Progression AirBags

What Progression AirBags does

Progression Airbags designs, manufactures, and distributes inflatable sport landing airbag systems and dryslope training materials for action sports. Founded in 2005 in Squamish, British Columbia, the company operates as a partnership between AcroBag World (founded by former elite snowboarder Marc-Andre Tarte) and Katal Innovations (founded by UBC engineering graduates Stephen Slen and Aaron Coret, the latter of whom became a quadriplegic following a 2005 snowboarding accident that motivated the safety-driven design philosophy). The product portfolio includes the PAB Landing Bag (flagship slopestyle airbag in five sizes), AcroBag (portable multi-sport stunt airbag), Kustom PAB (compact slopestyle trainer), FMX PAB (freestyle motocross solution), AirPit Bag (multidisciplinary adventure park airbag), Bike PAB (mountain bike/BMX landing), and JF DrySki dryslope bristle material. Technical differentiation rests on multi-chamber internal structures, independently inflated guardrails and stopper guards, adjustable air-release systems, load-tested anchors, and removable replaceable topsheets, with ISO 9001 and CE certifications on all products.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining one-time hardware sales, recurring annual and monthly rentals, annual maintenance contracts, installation/training/certification services, dryslope consulting, and a Progression Parks sub-brand for facility partnership and operation. Pricing is exclusively custom quote-based with a lowest-price guarantee; sales are direct via a small named team (Marc-Andre Tarte as Sales & Project Manager, Aaron Coret as Lead Airbag Designer). Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with event-driven demand (FMX events, summer glacier camps) and Olympic/team partnership-driven visibility.

The company serves a concentrated mix of Olympic national teams (USSA, Chinese, Belgian/Sport Vlaanderen, Swiss, Snow Sports New Zealand), ski resorts (Mammoth Mountain, Whistler, Kreischberg), dedicated training facilities (Maximise, Utah Olympic Park), entertainment brands (Cirque du Soleil, Red Bull, Rio 2016 Paralympics), and adventure parks. With 50+ installations globally and claimed status as the creator of the original sport landing airbag, Progression Airbags positions itself as the incumbent supplier to elite freestyle training infrastructure worldwide.

Name

Progression AirBags

Legal name

Progression Airbags

Website

https://progressionairbags.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Progression Airbags designs and manufactures inflatable sport landing airbags and dryslope training materials for action sports, serving Olympic national teams, ski resorts, and training facilities globally through custom quote-based sales, rentals, and maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport Landing Airbags & Action Sports Safety Equipment

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors) (CRAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Sport landing airbags
• Action sports equipment
• Freestyle training systems
• Dryslope facility solutions
• Inflatable landing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Airbag Product Sales: Sale of custom-designed landing airbags including PAB Landing Bag, AcroBag, Kustom PAB, FMX PAB, AirPit Bag, and Bike PAB. Products are priced competitively with lowest price guarantee.
2. Airbag Rentals: Annual and monthly rental options for airbags. Annual rental available for one year or longer, monthly rental ideal for temporary events or trial periods.
3. Annual Maintenance Services: Annual airbag maintenance packages including full inspection, wear and tear assessment, repairs, and detailed recommendations.
4. Installation, Training & Certification: Professional installation services, comprehensive operations training, and certification of up to 3 operators per purchase.
5. Dryslope Consulting: Consulting services for snowsport facility design, development, and advancement including site survey, feasibility study, and detailed CAD drawings.
6. Dryslope Equipment Supply: Supply of equipment for dryslope facilities including JF DrySki material, rope tow systems, sprinkler systems, and video analysis systems.
7. Used Airbag Sales: Sale of used and refurbished airbags at discounted prices, including PAB and AcroBag models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Progression AirBags designs, manufactures, and sells custom inflatable sport landing airbag systems used by action sports athletes and training facilities for safe progression of freestyle tricks in skiing, snowboarding, FMX, mountain biking, and BMX. The product line is complemented by JF DrySki dryslope surface material, dryslope facility equipment, and full-service offerings including installation, training, certification, annual maintenance, rental, and end-to-end dryslope facility consulting.

Product overview

Progression AirBags offers a portfolio of specialized sport landing airbag systems designed for progressive freestyle training in action sports. The core product lineup includes the PAB Landing Bag (flagship slopestyle airbag), AcroBag (portable multi-sport stunt airbag), Kustom PAB (compact slopestyle trainer), FMX PAB Airbag (freestyle motocross solution), AirPit Bag (multidisciplinary compact airbag), Bike PAB (inflatable bike landing), and JF DrySki (dryslope material). These products are supported by comprehensive services including installation/training/certification, annual maintenance, rental programs, and dryslope facility consulting. The company provides complete solutions for action sports training facilities, from product supply through to implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Progression Parks: Dryslope training facility brand operated by Progression Airbags for facility development and operation.

Products and services

• PAB Landing Bag Cutting-edge landing airbag designed for progressive freestyle training in action sports, featuring a multi-chamber internal structure, independently inflated guardrail system, stopper guard, and adjustable air release for maximum safety and support. Available in multiple sizes with customizable jump dimensions for ski resorts, national teams, and dedicated training facilities.
• AcroBag Portable stunt airbag designed for progressive freestyle and stunt training across skiing/snowboarding, biking/BMX, FMX, and free drop/high fall. Sets up in approximately 60 minutes with 4–5 people and uses a double chamber system with adjustable impact softness.
• Kustom PAB Smaller version of the PAB Landing Bag designed specifically for slopestyle training, with a built-in landing transition that can be set up on flat surfaces. Ideal for small ski teams and clubs, available in Mega, Prime, and Mini sizes.
• FMX PAB Airbag Airbag purpose-built for freestyle motocross training and portable landing solutions, featuring an adjustable air release system for switching between softer training and firmer landing modes. Sets up in approximately 30 minutes with 4–5 people, available in FMX-10 through FMX-6 sizes.
• AirPit Bag Lightweight, compact multidisciplinary airbag suitable for trampoline parks, tubing jumps, mountain biking/BMX, and high fall adventure parks. Requires only 2 people for setup within minutes, with multi-pillar design that absorbs impacts locally and offers fully replaceable parts.
• Bike PAB Lightweight, compact inflatable bike landing airbag for mountain biking and BMX training, featuring an adjustable air release system for switching between soft training and firm landing modes. Available in Bike-4.5, Bike-4, Bike-3.5, and Bike-3 sizes with ISO 9001 backed two-year warranty.
• JF DrySki Dryslope Material Mushroom-shaped bristle dryslope material with varying bristle heights and density that creates a fast, low-friction, carveable surface. Weather and UV resistant with approximately 8 years lifetime, available in Large, Medium, and Small sizes, endorsed by the US National Team.
• DrySlope Equipment Package Equipment package for building dryslope training facilities, including the Drop In Light rider-controlled clear signal system, Rop Tow/Magic Carpet systems via TowPro, seamless sprinkler system, water recycling system, and video analysis system.
• Airbag Rentals Rental programs for organizations wishing to deploy airbags without full purchase. Annual rental is available for one year or longer, and monthly rental is designed for temporary events or trial deployments.
• Annual Maintenance Service Annual airbag maintenance package including full inspection, wear and tear assessment, all necessary repairs, and detailed reporting with recommendations to reduce future wear.
• Installation, Training & Certification Professional installation services covering site construction, anchor installation, airbag setup/takedown, operations training, inspection checklists, repair training, and certification of up to 3 operators per purchase.
• DrySlope Consulting Four-step consulting engagement for new dryslope facilities: drone-based 3-D site survey, feasibility study, PAB Dryslope Jump Plan, and detailed AutoCAD/Civil 3-D site recommendation drawings.
• Progression Park Partnership Partnership program for organizations looking to open dryslope training facilities, offering multiple structures including 100% owned and operated, income split, and free Progression Park options for ski resorts.
• Used Airbag Sales Sale of used and refurbished airbags at discounted prices, including PAB and AcroBag models, for budget-conscious buyers.

Named customers21 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Chinese National TeamflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Appointed in 2018 to design complete dryslope training facility from airbag design to ramp layout in Nanjing. Responsible for 4 custom airbags, dryslope supply/installation, sprinkler system, and construction management.
• Sport Vlaanderen (Belgian Government)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Selected via RFP over all major airbag producers to supply landing bag for Belgian national ski and snowboard team Olympic training facility.
• Maximise (Max Henault)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership with Max Henault to deliver first landing airbag training facility in North America. Maximise features rope tow, rail line, jumps including 50-foot table. Partnership continued with indoor airbag setup and custom features.
• AcroBag WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgression Airbags represents a partnership formed by AcroBag World and Katal Innovations. AcroBag World was founded by Marc-André Tarte, former elite snowboarder with competition wins at World Snowboarding Championship, Lord of the Boards, Toyota Big Air Japan, and Freestyle.CH Festival.
• Katal InnovationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatal Innovations founded in 2008 by Stephen Slen and Aaron Coret (who became quadriplegic in 2005 snowboarding accident). Pioneered first downslope airbags. Delivered custom Landing Pad for Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony.
• US Ski & Snowboard (USSA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead coach Jeremy Forester approached Progression in 2016 to provide airbag technology for summer dryslope training facility at Utah Olympic Park. Progression was selected over all other major airbag companies.
• Snow Park TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationDryslope ramp design partner providing expertise for training facility projects including Utah Olympic Park facility.
• JF DrySkicoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerJF DrySki is the ultimate dryslope training facility solution. US National Team agrees this is the most realistic dryslope product available. 30 years of research and development behind the product.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Neveplast: Italian manufacturer of synthetic snow / dryslope surfaces used in ski training facilities. Competes directly with Progression's JF DrySki product line for indoor and outdoor dryslope installations at ski resorts and training centers worldwide.
• Big Air Bag: UK-based airbag manufacturer serving action sports training and events. Comparable to Progression in offering custom airbag systems for ski/snowboard and FMX, with similar B2B sales to resorts, training facilities, and event organizers worldwide.
• Snowflex: UK-based manufacturer of artificial snow / dryslope surfaces for year-round ski training. Competes with Progression's JF DrySki in the dryslope material segment, serving similar customers including ski centers and training facilities.
• AD Airbags (Airbag Designs): French manufacturer of landing airbags for action sports (skiing, snowboarding, BMX, FMX, scooter). Competes with Progression in the same product category across European and global markets with similar custom enterprise sales to ski resorts and national teams.
• The Bag Jump: Direct competitor making inflatable landing airbag systems for action sports (skiing, snowboarding, BMX, FMX). BagJump offers portable and permanent airbag installations globally, serving a similar customer base of athletes, events, and training facilities as Progression Airbags.
• Snow Park Technologies: US terrain park design and construction firm specializing in freestyle features for ski resorts. Progression is an explicit partner for dryslope ramp design, and SPT serves as an adjacent peer in the action sports training infrastructure ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Woodward: Established US operator of action sports training camps with multiple locations featuring indoor and outdoor facilities. While Woodward operates facilities rather than selling equipment, it is comparable as a major consumer of action sports training infrastructure and competes for end-user athlete training mindshare.

Regional players

• High Cascade Snowboard Camp: Premier US snowboard training camp located at Mt. Hood that has served as a proving ground for action sports airbag technologies. Comparable as a training facility destination serving similar elite athlete customers and pushing progression in freestyle sports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/progressionairbags
• Xx.com/ProAirBags
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProAirBags
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/progression-airbags

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Progression AirBags