BoardsportSource Issue #123 Jan/Feb 2025
Let’s start with some festive cheer – Happy New Year! We certainly need some of that. Most brands will be happy to see the back off 2024, with difficult being the polite way of describing the overall business environment. We are still in the grasp of covid’s impact on our business cycles and this looks likely to continue. Summer boardsports are still seeing way below normal demand but soon all the product bought during the short covid buying frenzy will need replacing and probably a lot of it all at the same time. But will retailers have these products in stock? As neither shops are willing to make pre-bookings nor brands willing to take a punt on ordering product from factories at their own risk.
But 2025 should be better than 2024 as shops stock levels are falling, demand in some product categories is getting stronger and Papa Noel has bought us a white Christmas present in most of Europe, whilst North America has been blessed with better snow conditions than in the last couple of seasons.
This brings us nicely onto our second issue of the winter and with white slopes all around, long may it continue. Our Big Wig is Brian Cook of Thirtytwo, he’s been with the brand for 25 years and has seen it all and continues to bring a passion to this emblematic rider-driven brand.
As usual for this time of year the issue is stuffed with winter retail buyer’s guides including 2025/26 snowboards, helmets, protection, men’s and women’s outerwear and baselayers, as well as snowboard and outerwear pictorials. We also take a look at wetsuits and skate footwear, and have five profiles to keep you informed of what brands in the industry are up to. So, see you somewhere in the UK, France, Austria or the USA and hopefully with a continuation of our white winter.
Onwards, Upwards and Sideways
Clive Ripley
Publisher
