The Bomb Hole Tommy Delago | The Bomb Hole Episode 242
Feb 25, 2026
Tommy Delago, founder of Nitro Snowboards and longtime snowboard product designer, shares origin stories from DIY boards to founding snowboard schools and the German association. He dives into early splitboard experiments, Nitro’s first designs and manufacturing challenges. Conversations cover teaching methods, design philosophy, iconic Nitro models, and where board innovation is headed.
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Team Fun Snowboard Camp Launched Snowboarding Careers
- Tommy started Team Fun Snowboard Camp as a grassroots program that brought busloads of shop employees to weekend lessons.
- He ran 200+ rental boards, used plate/hard-boot bindings and taught many future industry people, charging roughly $40–$80 per weekend in the late 80s.
German Snowboard Association Started In A Living Room
- Tommy co-founded the German Snowboard Association in his living room and helped write the first snowboard instructor manual.
- They involved a biomechanics professor to explain turning mechanics, shaping the teaching approach away from ski-method checklists.
Nitro Was Born From A Failed GNU Project
- The initial Nitro line began as a project to design a GNU line but became its own brand after distribution and licensing issues in Seattle.
- Tommy drew the first Nitro board (a swallowtail powder board), learned CAD, and launched without money or formal trademark research.