45RPM Vintage: Style Idols Deep
The Subtle Brand Preserving Snowboarding’s Golden History
The ’80s, ’90s, and early ’00s were the golden and emboldened ages of snowboarding. If you know, you know—it was a time of unadulterated discovery, dirt lifestyle survival, endless progression sessions, video parts, and premieres. It was an era defined by creative companies and extended offerings, often driven by rider ideology and artistic vision.
While everyone is rightfully hyped about seeing iconic board brands make a comeback, there’s one niche apparel brand that’s been subtly curating and preserving this culture on the softgoods side—and doing it with unmatched authenticity: 45RPM Vintage.
This isn’t just about throwing a forgotten logo on a cheap shirt. This is a reverent, retrospective, and archival appreciation for the true history of our sport.
Founded by an Industry Architect: The Sessions Connection
The reason 45RPM Vintage feels so real is because of who’s running it: Joel Gomez.
If you were a snowboarder during those decades, you knew Joel. He was the visionary behind Sessions MFG, the NorCal brand that defined a skate-inspired ethos in technical gear for a generation. Gomez has direct, first-hand connections to the era’s originals and notables—the photographers, riders, and the untold backstories of back when, then, and there.
With 45RPM, he’s essentially opening up his personal scrapbook. It’s a collective, personal iteration of snowboarding history, giving us access to cool, deep-cut memories. This intentionality means every piece of clothing tells a story, serving as a genuine nod to the original architects of the culture.
Wearing the Archive: Photography and IP
What sets 45RPM off is its commitment to using genuine cultural intellectual property (IP)—the actual images and individuals who set the tone and defined the style.
Instead of generic nostalgia, the brand drops specific, forever-ever iconic images and deep-cut references, keenly captured and pressed onto high-quality apparel.
Featured to date, Joel has tapped the talents of legendary photographers like Sean Sullivan, Jon Foster, Bud Fawcett, Trevor Graves, Rob Mathis, and Whitey McConnaughy. The resulting apparel highlights the influential style of icons like: Jamie Lynn, Terje Haakonsen, Jeff Brushie, JP Walker, Shaun Palmer, Shannon Dunn, Terry Kidwell, Tom Sims, Scott Clum, and Chuck Barfoot.
Why 45RPM Is Elemental
In the current market, it’s easy for the emphasis to hold fast and align with a branded logo identity—the simple “I ride [fill in the company name]” associative. 45RPM Vintage serves as a vital anchor to the sport’s roots, offering an equity that is truly foundational and transcendent.
They focus purely on the vibe, the aesthetic, and the throwback appeal. It allows riders—both old-school shred nerds and younger zealots discovering the classics—to instantly communicate their appreciation for and identification with the foundation of the sport. It’s the perfect way to rock that authentic flavor without having to track down twenty-year-old, stained vintage gear.
If you’re looking to inject some legitimate shred into your fit off-hill, check out 45RPM. You’ll be running a piece of snowboarding lore and legend.
What’s your favorite piece of snowboard history: a specific video part, an old magazine cover, or a legendary piece of gear?
