Industry rumors were flying last week as an announcement was made by Echelon Snowboards that they were onshoring their production to the U.S. – specifically Michigan.
Our friend David over at Agnarchy.com went digging (hat tip to David for the quotes), while we considered Shaggy’s Copper Country Skis in Boyne City, Michigan to be the likely subject to manufacture the boards.
In a statement from Echelon, they elude to some of the reasons why it’s taken so long to onshore production.
“Why did it take this long? Well because we didn’t set out to just compete with a cookie cutter product based on blind nationalism, we set out to dominate on quality and performance. It has always been our dream to find a US production partner that shared our mindset and understood you can’t get 21st century results from outdated thinking and materials while using thirty-year-old equipment. Point blank, that isn’t how we roll.”
David from Agnarchy.com added:
“It’s promising to me, that a company like Echelon — a small company in a really competitive and seasonally fickle industry, chooses Michigan over any number of low(er) cost production facilities. They’re obviously confident that by building boards in Michigan, they can put out better products that people will be willing to pay for.”
It’s no secret Michigan has been a resource of manufacturing for years. From the early days at Ford Motor Co. to the most recent watch making endeavors of Shinola, Michigan’s manufacturers have the chops to build high-quality products.
Enter Shaggy’s – run by the Thompson family up in Boyne City, Michigan. Jeff is a manufacturing engineer, a ripper on skis who is hellbent on making the best product possible. Put John into the mix who has years of construction knowledge and a ski background that is steeped in going fast and having gear that’s extremely durable. Shaggy’s has continued to make investments in their equipment, process design and materials to produce the quality snowboard that Echelon is looking for. All while being able to take feedback and quickly make changes to their boards, reacting quickly to rider differences.
That’s not to say other ski and snowboard manufacturers in the state couldn’t hack it. It’s just that all signs point to a solid foundation to produce for Echelon.
Consider Denver based Never Summer Industries and what’s produced in their facility. Never Summer Snowboards, Icelantic Skis, High Society Freeride Co. Not necessarily a Never Summer design, these companies are taking advantage of the fact that NS has it figured out. Their manufacturing is streamlined and able to produce a high quality product for them here in the U.S.
Cheers to Echelon for not only making the move onshore, but making the move to onshore production to Michigan. Pumped to have you in the state!
Written by: J. Dodge