06 The Future of Powsurfing: A Core Movement in the Making

It’s 1996, and you're out there trying to land a frontside 360 off the toes, pretending you're Jamie Lynn, with Pennywise blasting in your ears.
Fast forward 30 years—you can still chase that feeling. Whether it's by throwing 3  in the backcountry or recreating a whole new thrill: riding bindingless through deep powder with Pennywise still echoing in your head.

And here’s the magic—by doing so, you’re not just chasing dopamine. You’re unintentionally writing the new history of powsurfing, much like snowboarders did during the golden years of snowboarding.

What's so exciting about powsurfing?
The book isn’t written yet.
Nobody knows exactly how it will evolve. Documenting the history of powsurfing is already tough—facts are scattered, stories untold. Predicting its future? Even harder.
Still, after 10 years of living and breathing powsurfing—and hearing predictions from snowsport industry experts—here’s my take.

Powsurfing's Bright Future: What the Trends Say

Despite shorter winters, the global snowsport industry is growing and is expected to expand even further by 2030. In fact, during the 2024/2025 season, American ski resorts had 61.5 million visitors. This marks the second-highest number of visits of all time, behind the 2023/2024 season, which is viewed as a post-COVID surge and considered an anomaly.
While small ski resorts are closing, the big ones are overcrowded like never before. The demographics are also shifting: from local die-hards to weekend tourists traveling in from larger cities

For powsurfing, this is a massive opportunity.
Unlike traditional snowboarding or skiing, powsurfing doesn’t demand giant infrastructure—no chairlifts, no expensive tickets. It’s more accessible and inclusive to locals living near snowy mountains or regions with frequent snowfall.

Sure, powsurfers will still travel for the best powder—just like surfers chase swells—but for many, the barrier to entry is lower:

• No lift tickets needed
• Equipment can be cheaper (or even home-built)
• No massive resorts necessary

This opens the door for a new generation of riders, not just former snowboarders searching for a new thrill, but also skateboarders, surfers, skiers, parkour enthusiasts, mountain bikers... who have never touched a snowboard.

Social media plays a big part too.
One epic clip of a rider spraying powder can inspire thousands—and grow the stoke around powsurfing.

Today, the scene is driven by core riders and legends. But tomorrow?
We need the younger generation to take the reins if we want powsurfing to truly explode.

Attracting the Next Generation

If companies want powsurfing to boom, they must support young riders—help them become powsurfing superstars.
Youngsters are fearless, creative, and willing to push the limits. They can take powsurfing to a place we can’t even imagine today.

Expect riding styles to evolve:

• Tricks blending surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding
• New types of boards for different terrains
• Even more creativity and freedom of expression

Still, at its heart, the simple pow turn will always be king.
It’s universal, relatable, and timeless—the feeling that hooks riders for life.

Will Powsurfing Stay Raw and Core?

Right now, there are already organized events and gatherings, like those hosted by Äsmo, Grassroots or Powsurf tours in Japan. In the coming years, we’ll see even more meetups, demos, and contests dedicated to powsurfing.

More and more online and even brick-and-mortar powsurfing stores are beginning to emerge, like Slasher in Norway.

But the heart of it all remains the same: no pressure, no money — just pure fun.

And we should protect that spirit.
Remember the old saying from early snowboarding days:

"Snowboarding was better when they hated us."

Still, evolution is inevitable.
There’s always a risk that big corporations might eventually eye powsurfing—but given its niche appeal and lower commercial potential compared to skiing or snowboarding, it will likely stay more underground and rider-driven.

Powsurfing in 2040: My Vision

By 2040, I believe powsurfing will evolve into an even more diverse and creative movement:

• Street riders throwing tricks on freestyle powsurfs built for rails and jibbing

• Backyard shredders riding lines on self-made DIY boards

• Big mountain explorers using split-surfs, hybrid boards, approach boards ... to access untouched terrain

• Resort cruisers riding hybrids or versatile powsurfs designed to handle all conditions, from groomers to deep powder 

Powsurfing won’t just grow — it’ll branch out in every direction, driven by passion, innovation, and play.

We might even see:

• Designated powsurf zones at larger resorts
• Dedicated powsurfing magazines (check instagram profiles @ThePowsurfJournal, @DigMyPowsurf)
• New brands born from today’s home builders
• Every core snowboard brand offering at least one powsurfer in their lineup
• powsurfing schools 

Contests will emerge—maybe Powder Banked Slaloms, King of the Hill-style battles, or even creative rail jams for powsurfers.

Olympics?
Probably not.
Powsurfing will likely stay too core, too raw for the mass-market machine.
But hey, people said the same thing about skateboarding and snowboarding once...

Closing Thoughts

Powsurfing has a bright future.
You can be part of it.
Stay true, stay core, and keep the stoke alive.

I’m already dreaming about a perfect powsurf day in 2040.
Stay tuned for my next blog post where I take you there.

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