Photo: Jason Badgley
written by Alex de Roulet,
Sentury snowboards
It is human nature to crave a sense of belonging; our nation was founded on the concept of an egalitarian brotherhood. Simply put, I never expected to find that quality in a snowboard company. Riding is a lifestyle, and many of us plan out our year accordingly. So, two months ago I called Ben Harmon out of the blue, and asked for a job with Sentury Snowboards. After much thought, he gave me a chance to prove my worth.
In the following weeks I became more involved, and met more of our team. While each person I met offered a unique quality, all shared the same liveliness. This sense of camaraderie is not shared solely by those directly involved, but with anyone who simply chooses to associate (or chooses to drink the cool-aid). All joking aside, there is an ambience, and undeniable energy shared by all involved. It seems as though everyone is rooting for the little guy.
On Saturday October 11, at the Mt. Bleu casino in South Lake we all stood in shock and awe. First Tracks Productions premiered this year’s movie “Knock on Wood” and the turn out was absolutely epic. We expected and outcome of 200-300 and we estimated significantly more than that showed up; when movie let up the Opal Lounge had a “record turn out.” To put it lightly, we were stoked. South Lake’s very own Cody Lewis and Chase Herriman combined forces in awe-inspiring segment that triggers your riding withdrawal. Whether it was Cody playing in the powder field pillows or Chase’s back flip to the attempted Guillotining/decapitation of Cody; Sentury is knocking down doors.
Two weeks later the team convened once more at a little event known as “Jibastic.” Each year thousands of diehard “winter sport enthusiasts” anxiously await Boreal’s triumphant opening. John Slaughter is responsible for this opening season party, which each year boasts a turn out of a couple hundred, to a couple thousand. On behalf of the Sentury Snowboard team, John deserves a huge “that-a-boy!” That is how events are supposed to be run, and we look forward to attending more events in the future.
As the team gathered around Sentury’s tent watching the competition, everyone became anxious. Finally one of the riders blurted it out, “Do you guys want to come back tomorrow?” That Sunday at Boreal, hiking the patch over and over again, was more fun that anyone could have anticipated. The Sentury Team, twenty deep, showed up amped and took charge of the patch. Sitting there while drinking a rather tasteless yellow fizzy beer, (Which for the record did when an award) my eyes began to wander. It was a rather humbling experience. Among the sea the jibbers was an ocean of Sentury Snowboards.
It was that Sunday that I learned the lesson of humility. Unlike the rest of our family, I for some unknown reason, feel it is appropriate or necessary to instigate competition. This is not prudent when in the company of riders claiming several National Titles. Shortly after we began our session, it was apparent why I am not a paid athlete. While unfortunately I was demoted to the rank of rookie, our random heroes had “clocked in.” Whether it was Greg Haverberg’s massive front flips (off a 3 foot lip) to “butter Nine the C-box,” or Chase Herriman’s MASSIVE “Tranny Finders”(hehe…); our riders are “on point.” Our little jam up at Boreal shook the snowboarding/skiing community in the local regional area. This is for one simple reason, we believe in us, but so does the community. We are involved with Sentury because this is what we love to do.
Now leading the team is snowboard legend Sean Craddick; and if you haven’t heard of him, you are probably too young to drive. Sean for the last six year has been running his business Champion Coaching and before that taught at Wendell’s, and Camp of Champions in Canada. If that’s not enough for you Craddick is coming from 22 National Titles in both slope-style and pipe. His knowledge of the sport, ability to mold talented athletes in top competitors, and his perpetual enthusiasm makes him a cherished asset to the Sentury Team.
Less than a decade ago, the snowboarding trend took hold of the market place and three hundred different companies struggled for supremacy. Upon walking into any snow-sport retailer today the conglomerated twelve dictate trends, squashing any chance of opposition. That has changed, Sentury’s arrival can only be compared to that of the 1980’s Lake Placid US Hockey team. Each individual plays an integral part in our overall success. Ben Harmon Owner/CPE (chief production engineer) graduated from UNR with a Masters in Engineering and it is his devotion to creating the perfect product that ensures consumer satisfaction. Ben has spent that last 7 years researching, creating, and testing our product, it is his diligence that his co-workers and teammates attempt to emulate.
Slowly building up steam, tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s, is our manufacturing warehouse in Reno. Our twice-dried vertically laminated aspen cores provide unparalleled performance and durability, and on average our decks are a pound lighter than our competitors. Die-sublimated top-sheets ensure crisp and clean graphics; and tri-axial fiberglass dampens potential chatter, increases torsional rigidity, and lengthens the life span of the board.
Whether it is in South Shore, Truckee, Sac or Reno, the presence of Sentury Snowboards is growing. We are a team of local mountain super heroes dedicated to the sport we love. Everyday we grow a little more, ensuring we maintain personal relationships with our clients, as well as our consumers. Team unity strengthens everyday a little more, and we are slowly diversifying into other aspects of the sport. All we have to do is get our foot in the door, and our product will do the talking for us. Most importantly remember this one phrase, “Go Fast, Take Chances!”
~see you on the hill
Sentury Snowboards
Shred Union
xadness
levityisland
nycboarder
iamapparel
kevlar23
angrysnowboarder
mascha
shredbetties and 
Marsolek are discussing. 
Burton realizes this as well. Who hasn’t heard of their Love boards?