The Prior Story

1990		The quest for the perfect snowboard began. Chris Prior began making snowboards in the winter to compliment his well-known sailboard manufacturing business in Lion's Bay, BC, Canada.
1996		Athletes riding Prior snowboards win several world cup events. Chris moved the Prior operation out of his garage and began making premium, handcrafted snowboards full time.
1998		Prior Snowboards now offers a complete line of snowboards including: World Cup Race, 4WD, Men's and Women's Freerides, and Freestyle shapes in several widths and lengths.
1999		Snowboarders riding Prior win three World Cup races and had more than 10 podium finishes.
2000		Prior moves its manufacturing facility to Whistler, BC - its testing ground for the last decade. Every Prior board is now handcrafted in Whistler. Factory upgrades and quick access to research and development on Whistler's mountains bring continued product improvements. Prior Backcountry Splitboards are introduced.
2001		New website is launched allowing customers to choose between various top sheets on any Prior model. Prior swallowtail Pow-Stick is released. Prior Swallowtail Splitboard is released. Prior partners with Voile Equipment - All Prior Splitboards now come with Voile Kit and skins.
2002		All-Mountain Freestyle model released in 7 lengths. Magestic model for women released in 9 lengths. 154cm Backcountry Splitboard for women released. Prior athletes continue to do well with several victories and podium finishes in major snowboard competitions around the globe.
2003		Prior introduces quadraxial weave fiberglass as an upgrade to many Prior styles. Prior athletes win several national and international titles. Prior begins testing skis.
2004		January 1 - Prior moves into new expanded custom factory in Whistler. January 30 - New Khyber tight tree powder board released in three lengths. September 7 - Khyber Splitboard released in 3 lengths. October 1 - New Prior ski released in 6 lengths; hereafter called the "Original". December 1 - 149cm Backcountry Splitboard introduced.
2005		August 26 - ATV carving board for hard and soft boot riders introduced in three lengths. - Khyber and Khyber splitboard now offered in 150 and 170cm lengths. October 4 - ATV Splitboard introduced. This is the world's first splitboard designed for hardboot riders. - New Dough Boy and Sister ski styles released.
2006		January 16 - Prior releases WCR Metal Series with titanium/carbon construction. Prior athletes again win national, international and world titles.
2007		March 9 - Spearhead style released in four lengths. This evolutionary design has been more than 16 months in R&D and offers new performance for big- mountain freeriding and powder. - Carbon Khyber splitboard 165cm released - this is the world's first commercially available carbon splitboard and offers significant weight savings compared with traditional fiberglass. August 17 - Spearhead Splitboard released in four sizes offering another high performance powder board for self- ascending snowboarders. - Prior offers one of the most extensive, high-performance snowboard lines found anywhere. Prior Snowboards continues to be driven by a singular goal: "to make the best performance snowboards - as determined by its customers." That vision and the Prior story continue...