History
Created in 1992 in Valfréjus, France, by Thias Balmain, the skwal has brought together carving enthusiasts from around the world for more than 30 years. Thias never limited the skwal to extreme carving, as shown in this photo from 1996. He continually explored new shapes and ways to make the skwal more versatile.
Birth of the FREE SKWAL
Thirty years after the first skwal, driven by a new generation of riders — including Fernand Guillon from Val Thorens — a new approach emerged: FREE SKWAL!
Innovation, Performance & Style — The Adventure Continues...
30 years after the first skwal and thanks to the impact of a group of young riders, the most famous being FERNAND GUILLON from VAL THORENS, a new trend was born:
the FREE SKWAL !
Since 2023, Thias Skwal has continued to evolve with the same passion: pushing skwal forward, innovating and having fun on the snow.
Our range has expanded with the Z67, followed by the Z55 and ER175 Bamboo, marking a new step forward in the performance, feel and aesthetics of our boards.
The adventure is also expanding into new products. With our chestnut ski poles, we are bringing wood and elegance back to the heart of the ride. With the Gliders, we are exploring a new way to use the snow for support and push for even greater angles, performance and enjoyment — not only on a skwal, but also on skis, monoski, telemark and beyond.
At the same time, our community continues to grow and welcome a new generation. A new wave of ambassadors, many of whom discovered skwal only recently, are now sharing their passion on the slopes. The many events held over the past three seasons have created more opportunities to meet, try skwal and introduce new riders to this unique way of riding.
New boards, new products, new riders: the Thias Skwal story continues to unfold and open up new horizons.