08 Interview with Tyler Jarosz of Storm surf powder products

One day, I got an email from a guy I’d never heard of — Tyler — showing me his powsurfing products.
At first, I honestly thought, “What does this guy want with this email?” But curiosity won. I clicked through, started looking closer… and realized he was building something special. Not just cool gear, but innovations that could push powsurfing forward for the greater good of the movement.

We started exchanging photos of our projects, sharing ideas, and talking shop. Over time, it became clear that Tyler isn’t just another builder — he’s a machinist with a passion for problem-solving, a rider with a deep love for the mountains, and someone who’s quietly shaping the future of powsurfing through creativity and craftsmanship.

I knew I had to share his story here on Powsurfing and Beyond.

Tyler’s Journey: From Manufacturing to Powsurfing

Q: Let’s start with your story — can you share a short version of your journey so far?
I was introduced to manufacturing in high school and was intrigued by the potential to make anything I dreamed of. I have been an avid cyclist my whole life and aspired to make innovative bike components. After working in several machine shops, I went out on my own with the goal of producing a bike pedal with superior grip and traction over the current offerings. I was pushing my riding on rugged terrain and needed the confidence that my feet would stay on the pedals. Need drove my creativity and innovation with bikes and has similarly driven my desire to create my own powsurf boards.

First experience with powsurfing

Q: How and when did you first get into powsurfing?
I was introduced to powsurfing by a friend’s adult kid. I took him splitboarding and he was the first person to describe a powsurfer to me — he told me they even made split surfers. I was intrigued by the concept, and within a week I ordered my first surfer from Grassroots. The board was simple, elegant, and my first inspiration to make my own boards.

At the time I bought the board, there were no ascent bindings available and the technology for attaching the split surf halves together in surf mode was difficult to use. The places I ride involve significant approaches, and since I don’t use snowmobiles for access, this made things tricky. Before I could go powsurfing for the first time, I needed ascent bindings — so I made my own.

It just so happened that the owner of Grassroots was passing through town and reached out to me that same week. We went out in the mountains south of Bozeman, where I was lucky to experience powsurfing for the first time in 2019.

Pow days vs. splitboard days

Q: Do you still ride traditional snowboards on powder days, or is it 100% powsurf now?

During the deepest months of winter — January through March in southwest Montana — I primarily focus on powsurfing. I feel lucky to live where I do: high elevation, dry snow, and very few people, which means a long, productive powsurf season. In spring, when conditions are more variable, I switch my focus to chasing big mountain objectives on my splitboard.

Building innovative powsurf gear

Q: You’re building beautifully crafted, innovative powsurfs and hybrid boards. Are you selling them under your own brand, or aiming to collaborate with others?
What attracted me to innovating with powsurfers is the infancy of the sport — it’s fringe, still finding its feet. I saw an opportunity to express my approach to the mountains through the boards and accessories I make. I hope my products allow people to experience powsurfing in a different way and make the sport more approachable.

Right now, I don’t have a vision for commercializing my brand, Storm Surf Powder Products. I’m more interested in innovating and collaborating with others who are pioneering in their own ways, and assisting other brands with surf accessories and manufacturing needs. I enjoy seeing the boards others are building and understanding their approaches. I do hope to make powsurfing more attainable by sharing my designs and collaborating.

The concept behind the designs

Q: Where did the concept for your current designs come from?
The canvas is completely open for powsurfing. I choose to ride under my own power, and the terrain I have access to shaped my approach. Long approaches on summer single tracks led me to develop more efficient ways of getting into and out of the mountains.

I first tried using a kids’ snowboard stashed on the trail for the ride out, but carrying an extra board quickly lost its appeal. Necessity drove me to create powsurf accessories that fit my needs.

My vision was to ride powsurfers the way I ride snowboards — with speed, control, float, maneuverability, and grip for big mountain terrain. I’ve tailored my boards for that style and for our local conditions: high elevation, dry snow, open slopes, and sustained pitch. I also love making powerful, elegant turns, slashing, and chasing face shots — and I’ve designed my boards to make that possible.

Room for improvement

Q: Do you think your boards and equipment can still be improved?
Absolutely. I’m refining my surf ascent bindings, tail shapes, tail rocker, and 3D base contours. Most turns on a powsurfer are initiated off the rear foot, so that’s where I focus contouring and channels. I want to develop a true split hybrid powsurfer that works as well as a splitboard, with minimal compromise. Each season gets me closer to that goal.

The future of powsurfing

Q: Where do you see powsurfing heading in the next 5 years?
I think the sport will see the same kind of performance innovations that transformed mountain biking. Hybrid surfers/snowboards, better ascent bindings, improved board shapes, and purpose-built boots could all help powsurfing grow.

Right now, the sport still has a gap between those pushing the limits and those curious to try it. Accessibility is a big barrier — boards, hardware, and traction are hard to source and expensive. If manufacturers start making production surfers with available hardware, it could become much more appealing.

I’ve already seen powsurfing grow since I started, and I think it has infinite potential. The younger generation will push the limits even further if they have access to the right gear and opportunities.

Tyler’s journey shows what happens when creativity meets necessity. From bike components to split hybrids, he’s always chasing better solutions for the mountains. As powsurfing continues to evolve, builders like Tyler are helping to shape its future — one turn, one board, and one innovation at a time.

Jure