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 friends, and during his high school years, his passion grew so strong that he started shaping his own boards.

As his friends and fellow surfers in the neighborhood took notice, they began requesting their own custom boards. Embracing both surfing and shaping, Shinzo began 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, marking the beginning of what would become the world’s oldest snowsurfing legacy. 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. These 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.

That same year, 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, we are driven by the same passion to share snowsurfing with the world. We take pride in seeing our community grow as more riders discover the beauty and legacy behind what we create.

At Moss, we craft boards designed to paint the mountain with every turn, with a relentless focus on refining the feeling of surfing on snow. Regardless of conditions, our lines flow across frozen waves rather than chasing vertical drops, revealing the best waves the mountain has to offer. This is snowsurfing.

We are snowsurfers. We are Moss Snowstick.