The results for the 4th annual Volvo SportsDesign Awards are in!
More than 300 internationally renowned companies and designers had submitted their works for consideration for the most acclaimed international awards in sports design. This year’s edition focused on innovative ideas in the eco design sector.

The main criteria in judging sustainable design consisted of functionality, form, innovative step, ergonomics, shape and production, material, manufacturing, distribution, product life cycle, recyclability and usability.

Sick Stick by Salomon Snowboards wins the “Board Equipment” category!
I bet Arbor snowboards is really pissed about that!
Salomon used bamboo as material for their board cores and that is something Arbor does since a long time – 8 years to be precise – and is recognised for. They also felt the need to make it clear in a statement before the start of ISPO. So don’t get fulled by this “marketing” award earned by Salomon…

The sustainable construction of the SickStick is the result of a three-year development process, driven by Salomon’s goal to improve the performance of their products while significantly reducing the ecological cost of snowboard production. The choice of material for this new backcountry kicker board is bamboo. After all, bamboo is the fastest-regenerating plant in the world, and it can absorb more carbon dioxide while producing more oxygen than most plants on earth.

In terms of design, the SickStick is based on an entirely re-usable bamboo core. The top sheet is made with significantly less acrylic, plastics, fiberglass and resin than conventional boards. Even the resin in the sidewalls could be entirely replaced with durable, waterproof bamboo rods. In each board, 400 grams of bamboo are used to replace 300 grams of plastic, 100 grams of resin and 200 grams of fiberglass. The Sick Stick is packaged in a cotton-bamboo knit bag instead of a PVC sleeve, while the hangtags are printed on recycled paper instead of coated stickers. In terms of performance, the boards are about 10 percent more resilient at the same stability and flex as conventional boards.

“The unique combination of design and the choice of material make the SickStick snowboard a clear winner in the boards category. After all, 400 grams of bamboo are single-handedly replacing 300 grams of plastic. All that with less use of resin and fiberglass. The SickStick is a real showcase product for the entire industry,” said jury member and environmental expert Ursula Tischner.

“You can even put small pieces of it in your Chineese Salad” said the BrOs…..