Vimana Snowboards 2024/25 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboards FW24/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Vimana
Interviewee: Tronna

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?
We believe the snowboard market is quite healthy at the moment. Hype on Snowboarding is strong, but has definitely changed in the past couple of years. Snowboarding is a lifestyle for a lot of people, but a lot of riders see it more as an activity than a lifestyle. We still focus on making professional equipment at the best possible price points. Vimana will continue to have a range of strictly high-end products and at the same time aiming at price points from entry level to high range.

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?
Logistics and getting the right raw material is always a challenge. Our main office is in Norway but our warehouse is in the EU. We have found a better way of doing logistics streamlined from both locations. Regarding product pricing, we aim to offer price points without compromising performance. For 2024/25 Vimana will have products all the way down to entry level price points.

After last winter and the lack of snow in Europe, what’s your overall sales and production/inventory strategy for 24/25?
We produce in limited quantities and are very aware of not over-producing. The past years has shown us that Vimana has a strong sell-through with hardly any products going on discounted sale. This will also be our strategy moving forward.

SNOWBOARD SPECIFIC

What trends or developments are you seeing with regards to board construction, shapes, and general innovation? How is this shaping your 24/25 range?
At Vimana, the have direct impact on every single product we make. This is ensure there is no product that does not fit a specific need. For the 24/25 line we have made a lot of improvements and will introduce some all new shapes. One of the boards I am personally excited about is the new Vufo, this has always been one of our best sellers. And this year I think we stepped it up a notch. Full camber twin tip all mountain board, one of my favourite balanced rides.

Anything new concerning sustainability and related product or construction you would like to highlight?
We strive to make the best choices on every crossroad when it comes to sustainability. Fex, our wood is from a sustainable wood, only a couple of km from our factory. The paint used in silkscreen also has very low impact. At the moment we are testing out different new Co2 neutral materials to see what our next green step will be.

Are you using any new materials in your hardware 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 / etc. here. We are so happy with our wood cores and will stick with poplar wood. We have been testing some new fibers and all boards are now equipped with triax fibers and our carbon/Kevlar blend. Still using a sintered 7200 base on most boards.

The Vufo

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 24/25 gear? Any collabs on the line?
Shallowtree is doing all our artwork, he has pointed the new lineup in a exciting new direction while still keeping it within the Vimana universe.

Are you planning to focus on a special product range or type of customers? What’s your newest range?
At Vimana we aim to cover any type and skillset of snowboarders. Most of our boards are super easy ridden and you will be best friends with the board straight away. This is why any shop employe can easily sell Vimana to all riders looking for a new whip. There are boards in the line that purely focus on experienced riders, like the Meta and Werni`s signature board. These boards will give you insane power and might not be the best for beginners.

What is your top product marketing story for next season?
True team driven range of snowboards. Paramount materials and the most balanced boards on the market.

The Meta