The World’s First Snowboard Company Is Still Redefining the Ride
- Jack Flynn
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 9
Nestled at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, Winterstick is more than a snowboard company — it’s the origin story of the sport itself. Founded in 1972 by Dimitri Milovich, a New Jersey surfer who looked at Utah’s powdery peaks and thought, “We can surf this,” Winterstick was pioneering freeride shapes and sidecuts long before the industry even had language for them.
More than fifty years later, the brand still operates with the same spirit of innovation and independence. Inside their small on-mountain factory — literally steps from the lift line — every single board is handcrafted from start to finish by just three people: President: Rob Lu, factory manager: Joey Davis, and Finish Tech: Bob Dea.
Unlike big-box brands, Winterstick doesn’t just tweak graphics or flex ratings — every board can be fully customized. Riders choose their shape, size, stiffness, construction, and top sheet to create a one-of-one snowboard built exactly for their riding style and terrain. It’s an intimate process, and it attracts a passionate audience — from Olympic gold medalists like Seth Wescott, an Owner/Rider/Shaper, to snowboard families teaching the next generation how to ride.
Despite its heritage, Winterstick has resisted the temptation to “scale fast.” Their focus isn’t on mass production — it’s on creating the best boards for the riders who value craft, performance, and story. That philosophy extends beyond their products: they’ve worked closely with the U.S. and Canadian Paralympic teams to design adaptive race boards for athletes like Noah Elliott, an ESPY-winning rider whose custom Winterstick boards push the limits of performance.
And while many other snowboard brands have shifted to lifestyle-driven business models, Winterstick remains dedicated to its roots. To ride a Winterstick isn’t just to buy a snowboard — it’s to own a piece of history and join a tight-knit community of riders who believe in quality over quantity.
For the people who know, Winterstick isn’t just a snowboard brand. It’s a movement — five decades in the making.
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