Gnu Snowboards is a division of Mervin Manufacturing. Mervin Manufacturing was founded by snowboarders Mike Olson and Pete Saari in 1977. It is the longest running and last major snowboard factory in the USA, based out of Seattle and Carlsborg, Washington, between the rugged Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges
Mervin was purchased by Quiksilver in the late 1990s. Since this acquisition, Mervin has continued the tradition of making winter toys out of plastic, fiberglass, heavy metals and fast growing trees. GNU engineers grow their own trees which are better and lighter with long, clean fibers. Some of GNU's products include the Carbon High Beam Series, Street Series, 11 Up Series, B-Street Series, B-Nice Series, B-Pro Series, Riders Choice Series, Kyle's Flying Contraption Series and the Altered Genetics Series.
GNU snowboards are hand built in the USA by snowboarders with jobs. The GNU team rides, experiences, critiques, and changes the GNU snowboards to make them the best possible gear to offer. GNU is also known as the world's most environment-friendly snowboard factory. In addition to building killer snowboards, GNU has also designed and manufactured the world's first snow-skateboards that actually work.
