Truckee, California · Est. 2012
The Story
Thrive was founded on the importance of making snowboarding accessible to everyone. It is our goal to break down barriers of entry, allowing more people to enjoy the mountains.
On & off the snow
Community, coaching & design
Community
Thrive is dedicated to growing the sport of snowboarding. Our community network reaches around the globe. We arrange meetups at local resorts and shops, connecting riders from a wide range of backgrounds and regions. It's not just about selling gear. It's about offering a better experience that keeps riders coming back.
Coaching
Making progression into and within snowboarding easier means more people get involved and stay involved. Thrive supports riders by connecting them to instructors, educators and coaches, and by producing progression videos and materials, so the sport and lifestyle stay inclusive and accessible.
Design
Thrive products couple technology that enhances the rider's experience with art that expresses the vision and lifestyle of the sport. Every product is engineered to improve through simplicity and durability, with board shapes that integrate the science of how the body moves and artwork by professional artists.
Board shaper & co-founder
Doug Fagel
From a homebuilt skate park in the driveway, to teaching snowboarding at Whiteface, to a move to Truckee, and to a first hand-shaped board with Greg Wrobble. After years of coaching, product testing, and creating amazing connections, it set the stage. Alongside Michael Harrosh, they created the brand vision and journey. Thrive grew from there.
Read the founder story2011–2023
The journey
- 2011
The first three boards
The Beat, the Saber and The Rocker: hand-built prototypes that set the direction for every Thrive shape.
- 2012
Thrive is established
Rider-owned and based in Truckee, California, with a mission to improve everyone's experience on snow through community, education and design.
- 2012–13
The launch season
The first range reaches riders. Snowboard educators demo the boards, and independent reviewers like Shayboarder and AngrySnowboarder put Thrive gear to the test.
- 2013–14
Thrive Brand Store, Truckee Airport
Thrive opens its first brand store at the Truckee Airport: a showroom for the full line, with snowboard sales and demos.
- 2014
Thrive takes off
The Traveler carry-on launches on Kickstarter, the women's Prestige and Poise join the line, and Thrive riders land in SNOWBOARDER Magazine's terrain park photos of the week.
- 2014–15
Thrive Brand Store, Olympic Valley
A second season of retail, this time in Olympic Valley in partnership with Mtn Mikes.
- 2015
The full collection
Boards, luggage, board bags, outerwear and streetwear, all under one roof, launched with a cinematic #RIDETHRIVE campaign.
- 2016
Demos and a new horizon
Thrive demo centers open at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and in eastern Washington, and the brand begins expanding into Northeast China.
- 2017
Fifth anniversary
Every board in the line gets an anniversary edition.
- 2018
New artists
Flor De Pampi of Barcelona and Jamie Raezer of Breckenridge bring a fresh artwork identity.
- 2019
Into the backcountry
The Wilderness Split launches, and the first Thrive Riders Camp is held at Mammoth Mountain.
- 2021–22
The final line
The RGV2, Relentless Pro and Wilderness Splitboard, built with all-new materials.
- 2023
Hibernation
Thrive goes on an extended hiatus. The mission lives on.
2013–2015
The brand stores
Truckee Airport
The first Thrive Brand Store: the full board line on log-round stands, a wall of boards ready to demo, and the Traveler on display. Snowboard sales and demos under the Thrive banner.
Olympic Valley
For the 2014–15 season, Thrive opened a brand store in Olympic Valley in partnership with Mtn Mikes.
Truckee Airport · 2013–14
The showroom
Thrive China
Camps in Northeast China
Thrive first traveled to China in 2013 and found riders eager to learn. Partnering with the largest chain of snowboard shops in Northeast China, Thrive brought its boards and its coaching to a fast-growing snowboard scene, hosting Thrive China Camps at Wanda Changbaishan International Resort and Lake Songhua Resort.
From Jilin's Lake Songhua to the slopes of Changbaishan, the camps carried the Thrive mission of making snowboarding accessible to everyone halfway around the world.
Camps & demos
On the hill
Ride to Thrive days, demo tents at Tahoe resorts, demo centers at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and in eastern Washington, and the adult Riders Camp that started at Mammoth in 2019 with My Snow Coach.
Riders Camp
In the press
As seen on the hill
SNOWBOARDER Magazine
A Thrive rider on Heavenly's new wallride made the Top 28 Terrain Park Photos of the Week, February 2014.
Peak Media
Thrive boards in the air in the 2014 Mt. Spokane Daily film.
Shayboarder
Reviewed the Renegade in its first season and said it held up as an all-mountain freestyle board that could be a quiver killer.
Community news
The journal, 2017–2023
Dear Thrive Community
Thank you for the fantastic journey! Thrive is going to hibernate for the foreseeable future. Thrive is no longer in production on any products, which has been a tough…
Ride To Thrive 2022
Chasing powder, exploring the mountains, and shredding with friends is more than just how we survive. It is how we thrive! These Ride to Thrive Days are a great way to…
Thrive Branded Hats & Tees
Thrive Branded Hats and Tees now in stock! We appreciate you representing Thrive at home, in the mountains and on your travels. Thank you for spreading the Thrive love!…
Cerca Snowboard Film
Thrive Snowboards Team Rider Fede Romano represents in this year's Cerca Snowboard Film!! Película de snowboard Patagónico, filmada y producida completamente en…
Thriving to Protect Our Winters
DONATE TO POW We are those that chase the snow. We are those seeking adventure. We are those that dream of the perfect bluebird pow day. We are those that will commit to…
Snowboard Tech 2021
So much tech you can taste it! How do you make the perfect meal taste even better? Simple, you get better ingredients. Thrive Tech is a rider-focused design combined…
Thrive Community Update 2021 Boards
We are introducing our new line of 2021 Thrive Snowboards in the most popular sizes to help drive sales and rebuild the Thrive Snowboard Lineup. As a self-funded brand,…
Thrive Community Update 2020
What is happening at Thrive Snowboards? It has been a long time since we have posted an update to our Thrive Community. While things have been quiet, there has been a…
Introducing the Thrive Wilderness Splitboard
We are excited to introduce the new 2020 Thrive Wilderness Splitboard! We are shipping the limited first run of the 2020 pre-release boards now!! - Posted May 21, 2019…
Thrive Riders Camp at Mammoth
Thrive is hosting the first annual Thrive Riders Camp at Mammoth Mountain! This adult riders camp is the best place for riders to enjoy the spring riding of California…
Mountain Tips: Driving to the Ski Resort
Driving to the Mountains - Traffic and Supplies By Asa I know you’ve seen it before on TV: a fun-loving group of friends enjoying a weekend at a destination resort,…
Through Riders Eyes
TAHOE'S PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES DISCUSS THE CHANGING FACE OF SNOWBOARDING An excerpt from Moonshine Ink By: Sage Sauerbrey , Moonshine Ink Staff Thursday, February 8, 2018…
The Loss of a Legend
When a true legend comes into your life you generally know it from the start. Chris Anderson is a legendary individual and his love, compassion and smile will live on…
Meet the Rider - Patrick Pitter
Thrive Team Rider Patrick Pitter leads the charge for Thrive in Austria. Patrick is an inspiring rider that has endless passion for riding, building jumps and catching…
Riders Progress at Thrive International Camps
Why do snowboarders join Thrive Snowboard Camp? They are not only looking for mountain guides but professional educators that can deliver high end coaching to take their…
2018 Pre-Orders - SHIPPED!!
We are always excited to ship out our first boards of the season! Our Pre-Order Customers get their boards at the best early season prices and most importantly receive…
Truckee Named Coolest Ski Town
Truckee, California, USA has been named the coolest Ski (and Snowboard) Town in North America! As the home of Truckee based Thrive Snowboards, we are more than stoked to…
Meet the Artist: Flor De Pampi
Thrive is excited to introduce our new snowboard artist, Flor De Pampi. She has brought a fresh design style to Thrive that taps into the heart behind our boards and our…
Meet the Artist: Jamie Raezer
Originally from the Philadelphia area, Jamie is driven by sharing his passions for art, snowboarding, and rock climbing with his friends and family. His love for the…
2018 Thrive Snowboard Catalog
2018 Thrive Snowboard Catalog Take a look through our new catalog for all the new featured artwork for 2018! As well as a a fresh new look, Thrive will see a number of…
Don't Just Ride, Thrive!
An article by Asa Fountain In any venue, starting a new company from the ground up is a tall order, and in the snowboard industry where new brands seem to live and die…
Stomping Their Claim in the Sierra
"Tahoe-Truckee Companies Stomping Their Claim in the Sierra" TRUCKEE, Calif. — With top brands like Burton, Salomon and others dominating the ski and snowboard industry,…
Snowboard Music by 4cast
For those who love to get out & shred the fallen clouds, snowboarding is all about finding your flow, and dancing to the zen of the mountain. Incidentally, this is not…
Thrive Conduit Bindings Setup
How to adjust your bindings to your boots & mount them to your snowboard. What you will need: Tools: Screwdriver Philips Head #3 Optional: Tape Measure &…