Brad Steward

Brad Steward is a former professional snowboarder and is the founder of Bonfire Snowboarding. Steward was one of the first entrepreneurs of the snowboard industry.^[1] He currently is the Marketing Director for both Bonfire and Salomon Snowboards.

Steward attended film school in Ventura, California at the Brooks Institute but chose to pursue a career in the snowboarding industry.^[2] Steward began working for Sims in 1989 and became the marketing director by 1990.^[3] He then moved to the newly founded Morrow Snowboards in Salem, Oregon, to improve the marketing strategy, logos, and overall image of the company.^[4]

While working with Sims and Morrow, Steward was in the process of developing his own company.^[5] In 1989, Steward created three unique t-shirts featuring the word “bonfire” enlarged in rough copy, directly from an old Sears brand typewriter.^[6] In the early stages, Steward called the company Bonfire Think Tank Designs.^[7] Steward’s company – now called Bonfire Snowboarding – has become one of the leading snowboard-apparel brands on the market.^[8]

In 1998 Steward and Burton founder Jake Burton sued U.S. Skiing over the Olympic qualification process for snowboarders, which resulted in a settlement that produced the Grand Prix series for snowboarders to enter the Olympics.^[9]

In 2000 Steward left his active role at Bonfire to pursue his lifelong interest in film. He directed commercials, music videos and more, and in 2003 returned to Bonfire where he continues to direct the brand’s marketing from their office in Portland, Oregon.^[10]

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