Alpine Edge

Price: Starting at $6,745

The slopes are infinitely sweeter on a board made especially for you. Enter Franco Snowshapes and its founder, Mikey Franco. A seasoned snow sports coach, Franco has more than 35 years of experience on mountains from Jackson Hole to Japan.

For this gift, clients will have a “Franco Experience” in which Franco will meet them in person at his Wyoming workshop at the base of the Teton Range and take them through 4 days of one-on-one coaching and analysis on the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. From there, a distinctive Rider Genome Profile will be crafted based on a series of specific questions that will assess what kind of board will best meet clients’ needs. This profile touches on “biometric, psychometric, and envirometric” factors. “The biometrics will seek answers to questions regarding data such as height, boot size, weight, and physical fitness. Psychometrics ask what motivates a rider, such as why you like to ride, how fast or slow, and overall feelings about a day on snow,” explains Franco. Finally, envirometrics refer to terrain, weather, favorite conditions, and preferred resorts. Franco will then go to work on the board, which can be made from a wide range of woods, including white pine, poplar, and maple. It’s also outfitted with vibration-dampening materials like basalt fibers and curve-supporting aluminum alloys. Franco uses hand-cut wood stringers taken from the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and the GPS coordinates of the exact site from which the stringers were sourced are etched on the board. Toward the end of the process, custom artwork of the client’s choosing can be added. The bespoke snowboard takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete.

Franco Snowshapes, 307.690.3732.

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Bespoke Franco snowboards

Photo: Courtesy Franco Snowshapes