Something Pretty DOWP is Here in Pagosa
I take my coffee and grab a seat. Before me sits a bright-eyed, curly-haired, handsome young man. He’s full of energy and ambition, and I can already tell he has the kind, considerate nature of a Pagosa Local. I have the pleasure of talking to Julian Caler, the co-founder of DOWP a snowboard group.
As soon as he starts talking about his snowboards, I don’t have to do anything to urge him on. From the beginning, his passion comes through with every word.
For five years now, Caler has been teaming up David Yerton. They design custom-made, one of a kind snowboards right here in Pagosa Springs. They build the brand around the energy and culture of snowboarders. The duo is funny and edgy and always ready to take on the next adventure.
For Caler, snowboarding has always been a passion. It’s something that helps him relax and get away from stressful days. But designing snowboards is something he had to get talked into.
It was David Yerton who talked Caler into designing and selling unique snowboards. Caler took a ski and snowboard business class in Steamboat Springs. He learned a few marketable skills and landed several internships in major companies. But after a company wanted him to move to New York City, he returned home to Pagosa Springs.
That’s when Yerton convinced Caler that they should create their own boards. The ski and snowboard industry is one that’s hard to get into. So Yerton and Caler knew they would have to carve their niche to get a foothold in the market.
They succeeded. Their boards are one of a kind from the design to the build to the backstory. Though Caler says their business isn’t enough to cover all the bills yet, it’s slowly but steadily growing and gaining a following.
What Makes DOWP Unique?
They’re committed to creating high-quality homemade products. It sets them ahead of the pack, and their attention to detail shows.
Yerton provides snowboard designs. But he’s been doodling them since he was ten. In the team’s first meetings he brought sketches and designs from over a decade go. His signature was always DOWP, and the duo knew they would stick to it for their company name.
They make the boards from bamboo. This keeps the board light for the rider. But it also makes them more flexible, and more resilient than boards from other materials.
To make the boards even better, they apply a polyurethane coat as a liquid. It dries as part of the bamboo board. Other boards have the polyurethane coat glued to the board. DOWP’s method makes the boards more flexible, more durable, and more resilient.
But they also have a unique shape. Caler told me about two unique designs, for his boards. The first is square edges. At first, they were looking to create a unique-looking board.
But when they tested the product, they found out the square edges gave the boarder better grip on the snow. This comes in handy when the rider goes to land a jump or another stunt.
Other boards have a unique beavertail design. It’s designed to look like the mammal’s big flat tail. The beavertail design makes it easier to stay on top of fresh powder. The tail sinks in the back, giving the board more air over powder. The concept originated from a similar style on surfboards. But it applies to snowboards too, so the team ran with it.
Each design is unique and full of personality. One design has Bigfoot eating a chocolate bar. Presumably, he tied the Boy Scouts behind him to the tree.
Another depicts a bear sitting next to a roaring campfire. The smoke depicts a battle against the night sky.
These boards have some of the coolest designs I’ve ever seen, and you’ll love them too. (Check out more cool styles on their Instagram here.)
Each board is a limited edition masterpiece. Once a snowboard sells out, they don’t make more. DOWP wants to see people who love their current board come back for a newer version, and ideally start a collection of DOWP snowboards.
If you have a particular design you want on a snowboard, DOWP can make it happen for you.
Why Pagosa Springs
Caler has lived in Pagosa since he was a kid. He moved away for a while going into college in Steamboat Springs. “It was more like two years of skiing and internships than college,” he tells me.
But he didn’t like being away from this unique mountain town for long. Pagosa Springs is home for him. After a few years, he moved back and intends to stay.
We talked for a while about how unique and special Pagosa Springs is. From its mountain views to rural ranches, Pagosa Springs calls to people from all over the world. There’s no other town like it.
While Pagosa is a tourist town, it doesn’t feel like a tourist hot spot. Tourism is the industry, and yet, Pagosa Springs still keeps its own small-town culture.
And Caler is a perfect example of its friendliness. I mentioned I drove my scooter to meet with him (in the rain) and without hesitating he let me know he’d be happy to give me a ride.
Caler wants to see Pagosa grow, and he’d love to see DOWP grow as a part of it. But even if it doesn’t Caler says it’s something he knows he’ll always have.
When he’s stressed, he can go work on a new snowboard and test it out on the slopes. He admits running and managing the business can get hard sometimes. But its also something he loves. When things get tricky, his passion helps him push through.
No matter how big it grows, he wants to keep DOWP snowboards local. While he thinks it would be great for DOWP to get big enough to export production, he plans to keep his business here.
How Can I Get a DOWP Snowboard?
You don’t have to be a local to love DOWP. These boards are great for anyone who loves to get into the mountains and into the snow, even for a few days a year. DOWP snowboards are a Pagosa treasure with a unique Pagosa Springs story behind them.
Right now, boards run between $300 to $600. Prices are sure to go up soon. To get your hands on a snowboard of your own, contact DOWP a snowboard group on their site or via Instagram.
Written by Juliara Baeten, Staff Writer for Pagosa Source Real Estate Advisors
