Bakoda brand accessories are being relaunched for the 2013/14 season under new ownership and a sharp new look. Purchased by Vancouver based RC Products Inc. (RC) in February of this year from Northwave, the move was made as RC saw an opportunity to return the once mighty snowboard accessories brand to its former luster.
“Bakoda was such a great brand back in the day. When the opportunity presented itself to bring it back to its roots, we jumped on it” says Rory Carr, founder and owner of RC. “Our expectation is that in the next few years it will be a major player in the international snowsports accessories market.”
Launched in late 80’s, Bakoda started with the manufacture of snowboard leashes to address ski resort’s needs for better safety systems to accompany the burgeoning sport. The single leash grew into a variety of snowboard accessories and by the late 90’s Bakoda launched the revolutionary McIver Driver, the first snowboard specific multi-tool.
Times have changed since Bakoda was leading the charge in the 90’s and early 2000’s, and while its roots are undoubtedly in snowboarding, the attitude and values are shared among both snowboarders and skiers these days. High quality and smart design are what matter in the accessories market. Moving forward, Bakoda will be rooted in values of simplicity, quality, and user-centered design.
For 2013, Bakoda is launching a core product offering that will include tools, tuning equipment, wax, ski straps and a brand new steel framed lock. In addition to new designs, some old favorites will be back, including the award winning Zackly Driver, one of Transworld Snowboarding’s Top 5 Tools in 2011.
“I think what’s most exciting is that we’ve stripped the brand and products right back to the bones,” said David Westwood, manager of product development. “We have taken great care to build it back up from a strong heritage but done it in the lens of modern snowboarder and skier needs. We’ve worked hard to update the brand into a modern yet authentic Bakoda look and feel and we’re feeling really good about how it’s working out as we develop product, packaging and the website. It looks great.”
David continues, “Everything we do at Bakoda will focus 100 percent on getting people stoked on snowboarding and skiing. It’s funny how much time we all spend talking about epic days, new gear and travel stories, and yet many of these off-hill experiences are as important as on-hill. At Bakoda we understand that while we manufacture and sell accessories, our real product is stoke. Bakoda’s mission is to foster stoke in everything we do.”
Bakoda will be sold via RC’s existing Canadian rep force while four new reps have been hired in the US so far, with plans for expansion.
Carr launched RC in a basement apartment in Whistler, BC, Canada with a single product: the RC Powerstrap. With the rapid growth of skiing and the explosion of snowboarding in the early 90’s, RC quickly became a leading manufacturer of ski and snowboard accessories in the Canadian marketplace. RC operates in a brand new 25,000 square foot facility in South Vancouver. In addition to RC Brand accessories, RC offers extensive custom bag and accessory programs. RC currently supply Canada’s leading sporting goods retailers with custom products including complete custom-bag programs, custom logo accessories and custom packaging.
