On a recent trip out to Denver we decided to pay Never Summer a short visit. Never Summer manufacturers all their longboards and snowboards on the premises in Denver, Colorado, so we knew we were in for a quite a tour.
Our host was Sean MacAllister, their VP of all things Longboarding. Sean's been with the company since they entered the longboarding market back in 2007. As we walked the halls of their various manufacturing areas you can tell Sean takes a lot of pride in Never Summer. Whether bragging about a particular worker, or taking control of one of the machines, you can tell Sean has a great deal of influence and control over Never Summer's approach to longboarding.
Sean MacAllister of Never Summer
The tour started in the Never Summer offices. Longboards, snowboards, vintage, old and new, adorn the walls and cubes of the various office workers. A couple snowboards on the walls remind us that we are very much in the heart of a snowboard company.
The backside of Sean's office
Our tour continued into the factory. From here we were able to watch a board being laid out for the first time. From template, to wood plys, to fast trying resin... the assembly all happens in a matter of a couple minutes.
Handcrafted and individually made
Never Summer takes a lot of pride in the names and graphics that go on their boards. From Descent, to Soldier, to Norad... there's a certain Colorado feeling to their graphics and naming schemes. Whether you like the graphics Never Summer has chosen or don't, we think you'll agree that they have a unique approach and once again you see the snowboarding influence driving this aspect of their skate product as well.
Examples of Never Summer's 2010 Skate Graphics
Next we moved on to the room where the boards, with resin now dry, get cut and sanded. Not a place you want to hang out in too long, but definitely worth a view if you ever stop by. These machines automate the initial cutting, drilling and sanding process. They are followed by a more manual process of perfecting what the machines started. The boards are then stacked and sent over for the final finish work and assembly.
Cut, drill, sand, & brush and repeat...
Vintage Never Summer Logo & Vintage Daddies Board Shop Sticker if you look close
The tour continued on to the assembly area. Sean has focused the Never Summer business around selling completes. So you'll find the guys busy at work turning those decks into complete longboards ready to be shipped out to Sean's growing list of Never Summer Authorized Dealers.
All in all, Never Summer is one of the few companies that manufactures their decks onsite, in their own factory. Never Summer customers can take pride that their board is manufactured in the US, and particularly in Colorado. Never Summer snowboards are manufactured in the same location, by many of the same employees that manufacture their longboard line.
As a 20 year plus avid snowboarder, the heavy influence of snowboarding on the Never Summer brand and line of longboards is an attractive and appealing aspect that separates Never Summer from the current pack of longboard-only companies.
Look for an upcoming Skate[Slate] review in the weeks ahead of Never Summer 's speed board, the Soldier Drop-Thru.
