Elan snowboards

Infobox_Company
company_name = Elan Snowboards
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1987
location = Begunje, Slovenia
num_employees = 250
industry = Sporting goods
products = Snowboards, Bindings, Boots, Apparel; others
revenue = profit4 million EUR (2003)
homepage = [http://www.www.elansnowboards.com/ www.elansnowboards.com]

Elan Snowboards is one of the world's largest producer of high-end snowboards and produces boards since 1987. The Elan Snowboards factory is located in Furnitz, Austria, while the company headquarters is located in Begunje, Slovenia.

Company Information

With an Austrian factory Elan 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;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

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 are: Aleksi Vanninen, Anssi Manninen, Thomas Harstadt, Matevz Pristavec, Domen Bizjak, Flo Mausser, Friedl May, Bruno Rivoire, Alan Finlay, Neil Conolly and Matti Rautanen. The female line Elan Chicas is represented by team riders like: Lisa Filzmoser, Dominique Vallée and Conny Bleicher.

Products

All in all Elan sells 23 snowboard series in various sizes as well as bindings, boots, bags and apparel. The top of the line freestyle boards are the Inverse (lightest board in the world), Answer, Artec 4.1, Artec 4.2, Artec 4.3 and Trinity (lightest women’s board in the world). The top of the line freeride boards are the Vertigo, El Grande (widest board in the world), Ascent and Sense.

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

External links

* [http://www.elansnowboards.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.artecsnowboards.com/ Artec Project]
* [http://www.artecsnowboards.com/blueprint/ Artec Project Blueprint]
* [http://www.elanchicas.com/ Elan Chicas]