What Coalition Snow does

Coalition Snow is a women-owned and operated ski and snowboard company founded in 2014 by Jen Gurecki and headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The company manufactured skis and snowboards with FSC-certified wood cores in collaboration with a third-generation family-owned manufacturing partner in Japan, and featured proprietary topsheet artwork designs by independent artists such as Lisa Congdon. Its product line consisted of six ski models (SOS, Lil' Nasty, Rafiki, Rebel, La Nieve, Bliss) priced at $499-$829 and two snowboard models (Queen Bee, Myth) priced at $299-$529, all purpose-built for women, non-binary, and trans riders rather than using the traditional "shrink-it-and-pink-it" approach of the broader snow sports industry.

Coalition Snow operated an exclusively direct-to-consumer commerce model through a Shopify storefront after exiting wholesale distribution through REI, evo, and Backcountry in 2025 due to tariff and margin pressures. Revenue was generated from one-time sales of skis, snowboards, apparel (hoodies, sweatshirts, long-sleeve tees), and accessories (NoSo patches, stickers, original artwork and prints), supplemented by group adventure trips (Bachelorette ski trip at Mt. Bachelor and Kenya Cycling Safari) with deposit-based booking and installment payments. The company also monetized its community indirectly through brand value and content, including the annual International Shred the Patriarchy Day, the Backcountry Beta virtual backcountry education series in partnership with TREW Gear, and the Lady Parts Substack newsletter.

The company ceased operations in 2026 after 12 years, citing tariffs, inflation, low consumer confidence, a weak winter season, and the founder's cancer diagnosis. Founder Jen Gurecki and Creative Director Andrea Slusarski migrated the community and content IP into a successor venture called Far Out. The company maintained a social impact program through Zawadisha, a nonprofit founded by the same founder, planting trees in rural Kenya for every ski or snowboard sold.

Name

Coalition Snow

Legal name

Coalition Snow

Website

https://coalitionsnow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coalition Snow is a women-owned ski and snowboard brand, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, that manufactured FSC-certified skis and snowboards in Japan and sold exclusively direct-to-consumer through Shopify before closing in 2026 after 12 years of operation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Hard goods sales (skis and snowboards): One-time purchase of skis ($499-$829) and snowboards ($299-$529). Products ship free. Direct-to-consumer sales through Shopify storefront. The company has reduced SKUs and shifted to direct-only sales due to tariffs and margin pressures from wholesale distribution.
2. Apparel and accessories: Hoodies, sweatshirts, long-sleeve tees, patches, stickers, and art prints sold through the e-commerce storefront. Price points range from $2 stickers to $59 hoodies.
3. Group adventure trips: Booking revenue from group trips including the Bachelorette ski trip (April 2026 at Mt. Bachelor) and Kenya Cycling Safari (July-August 2026). Deposit of $250 with remainder paid in installments. Maximum 8 participants per ski trip.
4. Used gear (Second Tracks): Pre-loved skis and snowboards sold through the Second Tracks collection. Revenue from trade-in or resale of used gear.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coalition Snow designed and sold women-specific skis and snowboards manufactured with FSC-certified wood cores by a third-generation family-owned partner in Japan, offered at $299–$829. The portfolio also included apparel (hoodies, sweatshirts, tees), NoSo patches, stickers, and Lisa Congdon artwork, sold exclusively direct-to-consumer through the company's Shopify storefront. The company additionally operated small-group adventure experiences (Bachelorette ski trip at Mt. Bachelor and Kenya Cycling Safari) and a community-led ecosystem anchored by International Shred the Patriarchy Day.

Product overview

Coalition Snow is a women-owned and operated outdoor recreation company offering a portfolio of skis, snowboards, and apparel designed specifically for women. The core product line consists of 6 ski models (SOS, Lil' Nasty, Rafiki, Rebel, La Nieve, Bliss) and 2 snowboard models (Queen Bee, Myth) manufactured with FSC certified wood. Supporting the equipment line are apparel collections including Coalition sweatshirts/hoodies and the Shred the Patriarchy branded apparel line. The company also sells accessories including NoSo patches, stickers, and Lisa Congdon artwork/prints. Beyond products, Coalition offers experiential services including the Bachelorette ski trip to Mount Bachelor and the Cycling Safari Kenya in partnership with nonprofit Zawadisha, along with community programs like Backcountry Beta and the annual International Shred the Patriarchy Day event. The company was founded in 2014 and is closing in 2026 after 12 years of operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SOS Skis
• Lil' Nasty Skis
• Rafiki Skis
• Rebel Skis
• La Nieve Backcountry Skis
• Bliss Skis
• Queen Bee All Mountain Snowboard
• Myth All Mountain Snowboard
• Coalition Sweatshirts & Hoodies

Quantifiable outcome

• Olympic athletes have used Coalition skis
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZawadishacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZawadisha is the nonprofit founded by Coalition's own founder, Jen Gurecki, in Kenya in 2012, providing small loans to rural Kenyan women. Coalition plants trees in rural Kenya for every ski or snowboard sold through this partnership. The Kenya Cycling Safari trip is organized in collaboration with Zawadisha, with fundraising minimums benefiting the organization. The partnership integrates social impact directly into the product purchase.
• Savage Wilderness SafarisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partners with Savage Wilderness Safaris for the Kenya Cycling Safari trip logistics. Jen Gurecki cycled across Africa with James Savage in 2018. The Savage family has been facilitating school groups and private tours for more than 20 years.
• Lisa CongdonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland-based artist Lisa Congdon designed the artwork for Coalition's best-selling SOS skis. Coalition carries a curated collection of Lisa Congdon's original artwork, stickers, note cards, and NoSo Patches. Lisa is also known as a bike racer, activist, adventurer, and author of ten books.
• TREW GearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition teamed up with TREW Gear for the fifth season of Backcountry Beta, a virtual backcountry education series. TREW ambassadors (Alex Kane, Shannon Mahre, Erika Phelps) serve as presenters and educators in the series.
• NoSo PatchesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition x NoSo is a collaboration featuring stylish, easy-to-apply patches designed to be as aggressive and long-lasting as outdoor gear. NoSo patches are sold through Coalition's storefront, combining both companies' brands.
• Various sponsors (Youer, AltMark/Smeeny Made Wild, NoSo Patches, Nine Lives Supply Co., Alpine Fit, Moon Spin, Alpenvive, Sundial Dog Gear)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors contribute goods for prize packs at the International Shred the Patriarchy Day event. Includes Youer, AltMark/Smeeny Made Wild, NoSo Patches, Nine Lives Supply Co., Alpine Fit, Moon Spin, Alpenvive, Sundial Dog Gear, and Zawadisha.
• AdventurUs Women's TravelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventurUs Women's Travel is a community partner organizing the Bend, OR meet-up for International Shred the Patriarchy Day 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Weston Snowboards: Colorado-based boutique snowboard brand built around women-led product development, sustainability, and direct-to-consumer sales. Closely mirrors Coalition's positioning as a values-driven, smaller-scale hard-goods maker in the women's snow sports niche.
• Icelantic Skis: Boulder-based boutique ski manufacturer using sustainably sourced wood cores, founder-led storytelling, and direct-to-consumer channels. Highly comparable to Coalition in scale, ethos, materials approach, and DTC go-to-market.
• Lib Tech: Washington-based snowboard/skate manufacturer known for environmentally minded construction (Mervin Made, basalt fiber, bio resins). Comparable to Coalition on the hard-goods plus sustainability axis, though at meaningfully larger scale.
• Never Summer Snowboards: Denver-based boutique snowboard manufacturer with US manufacturing focus and strong brand loyalty in the rider community. Comparable as a smaller, independent snowboard hard-goods brand.
• Armada Skis: Independently held ski brand with strong athlete and community marketing, direct-to-consumer sales, and premium positioning. Comparable as a specialty ski hard-goods brand competing for the same enthusiast buyer.

Broad incumbents

• Burton Snowboards: Category-defining snowboard and winter apparel company with broad product range and global wholesale plus DTC channels. Comparable as the dominant incumbent Coalition competed against in women's snowboards.
• Salomon: Global ski, snowboard, and outdoor footwear/apparel brand owned by Amer Sports. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes across the same ski product categories Coalition served.
• Atomic Skis: Major global ski brand (also Amer Sports) with full alpine and backcountry line. Comparable broad incumbent competing in the same core ski equipment category.
• K2 Sports: Long-established ski and snowboard brand with broad product lines across hard goods and apparel. Comparable broad incumbent offering overlapping equipment categories.
• Patagonia: Outdoor apparel and gear brand with a comparable values-driven, environmental, and community-oriented identity and a strong women's product offering. Comparable as a broader incumbent sharing Coalition's mission-led positioning rather than its ski-specific product.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/coalitionsnow
• Instagraminstagram.com/coalitionsnow
• Pinterestpinterest.com/coalition_snow
• TikToktiktok.com/@coalitionsnow
• Xx.com/coalitionsnow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coalition-snow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coalition Snow