A milestone of innovation. On 10 September 1995, at a time when snowboards were almost exclusively built with wood cores, Yonex broke new ground. With the world’s first model using a pure carbon-graphite structure, we changed the rules. What began then now turns 30: three decades of relentlessly exploring new possibilities in snowboarding.

From the court to the snow: the carbon revolution

Our expertise did not come from nowhere. We took the advanced carbon technology we had already perfected in badminton, tennis and golf and transferred it to the snow. The goal? A board that unites apparent opposites: lightness with durability, and resistance with flex. That technological leap gave riders entirely new ways to express themselves — in the air and on the piste.

A history of evolution

Over the past 30 years we have evolved with the sport. From the introduction of Aramid Honeycomb technology in 1998 through the nanotech breakthroughs of the mid-2000s to the current REGNA, which in 2025 at an incredible 1,900 g is our lightest board to date.

Our history is also the history of our athletes. Whether Ryo Aono’s historic wins, Yuto Totsuka’s halfpipe dominance or Sena Tomita’s Olympic medal — our innovations have always been the engine for top-level results on the world stage.

Technology meets craft: the secret behind the performance

At Yonex, carbon graphite is more than a material; it is a tool for endless design potential. Through our proprietary Carbon Cross Composite Molding we weave carbon-graphite layers at precise angles to control flex and torsion exactly. Unlike conventional methods we minimise adhesives and rely on heat and pressure instead. The result is an extremely strong bond with a drastic reduction in weight.

Technology alone is not enough. We believe in the philosophy “quality before cost”. That is why every Yonex snowboard is built in our own factories in Japan, where cutting-edge nanoscience meets meticulous handwork.

Looking ahead

“1 + 1 = infinite possibilities.”

That formula drives us. The fusion of more than 50 years of experience in carbon processing and direct feedback from our pro riders is the foundation for the future. We will stay curious, keep listening and keep developing technologies that expand the ride — for experiences beyond what you imagine.

Celebrate 30 years of innovation with us. Here’s to the next decades on snow.

Team Yonex: world class through synergy

Our story would be incomplete without the riders who take our boards to their limits. At Yonex the relationship between engineer and athlete is not a one-way street — it is a real partnership. Pro feedback flows straight into development, and our technologies in turn enable jumps that seemed impossible yesterday.

Here are some of the icons who have carried the Yonex DNA onto the world’s podiums:

• Ryo Aono: the pioneer. He was the first to prove that Japanese riders — and Japanese technology — can dominate the world stage. His 2007 overall World Cup win and X Games silver laid the foundation for everything that followed.
• Yuto Totsuka: a synonym for technical perfection in the halfpipe. His wins at the US Open, X Games and World Championships are proof not only of his talent but of the REV model, tailored to his aggressive needs (visible in the special “REV YTS”).
• Sena Tomita: she wrote history in Beijing 2022 by taking Japan’s first Olympic medal (bronze) in women’s halfpipe — a triumph of will and precision.
• Ruka Hirano: with three consecutive World Cup titles in halfpipe he shows a consistency that is only possible with absolute trust in the material.

These athletes prove: when human talent meets technological excellence, legends are made. Here is our full team.

The Yonex snowboard story as milestones

1995 — Entry into the snowboard market with the “GATTA” brand.

1998 — Introduction of Aramid Honeycomb technology for higher strength and reduced weight.

2001 — Development of the hollow Carbon Box Tube structure, balancing rebound and lightness.

2003 — Introduction of the cylindrically shaped Round Tube in carbon graphite for more flexible riding.

2004 — Presentation of the Carbon Wall, a core structure made entirely of hollow carbon graphite.

2005 — Application of nanotechnology with Carbon Nanofullerene.

2006 — Development of a 2,350 g light board; Yonex-supported riders competed at the Winter Games in Turin.

2007 — Ryo Aono became the first Japanese man to win the overall snowboard World Cup.

2008 — Ryo Aono took silver at the Winter X Games — the first Japanese rider on the SuperPipe podium.

2010 — Use of X-Fullerene in the WALL model, producing one of the world’s lightest boards at 2,180 g.

2012 — Development of STOMP-TECH, designed to convert landing impact into energy.

2013 — Introduction of the high-rebound ULTIMATE CAMBER and the easy-to-ride EASYRIDE CAMBER.

2014 — Release of the flexible, durable STOMP-TECH JIB and STOMP-TECH LITE. Riders including Ryo Aono and Ayumu Nedefuji represented Japan at the Winter Games in Sochi.

2015 — Evolution to STOMP-TECH 2.0, improving swing weight and control.

2016 — Debut of CENTROID, built for float and manoeuvrability in powder.

2017 — The REGNA received the new lightweight CSMC core and reached 2,090 g — Yonex’s lightest board to that point.

2018 — STOMP-TECH 3.0 reduced swing weight further. Yuto Totsuka and Sena Tomita competed in PyeongChang, with Totsuka winning the men’s halfpipe World Cup.

2019 — Yuto Totsuka secured his second consecutive men’s halfpipe snowboard World Cup title.

2020 — To celebrate Yuto Totsuka’s US Open halfpipe win, the special model “REV YTS” was introduced worldwide.

2021 — The REGNA with CSMC Core reached an ultra-light 1,990 g. Totsuka won both the World Championships and the Winter X Games.

2022 — Introduction of the light CRIC structure for smoother manoeuvrability. Sena Tomita won Japan’s first bronze in women’s halfpipe. Yonex riders including Yuto Totsuka, Ruka Hirano, Sena Tomita and Ruki Tomita competed at the Winter Games in Beijing.

2024 — Aiki Kimura won the men’s Big Air World Cup title.

2025 — The REGNA was fully redeveloped from material to construction and reaches 1,900 g — our lightest board yet. Ruka Hirano took his third consecutive halfpipe World Cup title. Yuto Totsuka and Sena Tomita celebrated wins at the first “The Snow League”.