Custom Snowboards
Built for you. By hand. In New Zealand.
Every Aotea Shapes board is a one-off. Each snowboard and splitboard is shaped, pressed, and finished by hand, built around the rider rather than a catalogue. These are considered, collaborative builds — taken on selectively to ensure each project receives the time, attention, and care it deserves.
Boards are made to be ridden first, yet they’re equally at home appreciated for their form. The South Island’s open faces and wind-worked snow quietly influence every shape, guiding choices in materials, flex, and geometry.
If you’re looking for something personal, purposeful, and made without compromise, you’re in the right place.
Dream
Every custom build begins with a conversation.
Tell me what draws you to the mountains — the terrain you ride, the snow you chase, the lines you imagine. This isn’t about following trends or choosing from a catalogue; it’s about translating your riding aspirations into something tangible. Whether it’s a journey you’ve been planning for years, a unique shape you haven’t seen elsewhere, or simply the desire for a board that feels like an extension of yourself — this is where your board’s story begins.
We’ll talk through your experience, your favourite conditions, and what excites you most on snow. Even subtle preferences — like how a board responds in variable powder or hardpack, or the kind of energy you want from turns — inform the conversation. Every detail matters, and together we start shaping ideas into a framework that will guide every design decision.
This is the stage where creativity meets intention, and it rewards riders who are curious, thoughtful, and invested in the process. It’s about imagining a board that feels personal and purposeful long before any materials touch a workshop table.
Design
Each board is designed collaboratively.
We’ll explore your riding style, stance, preferred terrain, and how you like your board to respond underfoot. Every aspect of the geometry — from sidecut and flex profile to outline, edge contact, and weight distribution — is refined around your intentions. The design is not about numbers on paper, but about how it will feel, perform, and inspire confidence on snow.
Throughout this stage, we work together to balance performance with aesthetics. Choices in flex, taper, and camber, or the subtle shifts in outline that influence turn initiation, are weighed carefully. It’s a dialogue that ensures the board becomes intuitive to ride, and a reflection of your personality and priorities on the mountain.
This process works best with riders who value thoughtful design, open communication, and trust in the craft. Each design is fully considered, meaning your board will not only perform precisely but will also feel cohesive and intentional from the first carve to the last run of the season.
Build
Every board is shaped, pressed, and assembled by hand, one at a time.
The foundation is a lightweight paulownia and poplar mix core, chosen for responsiveness, strength, and weight balance. Urethane sidewalls provide smooth flex and durability, while layup choices are fine-tuned using varying weights of triax fiberglass and selective carbon fibre or basalt where reinforcement enhances performance. Timber veneers, hardened steel edges, and sintered Durasurf 4000 bases complete the build.
Every layer is chosen deliberately to match the rider’s style, terrain, and performance expectations. It’s not assembly-line work — every board is approached as an individual project. Choices like sidecut radius, flex distribution, and camber profile are revisited at every stage to ensure a cohesive ride. The result is a board that feels like a single, integrated tool, perfectly balanced for the intended terrain and rider.
Finish
The finishing process balances function and restraint.
Once pressing and shaping are complete, the board moves to finishing. Timber veneers are treated as a natural part of the build, with options for laser engraving, Paua inlay, or subtle marquetry where it suits the design. Care is taken to respect the natural grain, ensuring that each board’s appearance complements its performance.
Boards are then coated with 2-pack polyurethane, stone-ground for precise base structure, and infrared waxed to optimise glide. This stage is about attention to detail — every edge, every line, every surface is considered to ensure your board is not only ready to ride but also a pleasure to look at and hold. The aim is a finish that feels purposeful, refined, and connected to the board’s intent: clean, thoughtful, and built to last.
Commissioning & Contact
Once finished, each board leaves the workshop prepared and ready for snow — a tool built to perform, shaped to your riding style, and refined with care.
Custom builds are taken on selectively. I focus on projects where the collaboration feels right and where the rider’s vision aligns with the approach of Aotea Shapes. This ensures every board receives the time, attention, and thoughtfulness it deserves — no compromises, no shortcuts.
If you’re considering a custom snowboard or splitboard, getting in touch is the first step. I’ll take the time to understand your riding, your terrain, and your ambitions, answering questions and discussing what’s possible before any shaping begins.
Every conversation is an opportunity to explore ideas, refine expectations, and ensure the build will be a perfect fit — for the rider, the mountain, and the board itself. Whether it’s your first custom board or a one-of-a-kind project, the process is collaborative, considered, and unhurried, just like the boards themselves.
