Elan Snowboards
| Private | |
| Industry | Sporting goods |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Begunje, Slovenia |
| Products | Snowboards, Bindings, Boots, Apparel; others |
| Revenue |
 4 million EUR (2003) |
Number of employees | 250 |
| Website | www.elansnowboards.com |
Elan Snowboards is a member of Slovenian ski company Elan Group and is one of the world's largest producer of high-end snowboards and produces boards since 1987. While the company headquarters with the rest of Elan Group is located in Begunje, in north-western part of Slovenia, the production of snowboards takes place in the neighboring country - in Furnitz, Austria.
Company Information
With an Austrian factory this Slovenian company continues to drive development trends. The Elan research and development team is the company's best asset. Innovation, experience, and performance through years of industry-first designs has given Elan a unique perspective on snowboard design, as an approach focused on the creation of decks that help those who ride them, ride better.
As a sub brand of Elan Snowoards the Artec Project by Elan was launched in 2004. The Artec Project combines experience and vision to create true innovation. Artec snowboards are designed from the outside in and function defines their form. Artec Project boards aim at the core freestyle snowboarders.
In 2006/07 Elan Snowboards introduced the Elan Chicas program. For the first female specific program Elan enlisted the expertise of their female team riders like Lisa Filzmoser, Conny Bleicher and Dominique Vallée and designers and gave them the freedom to create innovative and unique products to meet the demands of today's women snowboarders. As this program launched, the Elan Chicas website became a meeting place for all girls to exchange their experiences and meet the Chicas team riders.
History
- 1987
- Elan produces the first snowboards
- 1988
- Start of the regular snowboard production at the Elan factory in Austria
- 1997
- Nale snowboard brand was launched
- 1999
- Elan Snowboards brand was launched
- 2001
- Marco Siffredi makes the first complete descent from Mt. Everest on a Elan snowboard called Everest
- 2003
- Elan produces the first two-piece sidewall on the market
- 2004
- The Artec Project by Elan was launched
- 2004
- Elan Snowboards introduces the Inverse — the lightest board in the world
- 2005
- Elan Snowboards introduces the patented DG Top technology
- 2005
- Elan Snowboards introduces the patented Omega sidecut technology
- 2006
- Elan Chicas was launched. The first female specific program by Elan
- 2006
- Elan Snowboards introduces the El Grande — the widest board in the world
- 2006
- Artec Blue Print was launched. Design your board with your own custom made top graphics: www.artecproject.com/blueprint
- 2007
- Elan Snowboards wins the Volvo Design Award for the Artec Blue Print program
- 2007
- Elan Snowboards introduces the Vertigo – the first full alu board on the market
- 2008
- Artec becomes independent Snowboards Brand with its full line of products
- 2008
- Elan Snowboards introduced ECO wood cores
- 2008
- Elan Snowboards adds junior board with tip to tail wood core to its line
- 2008
- Elan Snowboards introduces Boomer Stances on its highlight boards
- 2012
- Elan Snowboards introduces ChromoTech technology
- 2013
- Elan announces consolidation of its snowboard programs. Artec Snowboards brand to be absorbed by Elan Snowboards
- 2013
- Elan declares bankruptcy of the Elan factory in Austria
- 2014
- Elan moves its snowboard production line to Begunje na Gorenjskem, Slovenija
Ideology
Elan Snowboards revolves all activities around the product and its performance value to riders at all levels. Improvement of the rider’s performance is the main goal.
Pro Riders
Riders of the Elan Snowboard team include; current pro riders: Gus Engle, Hans Ahlund, Nima Jalali, Gabe Taylor, Matevz Pristavec, Zach Rawles, Nejc Ferjan, Michael Roy, Veroniqi Hanssen former pro riders: Marco Siffredi Aleksi Vanninen, Anssi Manninen, Thomas Harstadt, Domen Bizjak, Flo Mausser, Friedl May, Bruno Rivoire, Alan Finlay, Neil Conolly and Matti Rautanen, Lisa Filzmoser, Dominique Vallée, and Conny Bleicher
Mike Basich
Products
All in all Elan sells 19 snowboard series in various sizes as well as bindings, boots, bags and apparel. The top of the line freestyle boards are the Inverse (one of the lightest board in the world), Element (ChromoTech), Lira (women’s board with ChromoTech ). The top of the line all mountain board is the El Grande (widest board in the world)
Awards
- 2007 Transworld Good Wood Award
- Inverse
- Artec 3.3
- Artec 3.2
- Prodigy
- Aurora
- 2007 Volvo Design Award
- Artec Blue Print Series
- 2007 Snow VIP Product
- Vertigo
- Inverse
- 2006 Snow VIP Product
- Ascent
- Artec 2.3
- 2014 Grade Eh Award by Snowboard Canada
- Prodigy