Nidecker
 | |
| Industry | Snowboard, Splitboard |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1887 |
| Founder | Henri Nidecker |
| Headquarters | Rolle, Switzerland |
| Brands | Nidecker, Flow, Jones Snowboards, YES., Now |
Number of employees | 200 |
| Subsidiaries | Low Pressure Studio - Bataleon, Rome, Switchback, Lobster |
| Website | www.ndk.group |
Nidecker (aka Nidecker Group) is a family-owned Swiss snowboarding company based in Rolle, Switzerland. Nidecker was founded in Etoy, Switzerland, in 1887.[1] They own and operate several snowboard product companies and brands including Flow, Jones, Nidecker, NOW and YES.[2] It is considered the second biggest snowboard company in the world.[3] The company was passed down 5 generations.[3] The Nidecker Group was formed in 2008[4] by three descendants of Henri: Cédric, Henry and Xavier Nidecker.[2][3] Henry Nidecker is the CEO of the company.[5]
In 2017 Nidecker bought American binding specialist Flow.[6] In 2018, they bought the brand Rome.[3]
History
[edit]
Nidecker was started by Swiss entrepreneur Henri Nidecker in 1887. The company began as an agricultural equipment maker for Swiss farmers on the shores of Lake Geneva.[1] Henri I was trained as carpenter and became a specialist in the "art of bending wood" [7] after purchasing the first electric motor in the region built for this purpose.[7]
It wasn't until 1912 however, that Nidecker began producing skis after Henri I's son, Henri II built produced their first pairs from ash.[7] By the 1940s Nidecker was well established in the production of skis and in 1946 Henri III created the world's first composite wood skis combing ash and hickory.[7]
Nidecker continued producing skis and in 1962 became one of the first companies to manufacture skis built with metal and fiberglass. In 1977, under the leadership of Henri IV,[7] Nidecker won a gold medal at the 6th International Ski Show in Geneva for their new ski skin system called the Varai-Clix.[4]
In 1984, Nidecker joined the snowboard market releasing their first series of 50 snowboards.[4] They then increased their manufacturing output to 700 snowboards in 1985.[7]
In 2008 the Nidecker Group was formed by Cédric, Henry, and Xavier Nidecker, the three sons of Henri IV.[4] Henry Nidecker became CEO of the company.[5] In 2009, in collaboration with Romain de Marchi, JP Solberg, and David Carrier Porcheron (DCP),[8] Nidecker launched YES.[4] The following year, in 2010, Nidecker partnered with professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones to launch Jones Snowboards.[4] In the same year YES. won EuroSIMA's Breakthrough Brand Award.[7]
In 2012 Nidecker launched NOW bindings in partnership with former professional snowboarder JF Pelchat.[9][4] Following on from their previous success[3] in 2017 Nidecker acquired the binding and boot manufacturer Flow.[4]
In 2018, the Nidecker Group acquired the Dutch-based company Low Pressure Studio, owners of Bataleon, Lobster, and Switchback,[10] at the same time adding Rome SDS joined Low Pressure Studio.[10]
In May 2024, the Nidecker Group acquired skateboarding brands etnies, éS, and Emerica, and snowboarding brand ThirtyTwo from Sole Technology. The acquisition signifies Nidecker's entrance into the skateboarding market.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Nidecker". Whitelines. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Big Wig Interview: Henry Nidecker Talks Competition, Evolving Retail Landscape & Acquisitions". Boardsport SOURCE. 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Nidecker, de la roue à la planche". Le Temps (in French). 2021-01-15. ISSN 1423-3967. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nidecker | History". www.nidecker.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ a b "Nidecker Brothers Acquire Rome SDS, and Bataleon Parent Low Pressure Studio | Shop-Eat-Surf". shop-eat-surf.com. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Media, First Tracks!! Online (2016-11-25). "Nidecker Group Acquires Flow Snowboarding". First Tracks!! Online Ski Magazine. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Nidecker Group | History: A Century of Ingenuity & Innovation". www.nidecker.group. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "YES. Snowboards | The Company". www.yesnowboard.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ "Now Bindings | About us". www.now-snowboarding.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ a b Connelly, Ollie (2018-09-11). "Nidecker Acquires Majority Stake In Low Pressure Studio: LPS' Dennis Dusseldorp Explains Details". Boardsport SOURCE. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- ^ Douglass, Rachel (30 May 2024). "Nidecker Group acquires Etnies, éS, Emerica and ThirtyTwo". FashionUnited. Retrieved 7 June 2024.