The Prior Story

• Chris Prior began making snowboards in the winter to compliment his well-known sailboard manufacturing business in North Vancouver, BC, Canada.

• Athletes riding Prior snowboards win several world cup events.
• Chris moved the Prior operation out of his garage and began making premium, handcrafted snowboards full time.

• Prior now offers a complete line of snowboards, including one-off custom shapes.
• Custom projects in 1998 included squalls (very narrow snowboards) and skis for a disabled sit-skier. These projects reflected the fat skis that became popular shortly thereafter and set the initial groundwork for future ski development.

• Prior moved its manufacturing facility to Whistler BC - its testing ground for the last decade. Factory upgrades and quick access to research and development on Whistler's mountains bring continued product improvements.
• Prior Backcountry Splitboards are introduced.

• March - Prior begins prototyping and testing skis.
• AMF and Magestic snowboard styles released

• Prior does continuous testing on ski prototypes.
• Prior introduces quadraxial carbon weave fiberglass as standard upgrade to all splitboards.
• Prior snowboard athletes win several national and international titles.

• January 1 - Prior moves down the street into a brand new custom board making factory/store in Whistler - all Prior snowboards and skis are now made in this new facility.
• Khyber and Khyber Splitboard released.
• October 1 - New Prior ski released in 6 lengths; hereafter called the "Original".

• January to April - Prior does extensive Research and Development of a new powder ski and women's specific ski.
• October - The new Doughboy and Sister skis are released in several sizes.

• August 17 - The new, bigger Sister ski is released.
• World Cup Race Alpine metal race snowboard is released.
• All winter 0607 skis now made with UHMW shatterproof sidewalls.

• September 6 - The Overlord Ski for aggressive, big mountain freeriders is released
• March 9 - Spearhead snowboard and Carbon Khyber Splitboard are released
• August 24 - Spearhead Splitboard released.

• April - Completely redesigned AMF directional twin snowboard is released in four sizes.
• July - WCR Metal 2009 released and raising the bar for performance alpine riding worldwide.
• August - Brandywine all-mountain board for women introduced in four sizes.
• September - Prior releases its 2009 ski styles with improvements to all four models: Original, Doughboy, Sister and Overlord.

• January - Prior releases a redesigned WCR Metal 2010 alpine snowboard for increased performance and introduces wide versions of this model in various lengths
• March - Prior unveils the world's first freestyle splitboard - the AMF Split. It comes with new Hybrid Rocker available in four sizes: 156, 159, 162, 165
• March - new AMF with Hybrid Rocker released in four sizes: 156, 159, 162, 165
• April - Khyber and Khyber Splitboard released with new Hybrid Rocker
• August - the 2010 Overlord Ski is released with its new profile, Hybrid Rocker and a squared tail.  The 2010 Overlord receives coveted Editor's Choice Award from Backcountry Magazine based on testing done in spring 2009.
• August - The Husume - a new ski designed for Backcountry and Resort is released.
• August - the AMF Splitboard receives coveted Editor's Choice Award from Backcountry Magazine based on testing done in spring 2009.
• New Alpine Fall Line Carve (FLC) metal snowboard released for more down-the-line carving.

2010

• April - New BX style in Prior's carbon/titanal construction released in three sizes.