New Book ‘Snow Beach’ Documents the Early Days of Snowboarding

Mike Ranquet shot by Sean Sullivan, 1996 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Snowboarding has been around for 40 years, but a lot has changed about the sport since its early days. Today, it’s all but mainstream, but in the late 80s and early 90s, snowboarding was an act of rebellion.

A new book edited by Alex Dymond, entitled Snow Beach, showcases the offseason skateboarders and Gen X outcasts that made up snowboarding’s earliest adopters.

Jaime Lynn shot by Bud Fawcett, 1994 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

As a result, snowboarders pioneered a style all their own—influenced by grunge, punk, and hip-hop sensibilities—and they flaunted their status as rebels and champions of their own new alternative winter sport. Adopting elements from 80’s ski flair—but ironically, rebelling against the sport of skiing itself—snowboarding would eventually get its own major brands such as Burton.

With tightly cropped action photographs and a number of lifestyle shots, Snow Beach highlights the work of some of the era’s best photographers like Bud Fawcett, Dano Pendygrasse, Jon Foster, Trevor Graves, and Vianney Tisseau.

Published by powerHouse Books, Snow Beach is available for $40 here. See more photos below.

Janna Meyen shot by Jon Foster, 1993 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Craig Kelly shot by Rod Walker, 1992 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Rod Walker

John Cardiel shot by Bud Fawcett, 1990 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Bud Fawcett

John Cardiel shot by Bud Fawcett, 1990 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Chris Carnel

Shaun Palmer shot by Bud Fawcett, 1987 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Bud Fawcett

Jeff Brushie shot by Dano Pendygrasse, 1992 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

dano pendygrasse

Jason Ford shot by Rod Walker, 1990 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Rod Walker

Russell Winfield shot by Trevor Graves, 1991 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Shaun Palmer shot by Jon Foster, 1993 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

Jeff Brushie shot by Trevor Graves, 1992 (From ‘Snow Beach’ edited by Alex Dymond, published by powerHouse Books.)

—RealClearLife Staff

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