NITRO SNOWBOARDS F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboards F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Nitro
Interviewee: Tommy Delago, President

How was last season in the snowboard market?
After the rapid post-Covid growth, the European market has experienced a drop which seems to have bottomed out now. There is still a bunch of stock in the market from irresponsible over-production and especially the lower price points are suffering, but we’re confident that this will dry up during 24/25 and fresh products will be in demand again going into 25/26.

With the recent overall price increases, have there been any positive developments in manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics?
For Europe, the US Dollar exchange rate plays a big role as does shipping. Exchange rates have stayed within a reasonable corridor for the past two years, and shipping costs have come down again after Covid. This is why the environment for stable prices is quite good right now. The main challenge is shipping through the Suez Canal, which has caused problems this season and continues to be a challenge that might only be countered with longer shipping routes and the resulting earlier production.

What are the major trends you’re seeing with product pricing in the snowboard market?
Stable, with some more aggressive pricing from brands that need to grow.

E-commerce Vs. physical retail, how are you balancing both channels?
We’re not doing our own e-commerce at this point, but we see a trend towards more volume going through online dealers. And brands are gearing their products more towards improved online presentability. Also, it appears that online business is more and more concentrating on fewer and larger shops, with less emotion and more focus on the pure business aspect. This is and will continue to be a loss for the snowboard community.

How are you supporting retailers to sell this category?
Being an authentic, snowboard-only company, we take every aspect of our market very serious and make sure the retailer can work with a thought-out and relevant product line and a brand that gives back to continue building our community. Also, our tight network of highly professional sales reps and distribution centres provide on-point service and after sales support.

What unique brand messages are you focusing on for the 2025/2026 snowboard season?
“Forever Snowboarding” summarizes the essence of who Nitro is: An authentic snowboard brand, focussed on designing the best product, and focused on giving back to our market by supporting shops, team riders and local events. As many other brands become more and more drawn into multi-sport, multinational investment- group owned corporations, Nitro provides an alternative with its privately-owned, family style approach. This is the message we put out there and riders worldwide can relate to it.

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 see a move towards more mid-wide boards, both for men, women and kids, this is why we have made some changes and additions in this area.

Anything new concerning sustainability and related products or construction you would like to highlight?
It seems like the focus of consumers is shifting away from sustainability in production or products. This doesn’t have to be a negative trend though, as environmentally friendly and socially responsible production will always be important in the future. But a bit less focus allows manufacturers and brands to get down to the core of some processes and optimize them without the pressure of producing ‘marketable’ solutions quickly. There has been a bit too much green washing and not enough realistic step by step process improvement recently.

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 currently putting a lot of efforts on working towards elimination solvent-based inks in production, as this improves the production environment and working conditions. We also push to improve our overall product finish. Snowboard equipment is not cheap and consumers demand a well-made and finished board.

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 25/26 gear? Any collabs on the line?
For 25/26, we are launching our new Guest Shaper Project: It opens up the flow of ideas by taking out the commercial element. We don’t care if we sell 5 or 500 (or even none). Snowboarding used to be so much more creative, and we’d like to build a platform to try out. Typically, a guest Shaper model stays in the line for only one season to see what happens. For starters, we have brainstormed with Nitro OG rider and Salt Lake City legend Drew Hicken over his vision of the ultimate Swallowtail Powder board. The result is the Stiletto RS 166. Get one while they’re out there! Also, we’re continuing our successful collaboration with Volcom on the Alternator and Ripper boards, as well as a Team binding, Venture Pro and Droid kids boots. Elias Elhard’s Santoku continues to be in the line, even though a massive crash has put a – hopefully temporary – halt to Elias’ riding last season. Instead, we’re using the board and parts of the revenues to support a social project that means a lot to Elias: Waves for Change is bringing underprivileged kids from South Africa to the ocean to boost their mental health through surfing. New to the line is a very special project with renowned Italian bike manufacturer Cinelli. During a chance meeting last year, we discovered that we are sharing many of the same values and decided to manifest these similarities with a capsule collection including a limited version of our new Phase board, apparel and – yes – two custom Nitro x Cinelli bicycles! Another OG rider has been commissioned to do the new graphic for the Beast: Lukas Goller contributed to this model with his unique style. Our Rider Hailey Langland has asked for a women’s version of the Alternator – and we delivered: The Alternator x Hailey And the Mercy sees an artist colab with Kathy Ager for another season of sophisticated graphics on this model.

Are you planning to focus on a special product range or type of customers? What’s your newest range?
At Nitro, we don’t like to get pigeon-holed and limited to one style of riding or one type of rider. We thrive though the respect for every level and style. This is why we take the same amount of pride in our exotic Quiver boards as we do in our latest model additions: The Phase and Nova, which are bringing the feel of an Alternator down to a more affordable price point for men and women.

Key Products:

Quiver Pow:
Don’t let the name fool you: This is the ultimate experience and a completely new kind of board in any terrain – off and on the slopes. We learned a lot from building and riding pow surfers: a low nose rise, pintail and 3D Surf Tech. Combined with a deep progressive sidecut, the Pow becomes the ultimate all-mountain pow carver and Tommy’s favourite board!

Alternator / Alternator x Hailey:
If you are looking for the most capable backcountry freestyle snowboard, designed and backed by the world’s best all-mountain pro riders, then the Alternator is your first choice. Its timeless directional silhouette, slightly oversized width, and loads of power under the hood will keep you charging through anything you point it at! For the all-mountain maniac!

Phase / Nova:
The new Phase and Nova models are designed for snowboard enthusiasts and daydreamers who enjoy creating their own paths through the trail map, seeking out sidehits, tree runs, or wide-open groomers. Nitro’s new affordable all-mountain cruiser with a medium and playful flex and perfectly matched widths will suit anyone from team riders to weekend warriors, looking for a versatile daily snowboard.