If you were to list out the places where you would expect to find a super rad snowboard shop, you would probably think of like Tahoe, Salt Lake, maybe Denver, Portland, places like that…

 You probably wouldn’t think of adding Houston to that list but, as you are about to find out H town is home to more than just purple drank, Mike Jones, and oil wells- it’s home to Kingpinz. Texas’s one and only snowboard shop.

Whats up Kingpinz, hows the shop?

Kingpinz is doing great, we just rolled over our 5 year anniversary in September. We are hyped to say the least...

Congratulations on 5 years, how does a snowboard shop come into existence in Texas?

Well I love retail, and I decided I was going to pick the most ridiculous niche business I could find to get into. So when people come in my store they all have the same expression as I am sure you did too. "A snowboard shop in Texas? Thats Ridiculous!!" As you can see we like to keep the goals simple, and have been successful so far.

On the more truthful side, I schlepped snowobards and skis for a big box store for a better part of 10 years. As the years went on I started to notice the need for a specialty snowboard shop in the area. So I took the plunge and have not looked back since.

Is everything really bigger in Texas? So can I get a Super Model 195 down there?

195 coming up, I can get your hands on a vintage 1995 172 Supermodel. All cap construction. Any Takers?? I will throw in a dusty A deck while we are at it....

Can people tie up horses out front of the shop?

Yes we do have a horse tie up front. It is right next to our Anna Nicole Smith shrine out front. It comes with a water trough and a shovel to scoop the poop up with...

Touche... What do you consider your local mountain? Are there any resorts in Texas?

Well we do have a road on the north side of Houston called Mt Houston. Does that count?? No other mountains in Texas to speak of. We like to call Wolf Creek home...

Wolf Creek is in Colorado right? How often do you usually make it up there?

Yea Colorado. I get up about about twice a season if I am lucky. Alot of my clientèle get up quite a bit more. A majority of them are season pass holders at alot of hills in Colorado and Utah.

How did you get into snowboarding?

It started with family trips back in the day. Then I moved to the mountains, to teach snow skiing, and I have skated my whole life. So it was all a natural progression from there

What do you guys do when you are not snowboarding?

Well we skate alot,and we have a shop video coming out this Fall called the Corridor of shame. It features some of our team riders, and a gang of other Houston skaters that kill it. Other than that we make butter, and brush peoples horses for them to keep the cash flow moving in the off season.

 Any products you guys are really stoked on this year?

I am really stoked on the new Flying V technology. I think this is the wave of the future. Down here in Texas most people don't have a quiver of boards to ride. A rocker board may not be the best for a Texas rider who only has one stick to rip. Flying V has me amped because we are going to be able to put people that can only have one board on a loose feeling cambered board. Needless to say we will be pumping this tech to death this season. As usual all the outerwear in on point, especially the white collection. Thats going to be the banger this year.

Does it get very cold in Houston? Is it jacket or hoody weather in the winter?

We have a very short winter down here, at it's coldest it may be jacket weather for a week or two. Thats why we all migrate to the mountains in the winter to escape the heat. Just like peeps from from up north go south for Vacation in the winter. We like to escape the Winter heat down here and head north to the mountains.

Any cool shop events planned for the season?

We had the premier of the Burton B movie about a month ago. We had about 325 people show up for the event. That was check one for the first success of the season. The next big event is to sell off all this product and go snowboarding. I will let you know how check two goes. We like to keep it under wraps, but there is alot of people from Texas that snowboard. They are just as die hard as any mountain town local. Our clintele lives and breathes snowboarding. They are usually here in July when all the new stuff shows up just to get a taste. B movie premier pics. Check out more pictures here. 

Dang, sounds like it was a good premier and glad to hear everyone down there was into “The B”, so there really is a big snowboard scene down there huh? Anything else cool that you want to tell us about?

Welcome to Texas real deal!! We are proud to claim Kingpinz is Texas one and only snowboard specialty shop. No bikes,tents,bikinis or dude bras here. Just Texas best snowboard selections backed up, with the best product knowledge, in the friendliest environment possible!!

In closing I want to give a big shout to all our Kingpinz Fam, and Texas snowboarders that relentlessly make the exodus to the mountains season after season!! Holla if you hear me, Texas represent!

Misty Nug: Mt. Houston isn't actually in Houston, and doesn't really look very ridable. Mt. Houston Rd, IS in Houston though.

Part  of a well balanced week of Burton blog posts officially known as "Now Read This,"

Shop Stop Saturday, stops at a shop, on Saturdays