Kemper Snowboards
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Snowboard manufacturing |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | David Kemper |
| Defunct | mid-1990s (initial operations halted) |
| Fate | Brand revived in 2018 by Jib Hunt |
| Headquarters | Park City , United States |
Key people | Jib Hunt (current owner) |
| Products | Snowboards (freestyle, park, powder models, splitboards) |
Kemper Snowboards is a United States-based manufacturer specializing in snowboards. The initial Kemper Snowboards were crafted by hand in Ontario, Canada by David Kemper in 1983, with the company formally established in 1987.
Operations at Kemper Snowboards halted during the mid-1990s. In 2018, the brand was revived by former professional snowboarder Jib Hunt in Park City, Utah. Currently, Kemper offers a range of snowboards including freestyle, park, powder models, as well as splitboards.
History
David Kemper founded the company in 1987 after beginning board production in his Ontario garage around 1984/85. Manufacturing shifted to a Montreal facility for the 1988/89 season and subsequently moved to Austria for 1989/90.
During snowboarding’s neon era, Kemper gained recognition for its bold neon designs and unique outerwear. David Kemper formed a partnership with the Romney Group, a windsurfing distributor based in Glendale, California, which broadened the brand’s offerings. To oversee business operations and product innovation, Kemper relocated to California but divested his ownership in 1992 to pursue higher education.
By 1994, ownership transferred to an East Coast inline skating company; the brand discontinued operations a few years afterward.
Jib Hunt resurrected Kemper Snowboards in 2018 and shifted the headquarters to Park City, Utah in 2019 to leverage the area's strong snowboarding community.
The original professional team featured riders such as Mike Basich, Tina Basich, Dave Dowd, Martin Gallant, Kurt Heine, Andy Hetzel, Brett Johnson, Adam Merriman, Ursula Nygaard, George Pappas, Nick Perata, J.D. Platt, Rich Varga, and Jay Quintin (Smokin' Jay).
Marketing and Promotion
Kemper Snowboards maintains its market visibility through sponsorship of professional athletes and events. The current pro roster includes Kurt Heine, Martin Gallant, Kevin Jones, Ryan Flaska, Seth Hill, Aiden Chmura, Derek Henderson, and Jonat Ste-Marie.