GNU SNOWBOARDS F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboards F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: GNU
Interviewee: Gary Gnu

How was last season in the snowboard market?
Last seasons globally underserved snow conditions led to challenging conditions at retail. We build boards ourselves and deliver early so shops can count on their friends at Gnu. Following last years low tide the Gnu cloud seeding program got a full re-boot and it seems to be firing hard and early.

With the recent overall price increases, have there been any positive developments in manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics?
We build our own boards, source our own materials and ship our own boards. We constantly have our fingers on the pulse of global enterprise and logistics. On the DL…we found a sweet stash of white UHMW sidewall behind an old tractor our materials warehouse and used it on Cannon and Jaydens new Wagyu freestyle model which allowed us to put it out there at a sweet price point.

What are the major trends you’re seeing with product pricing in the snowboard market?
We build our own boards and set our own prices…our sales team decided it was time to slash prices on key models back to 1990 levels…look out for the new nicely priced mens Facts and womens Fiction models. Cannon and Jadyn Chomlack’s new Wagyu resort freestyle stick brings high end burgundy flavor and amazing beefy performance at a price that might not be repeatable. Get on it.

E-commerce Vs. physical retail, how are you balancing both channels?
Our business is founded on core shops…we focus with them and do a small on line business.

How are you supporting retailers to sell this category?
Our Gnu marketing team puts out constant Gnu content on socials and website. We are working with Cannon, Forest and crew on a movie project coming out next fall. Forest has a two year street focused project dropping as well.

What unique brand messages are you focusing on for the 2025/2026 snowboard season?
Gnu Snowboards…we build our own damn boards! Sean “le Bish” Bishop our Gnu graphic designer, curb skater/maker and spiritual leader has followed Cannon’s true north. We put a Gwoosh on almost every board we make and let the pros do whatever they want as long as they don’t scare us or buyers too much. Forest Bailey is constantly producing art and has clear vision for his line.

SNOWBOARD SPECIFIC

What trends or developments are you seeing with regards to board construction, shapes, and general innovation? How is this shaping your 25/26 range?
We build snowboards every day all year long and Gnu engineering is always on the case. This year we let shredder / engineer Hendo put a lifetime of prototypes and designs together on an all new UPGRADE model that gives you the best of camber and hybrid combined…too many geometry and materials upgrades to explain here but you will get a double dose of directional hybrid freestyle performance on this one. Cannon and Jayden marinated with Matteo Soltane on their new 90s inspired Wagyu camber directional twin FS model and have been feasting on early season pow all November and December.

Anything new concerning sustainability and related products or construction you would like to highlight?
Gnu is an environmentally minded company…we build our boards in our own factory and we like it to smell nice so we don’t silk screen…we use our own water based proprietary sublimation process that allows us to eliminate solvents and keep our crew thinking clearly. We recycle our sawdust into soil with our unique composting program, we use low VOC plant based epoxy resins that bond incredibly and help us keep things clean.

Are you using any new materials in your hardware for 25/26? If so, what and why? We’re interested in anything new in inserts / edges / cores / sidewalls / glue / resin/ wood types / base material / top sheet / wax / etc..
We are constantly evolving our process and improving our factory. This year we had a big focus on bases, we completely reworked our finishing area adding new space that includes: water filtration, hydro power, and tuning and testing equipment. Of course our Gnu science team constantly experiments with new glass, wood, improved tooling and process refinement. At Gnu we are never satisfied but always fulfilled.

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 25/26 gear? Any collabs on the line?
Sean our designer works with amazing artists…Jay Howell from Bobs Burgers did our Money graphic. Naima Antolin did the artwork for our Frosting model. Barrett worked with Ryder Biolos surf artist and daughter of legendary surf shaper Matt Biolos on the Barrett graphic for this year. Jadyn did the art for he and Cannons Wagyu. Temple did the art for Temple and Cannons’ all terrain freeride machine the Banked Country. Jamie Anderson and Sara King teamed up again on a beautiful year of the snake inspired JA line.

Are you planning to focus on a special product range or type of customers? What’s your newest range?
At Gnu we like em young and wild but will always enjoy our time with those creaky boomers who keep it mild. Our newest range is free range…the Wagyu from Cannon and Jadyn delivers fence free grass fed freestyle performance at a price that is nothing but good Gnus!

Key Products:

Cannon and Jadyn’s Wagyu directional twin freestyle stick:
Is sure to beef up and add value to your freestyle game.

WAGYU

Forest Bailey’s Head Space Twin camber and 4X4 Freerider:
Carry his magical art and energy and are ready to take your boarding to a new place. Jamie Andersons Ladies Choice and Ladies Choice camber are ready to play and win.

Barrett

Facts and Fiction:
Give you ultra friendly hybrid performance and ridiculous prices…all of it made in our own factory in Sequim Washington USA! Thanks for your support!!!!

FICTION