Moss founder Shinzo Tanuma was raised in the Japanese surf town of Shonan Kamakura, where he was surrounded by the ocean from childhood. Naturally, he began surfing with his friends, and during his high school years, his passion for the sport grew so strong that he started making his own surfboards. As his friends and fellow surfers in the neighborhood took notice, they began requesting their own custom boards. Embracing the joy of being both a surfer and a shaper, Shinzo delved into researching FRP materials, committed to creating boards tailored to the waves of Kamakura. This dedication culminated in the opening of Kamakura's first surf store, "Moss Custom Surfboards."

Shinzo's passion for surfing evolved into an innovative dream: to bring the joy of riding waves to snowy mountains. In 1971, he turned this dream into reality by crafting the first-ever Moss Snowstick prototype using urethane foam and fiberglass, just like a traditional surfboard. Shinzo took the prototype to the Akakura Onsen ski resort in Niigata, Japan, where he test-rode it, sparking the birth of the world's oldest snowsurfing manufacturer. Discover Shinzo's journey in the interview footage "Origin Story."

How could someone surf on snow? That was the question that fueled Shinzo's passion for research and development. He sought a sensation unlike skiing, one that could only be experienced while riding ocean waves. In 1979, the first snowboards were launched under the Moss Snowstick name, featuring the world's first fixed hard-bindings, adapted from ski release plates and designed to work with ski boots. This groundbreaking designs elevated snowsurfing, enabling riders to achieve precise carvings and turns on the mountain. Watch Shinzo and his friends test the 1979 Moss Snowstick in the video footage "Class of '79."

In 1982, we established the Japan Snow Surfing Association to promote snowsurfing further, organizing events like the Marui Snow Surfing Grand Prix and nurturing talents such as Taro Tamai. In 1982, we released the V-1, the precursor to our signature U series at Moss Snowstick. In 1988, we shifted production and unveiled the 1800SL snowboard model, based on ski construction. The following year, we officially entered the snowboarding scene with the introduction of alpine and freestyle models, solidifying our position as a leading player in the snowsports industry.

Since Shinzo Tanuma first envisioned it in 1971, weʼre driven by the same passion to share the joy of snowsurfing around the world. We take immense pride in witnessing our community's steady growth, as more riders discover the beauty of snowsurfing and the experiences we create to bring it to life. At Moss, we craft our boards to gracefully paint the mountain with every turn and our dedication lies in perfecting the turning sensations.

Regardless of the conditions, our lines weave horizontally and sideways through the frozen waves rather than in vertical drops. This is snowsurfing. Our distinctive approach and enduring spirit shape each snowstick into a meticulously crafted, premium, all-terrain snowsurfboard—revealing the best waves the mountain has to offer.

We are snowsurfers. We are Moss Snowstick.