WNDR Alpine’s Snowboard Made From Microalgae Named Top Invention of 2024

Outside of the Olympics , Time Magazine doesn't talk about snowboarding a lot.

Sure, the magazine declared the "hated" participants triumphant in 1996 , then claimed the sport was on the decline in 2013 , but unless Chloe Kim or Shaun White are involved, the conversation usually ends there.

But this year, surprisingly, a particularly innovative brand is getting some recognition from the publication.

Time released a list of the 200 best inventions of the year on Wednesday. And WNDR Alpine's Shepard snowboard made the cut.

The brand's bread-and-butter is environmentally friendly snowboards. While most snowboards are made from polyethylene, WNDR's lineup features microalgae, an oil made through fermentation. It's a rare combination of biotechnology and the outdoor industry, and the company says that it serves as a real-life example of a product that outperforms one made with petroleum-based materials.

"This board is now being ridden on mountains worldwide and garnering accolades from athletes, mountain safety professionals, and passionate enthusiasts alike," cofounder Xan Marshland said in a press release. "And while the Shepherd speaks directly to our community of winter sports athletes, the materials inside it can be scaled for use far beyond the outdoor industry."

The microalgae is produced and developed in the WNDR design lab in Salt Lake City. It was launched by the biotech company Checkerspot, and makes skis and softgoods now, as well.

"What's really cool about winter sports is that it's an amazing proof-point for materials innovation," says Xan Marshland, co-founder of WNDR Alpine, told Time . "In the mountains, materials matter."

The brand shook up the world of freeriding in 2022, when it announced that Nick Rusell was leaving Jones Snowboards to join its team. Rusell has since departed, recently announcing that he signed on with United Shapes.

The Froth Puppy himself, Alex Andrews , was brought on board to the brand in 2021 to lead splitboard development. That same year, the brand became climate neutral certified, received the first B Corp Certification of any ski maker, and received accolades for its sustainability efforts. The brand's first snowboards debuted in 2022, and a year later, WNDR launched its first technical apparel company made from that same microalgae.

WNDR's not the only outdoor brand to make the list. Camping brand Nemo made the cut for its fully recyclable camping gear. Keen's Targhee IV hiking book got a nod thanks to its durability, and Hyperice's wireless recovery boots also made the cut. So did those ridiculous looking headbands from Omius that you probably have seen marathon runners wearing around town. 

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