barfoot.comChuck Barfoot started designing snowboards (snoboards) and skateboards in 1978 while working for Sims in Santa Barbara, CA, where he was an integral part of the research and design. He then went his own way in 1981 and produced the highest quality skateboards of the 80s with revolutionizing concepts, materials and the legendary Barfoot craftmanship that makes a Barfoot a BARFOOT.

Ironically, it is in the snowboard community where Chuck also made an extremely valuable contribution to surfing. Chuck used his vast surfing knowledge to design the first surf-influenced, fiberglass snowboards featuring foam core, swallowtail, and a flex fin (from a Greenough idea). They also used real surf leashes. At that time, they called the sport Snow Surfing.

The very first toy that started it all was called a “Snurfer” (snow surfer), which was just a single ski with a rope on the nose back in 1966. It wasn’t until the late 70’s that Chuck and other creative surfers decided to improve on the idea and started designing boards with all the surfboard technology, fins, camber, channels etc.

According to Chuck, the reason snowboarding was invented was because a few surfers wanted to surf in the snow—they totally related it to surfing. If it wasn’t for the influence of Chuck and a few others, we wouldn’t have snowboarding.

Chuck was inducted into Transworld’s Snowboarding Hall of Fame in 1997.

Chuck is currently working with Ernie DeLost on the long-anticipated revival of BARFOOT snowboards, while continuing to break new ground in the skateboard market.

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