Time really does fly when you are having fun. Westbeach has been going now for 27 years, that's right since 1979. A lot has happened since. Bindings got real straps, "kicktails" were invented, twin shapes introduced, low backs, baseless bindings, waterproof jeans, then fat pants, headbands, Sorels, then the first snowboard specific boots, neon, the US Open, then the Westbeach Classic, rodeos, then backside rodeos, the Olympics. Wow. Westbeach has grown up snowboarding. Check out our history on the timeline below.
1979 Westbeach founded in Calgary as a shop.
1980 The party really gets going.
1981 Burton introduces it's legendary Backhill board.
1984 Michael Jackson's "Thriller" rocks the nation.
1987 Westbeach is one of first companies to make snowboard specific outerwear and the Westbeach Vancouver store is founded.
1989 Westbeach Classic starts. Rob Rebagliati wins the halfpipe event and gets the cover of Transworld that day.
1990 The Westbeach Three surfer logo introduced. Soon after becomes iconic.
1991 "The Westbeach Canada Snowboard Classic" moves to Blackcomb. Rob Morrow wins Pipe. Many years of mayhem ensue. Cheers to good times!
1992 Kevin Young wins "The Westbeach Classic" while riding for WB. Teammate Devun Walsh and him introduce the "jam format". Seen for the first time, now the norm.
1993 WB team included Devun Walsh, Kevin Young, Dionne Delasalle, Roberta Rodger, John Boyer, and Sluggo. Best team on the block. Period. And better yet, good to see all still kicking ass.
1993 WB introduces "Gunz Jeans", a.k.a. oversized jeans, to market and defines the look of snowboard outerwear. Other companies follow the style while skiers take ten years to catch on.
1993 Salomon buys Bonfire Snowboarding. Corporate schmorporate.
1993 Kevin Young on Westbeach, and Ingemar Backman, pioneer the rodeo flip. All next season kids crash on their heads' trying to get inverted.
1994 "The Westbeach Classic" includes new event, the "Boardercross". Terje Haakonsen wins both the Halfpipe and Boardercross events. WB cheerleaders break men's hearts leaving them lusting for more.
1996 Todd Richards wins newly introduced "The Westbeach Classic Big Air event". Fireworks and nudity ensue.
1996 Westbeach opens European Headquarters in Innsbruck.
1997 Westbeach rider Chris Brown wins "The Westbeach Classic Big Air" in front of 10,000 at the bottom of Whistler. Hot tubs, nudity, booze, parties, and fireworks ensue.
1997 Westbeach becomes affiliated with Morrow Snowboards.
1998 Kevin Sansalone wins "The Westbeach Classic Big Air".
1998 Westbeach continues to help millions get laid worldwide.
1998 Westbeach team comprised of Tyler Lepore, Josh Dirksen, Andrew Crawford.
1999 Intrawest buys the right to the Classic and it has not been staged since.
2000 Snowboarding goes to the Olympics. Jocks still suck. Ross makes a comeback, as a pot head snowboard slalom racer.
2001 Skiers start copying snowboarders more than ever. Trend will continue till present day.
2004 Westbeach rider Marc Andre Tarte does the first ever cab 1260 in the Innsbruck Air & Style.
2005 Westbeach opens stores two more stores in Europe, Innsbruck and Bristol.
2006 Westbeach releases Phenom Jacket. The world's first breathable, waterproof, photo luminescent jacket.
