ARBOR CELEBRATES EIGHT YEARS OF USING BAMBOO TO STRUCTURALY AND AESTHETICALLY ENHANCE ITS SNOWBOARDS

January 22nd, 2008 - With the launch of Arbor’s 2009 collection, the company will mark eight-years using bamboo as a structural and aesthetic material in the construction of its snowboards. Arbor’s use of bamboo began in 2001 with the introduction of its Mystic Series. Back then, the decision was made to add bamboo to Arbor’s list of environmentally friendly, natural construction materials for several important reasons:

1. Bamboo is the most renewable, sustainably grown material known to man. Bamboo is a self-propagating grass that grows incredibly fast - rapidly, continuously, and safely delivering more raw material per acre than any other natural fiber. This makes bamboo the most renewable construction material available today. Bamboo production is also remarkably sustainable because bamboo is inherently organic. No pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irrigation, or detrimental cultivation practices are required for bamboo to achieve its amazing renewability.

2. Bamboo works as a structural component improving performance. By adding bamboo components into a wood core, Arbor is able to radically increase board power and durability. Bamboo is one of the strongest materials on the planet. It has 40 times the effective life of carbon fiber and provides 60% more return than traditional core materials. Bamboo also has a tensile strength and weight-to-strength ratio superior to steel; yet it is light, flexible, and resistant to compression.

3. Because bamboo is an active structural material, Arbor is able to design with lighter glasses and thinner cores. Arbor’s designers are able to achieve an equivalent target flex, improved pop/return, and reduce board weight without sacrificing durability or performance.

4. By using lighter glasses in the construction of its bamboo-reinforced boards, Arbor signifigantly reduces its overall reliance on chemically treated fiberglass as well as its use of petroleum-based resin - as lighter glass requires/absorbs less resin.

Arbor’s bamboo core technology has evolved into two separate designs that are now referred to as the Mystic 1 Core - used in the Arbor Westmark, and the Mystic 2 Core - used in the Arbor Coda. Each is designed to deliver riding-style-specific performance. Both Mystic Cores blend bamboo with sustainably sourced poplar, creating two of the most technically advanced, responsibly produced cores on the market.

In 2005 - Arbor followed up its pioneering development of bamboo-reinforced cores with the introduction of structural bamboo veneer topsheets. The decision to expand Arbor’s use of bamboo was made to further reduce its reliance on petroleum-based resin and chemically treated fiberglass, while adding an additional level of performance to its designs. At the same time, Arbor wanted to add the visual look and feel of bamboo to its line up.

Bamboo veneer not only creates a clean, Zen flavor - it also works like a 3rd layer of fiberglass. During construction resin locks the dense natural fibers in place, creating a composite layer that structurally enhances a board, providing added return and durability, while allowing for important weight reduction. Today, Arbor’s structural bamboo topsheets are available on the Coda, Roundhouse, and the women specific Push.

“Over the years, we have had great success using bamboo to improve the performance and durability of our boards. Bamboo has allowed us to offer a unique level of style and create an uncompromising environmental alternative. We are stoked to see other companies exploring bamboo’s benefits. It’s good for the planet and its good for snowboarding. In the end, we’re honored to have our efforts further legitimized by the competition’s use of a material that we worked hard to develop and introduce. Today, we also use bamboo to improve our apparel and skateboards. We believe bamboo to be an amazing material that holds a ton of promise for the planet,” Bob Carlson, Arbor’s President and founder.

Arbor was founded in 1995 on the assertion that solutions to many of today’s most difficult snow, skate, and apparel design challenges exist in the natural world. For 13 years, Arbor has built on this belief - replacing, environmentally harmful materials with ecologically based, natural alternatives. The goal is to create a higher level of function and relevance, in the most responsible way possible. The result has been improved style and performance, with significantly reduced environmental impact. We all need clean air to skate, clean water to surf, and snow to ride…