Rome Snowboards carves a bold path for snowboarding’s future with innovative technology and striking design.
STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER
PHOTOS COURTESY ROME SNOWBOARDS
In the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Rome Snowboards has built its reputation as a brand that reflects the spirit of the state’s rich snowboarding heritage. Founded in 2001 in Waterbury, Rome’s philosophy is rooted in creating rider-focused gear that balances bold design with innovative technology. Whether it’s through their boards, bindings, or boots, every product is crafted with the rider in mind, beautifully capturing the culture of Vermont snowboarding.
For Rome Snowboards Graphic Designer Portia Wassick, Rome’s commitment to Vermont’s snowboarding scene resonates on a deeply personal level. Growing up in Southern Vermont and immersed in the world of snowboarding from an early age, Wassick now carries on that legacy through her work. Her journey, along with Rome’s connection to Vermont, embodies the essence of what makes the brand unique: authenticity, creativity, and an unwavering dedication to the Vermont snowboarding community. In the weeks leading up to the start of the winter snowboarding season, Wassick sat down with VERMONT Magazine to speak on the underpinning philosophy behind Rome Snowboards and how it translates into their products, cutting edge technology, and her work there as a designer.
According to Wassick, Rome’s roots in Vermont go beyond geographic ties; they inform every aspect of their product design. “Our snowboarding scene here in Vermont is very, very down to earth, and everybody’s always down to do whatever they can to make the best of it.” To that end, the Rome team frequently tests prototypes on the local slopes and seeks feedback from nearby riders and shop owners. “We take all of the feedback from community members pretty seriously, especially when it comes to making decisions that inform our products and their design,” shares Wassick.
This hands-on, community-driven approach is reflected in Rome’s boards, bindings, and boots, which cater to riders across all levels and styles, from park enthusiasts to powder mavens. Rome’s flagship board models, like the Ravine and Ravine Pro, embody the rugged spirit of Vermont’s terrain, with a shape specifically designed for backcountry riding.
One of Rome’s most remarkable snowboarding gear innovations is its HotRod technology. This feature consists of thin rods embedded into the core of the boards, which are designed to give riders enhanced power and responsiveness. Wassick explains how these rods work: “They add torsional stability, while also allowing you to ollie a little bit higher and get a little bit more ‘pop’ out of your jumps. There are four different kinds, but the carbon Omega HotRods are the beefiest.” The HotRods system is more than just a simple enhancement; it’s a critical tool for delivering a dynamic riding experience. With multiple configurations available, each board can be fine-tuned for specific performance needs. The Directional Single HotRod offers stability at high speeds and smooth turn initiation for all-mountain riders, and the Twin Double V HotRod provides maximum ollie power for freestyle riders who love hitting jumps and rails.
True to Wassick’s words, the Omega HotRod variation further amplifies energy transfer, offering “turbo boosters” for the board’s flex pattern. This is ideal for riders looking for even more explosive response.
Rome’s technological advancements extend beyond the boards to their bindings, where the proprietary AuxTech® system elevates rider comfort and responsiveness. “The AuxTech® system provides a really connected riding experience,” Wassick explains. “You’re able to have a lot more responsiveness with your boot in the binding itself, and it’s a lot more of a close feel than you have with other snowboard bindings.” The AuxTech® system features a geometric pattern that stretches in response to pressure, creating unparalleled ease and precision. Additional innovations like Flax Walls—lightweight, durable materials strategically placed in the board’s core—further elevate performance. Flax adds impact absorption without sacrificing strength, providing stability in demanding backcountry conditions and support during big landings.
While Rome’s technology is at the forefront of their product line, the visual design of the boards plays an equally significant role in shaping the rider’s experience. Wassick leads the charge in creating designs that speak to the rebellious, tightly knit spirit of Vermont’s snowboarding scene, blending gritty aesthetics with technical precision. The process begins with figuring out the “attitude” of the board and what kind of riding experience it should evoke. Wassick explains, “We start off with figuring out the profile of the board. ‘Who is this board going to be marketed towards?’ Obviously, a really soft women’s park board needs to look different than a powder board that’s targeted for somebody who’s ripping through the trees.” From there, Wassick usually sketches out design ideas by hand before transitioning to digital tools, such as the Procreate app on her iPad, ensuring that the raw, hand-drawn quality is retained even after the design is digitized.
Wassick believes that the way Rome’s design team balances true-life, DIY aesthetics with advanced production techniques sets them apart from larger corporate snowboarding gear companies. In line with that sentiment, Wassick uses a blend of hands-on materials—like torn paper, old punk band posters, and scanned images— to create the look that defines the brand. “Once we tear up some paper and hand-draw elements, we scan it all in,” adds Wassick. “I have this old scanner that I like to use, because it produces really cool effects. It’s a little bit grittier and lower-res, which is perfect for the aesthetic we’re going for.”
As a graphic designer tasked with translating striking two-dimensional images to three-dimensional, curved surface of a snowboard, Wassick faces unique challenges. She likens her process of dimensional translation to the manner in which a tattoo artist considers the shape and contour of the human body when designing a tattoo. “You can’t just pop the art from a powder board onto a twin board, because it’ll look totally wonky and weird,” she explains. “You have to think about how the design will look when it’s wrapped around different types of boards’ shapes so it doesn’t get awkwardly distorted or lose its visual impact.” This balance of creativity and technical execution is a crucial part of her job, ensuring that every design works harmoniously with the board’s shape and function.
One of the most rewarding parts of Wassick’s work is collaborating with Rome’s pro riders, including Ståle Sandbech and Rene Rinnekangas, to create their signature board models. “Working with those guys is really awesome,” Wassick says. “They’ll come to the table with a few loose ideas, and we just have cool, casual conversations to try to bring them to life.” This process often starts with a rough sketch or concept from the rider, which Wassick then refines into fully realized board graphics.
Wassick’s ability to work closely with the pros allows her to capture their unique personalities and riding styles in the designs. “It’s cool that the riders have input,” she says, emphasizing that these collaborations help create boards that perform at the highest level, while reflecting the ethos of the athletes who ride them. Some of her proudest work includes the Heist—a women’s park board designed with a unique, collage-inspired aesthetic, as well as the signature pro-model boards for
Sandbech and Rinnekangas.
For Wassick, working at Rome Snowboards is more than just a career—it’s a continuation of her deep connection to Vermont and the world of snowboarding. Her parents both worked as product designers for Burton in the early 1990s. At the time, the Burton office was still headquartered in Southern Vermont. As key staff members, they helped to shape the aesthetic of the sport during its formative years. Growing up, Wassick was surrounded by snowboarding culture and gear. She recalls that Rome Snowboards, which entered the market during her early days on the Vermont slopes, was always a big part of that experience and culture. “I pretty much grew up on Rome gear,” Wassick says. “It was what all the cool kids had.”
Following her graduation from college, Wassick returned to Vermont and found a welcoming place at Rome. She says that her work at Rome has allowed her to blend her artistic passion with her lifelong love for the sport that defined her childhood.
“When I moved back to Vermont, I wasn’t necessarily looking for a job in the snowboard industry, but when Rome was hiring for a graphic designer, I said, ‘Why not?’ It felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.” This deep connection to Vermont is what continues to drive Wassick. Her heartfelt ties to her home state serve as a microcosmic reflection of a greater sense of Vermont pride, which pervades throughout all aspects of Rome’s product design process.
While other brands have expanded far beyond their local roots, Rome remains committed to its Vermont base. The company’s proximity to local resorts ensures that every product they develop is rooted in the passionate Vermont snowboarding community. “We’re not just a snowboard company that happens to be in Vermont,” says Wassick. “We are a Vermont snowboard company. We’re embedded in the local culture, and we’re designing for the people we ride with on the mountains. We’re not chasing trends or trying to be something we’re not. We’re just doing what we do best— making gear for real riders.”
As Rome Snowboards continues to grow, Wassick is particularly excited about the future of their product line, which continues to push the boundaries of design and technology while staying true to the brand’s core identity. “We’ve got some fresh designs coming up for the 2025/26 season that I think people are going to be really stoked on. We’ve kept our core attitude, but we’re introducing some new ideas that will take us in exciting directions.” In addition to Rome’s well-stocked online shop, their products are available in shops like Darkside Snowboards’ two locations in Killington and Ludlow, and Splinters Boardshop in Warren, ensuring that local riders have access to the gear that’s been developed with their specific needs in mind. Rome is carving an exciting path for the future of Vermont snowboarding, and they are doing it with style, integrity, and balance every bit as impressive as a seasoned rider coasting down the Green Mountain slopes.
Overall investing in garage door services is an intelligent decision for maintaining a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing garage manteca garage door repair providing convenience and peace of mind for homeowners.
Many moving vans also have loading ramps or hydraulic lifts to make the process of loading and unloading storage units madera ca heavy items much easier.
QuickBooks makes it easy to track bill payments and manage vendor relationships. Users can schedule payments, set up recurring bills, and track due dates to avoid late fees. The software also allows users to record partial payments and credits, ensuring that all transactions are accurately reflected in the financial records. By intuit timesheet managing bills and vendor payments efficiently, QuickBooks helps businesses maintain good relationships with their suppliers and avoid cash flow issues.
In addition to junk removal, Jacksons Junk Removal offers light demolition services. Whether it’s tearing down an old shed or mattress removal seattle removing kitchen cabinets, their team can handle small demolition jobs safely and efficiently, preparing spaces for renovation or other uses.
Rome Snowboards exemplifies Vermont’s snowboarding culture with innovative gear designed for passionate riders. Rooted in authenticity and creativity, their boards, bindings, and boots are crafted to elevate the snowboarding experience. Graphic Designer Portia Wassick, inspired by her Southern Vermont upbringing, reflects this ethos in her designs. As the winter season begins, Rome’s commitment to quality and bold design shines through, whether it’s in their iconic boards or stylish jacket red and white, perfect for hitting the slopes in style and comfort.