
Overlooking Emerald Bay 📷 CT Sanders
For the Love of Tahoe – My Early Days of Snowboading
Determined to start a new chapter in my life, I pointed west towards the Sierras, guided by my love of skiing and desire to live in California. After days on Interstate 80, I veered off and chugged up Spooner Summit above Reno, Nevada. At 35mph, cars whizzed past in slushy defiance. We crested the summit as snow flurries revealed the vast expanse of blue-grey white caps spread out below– Lake Tahoe. Through the tears I realized I would never go back. I was home.

Heavenly View 📷 CT Sanders

Finless Freedom 📷 CT Sanders
From that day on, Chris applied finless ski-tech to the designs. His home-built presses were modified to include camber, sidecut, and metal edges. And that is how all boards are built to this day.
When I look back, I can’t help notice how few female voices were heard in the early days of snowboarding. Remember, we were there, too, so I hope it inspires us to tell the whole story. Mine was a good one. Three decades later, I’m still in love with the man, the sport, and the Lake.
