of snowboard brands.

Is e-commerce sales still strong since most brands have been put a lot of effort in physical retail?
eCommerce is still very strong, but with our industry, a blend of physical retail is super important. We’ve invested in a new chat platform on our website that is piloted by snowboard experts who can answer our visitors with intelligence and years of riding experience.

After last winter and the lack of snow in Europe, what’s your overall sales and production/inventory strategy for 24/25?
Made in Utah, Made in the USA. We can produce closer to the season without having to pay out large deposits months prior when buyers actually place orders.

Does your brand have any new developments concerning sustainability and/or how you are positioning any environmental messaging?
100%. With the move to manufacturing our own boards in the USA and under our own roof, we will be sourcing predominately all materials from the USA suppliers. We also will remove our entire carbon footprint from shipping and airing complete boards over to the USA from China.

What are your top product marketing stories for next season?
Made in the USA. All new shapes and materials. Better quality control. Agility to create and launch limited edition boards.

SPLITBOARD SPECIFIC

What about new board construction, innovation, or shape trends? Any big advancements in functionality? Skinning, transitions, etc, as well as riding? Any specific effort on ranges for 24/25? If yes, where and why?
For 24/25 we will only be producing one splitboard model in our new Screamer shape. The split Screamer will be made in our Utah factory along with the rest of the snowboard line. The Screamer has camber under feet with early rise and slightly wider nose that charges through powder when needed.

Are you using any new materials in your splitboard for 24/25? If so, what, and why? We’re interested in anything new in inserts / edges / cores / sidewalls / glue / resin/ wood types / base material, top sheet here.
Yes, made in the USA production. USA Aspen cores, bio PU sidewall resin, sinter base, German edges, and Phantom Hercules clips (from Colorado).

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 24/25 gear? Any collabs on the line?
The Screamer is a new shape for 24/25. No collabs.

SPLITBOARD ACCESSOIRES

Skins, Poles, Crampons, anything new and outstanding in your proposal?
We will continue to offer our Mohair skins produced by Montana.

Key products

Screamer Splitboard