Arbor Celebrates its 25th Anniversary with a Spectacular Documentary

The California brand with a tree logo, nowadays a legend, was created in 1995 on the idea of sustainable production of snowboards and skateboards. Long before it started to be cool. The whole story of Arbor which led to today's global fame, will be revealed in the new documentary called "Crossing the Grain".

Arbor Documentary: Crossing the Grain

In 1995, two friends launched Arbor to make sustainability the guiding principle in the production of their snowboard and skateboard products. They would be the first traditional Action Sports brand to do so, while also being the first to formally commit to donating a portion of sales to the conservation of the environment. Arbor entered the market with a line of snowboards made with sustainably sourced wood tops and cores, a reduced reliance on plastic, and a commitment to the preservation of forests. The story of how Arbor got from this idealistic start to the brand it is today has never been told.

Now, at its 25-year mark, the Arbor Collective tells its story with a new documentary called “Crossing the Grain.” The film explores how Arbor’s founders, Bob Carlson and Chris Jensen, launched the company as outsiders with a purpose into an extremely crowded mid-90’s market. It follows Arbor through its struggles to find acceptance and financial footing as the industry consolidated in the early 2000s; to building a unique, collective path forward; to eventually earning its place as one of today's the most innovative and enduring snowboard and skateboard brands. The film is a tale about sticking to your guns, refusing to give up, and what it takes to leave a positive mark on the surf, skate, snow industry.