About TAIGA
About TAIGA
our story
''There are so many water plans in Canada. Paddleboarding allows you to take advantage of them, whether alone or with friends, and simply enjoy being in the outdoors.''
- Nicolas Jolicoeur, founder.
Who we are
Quebec’s leading paddle board brand since 2014, TAIGA BOARD specializes in SUP (stand-up paddleboards), surfboards, wakesurf boards, and skateboards. True to our Quebec roots, we craft high-quality, durable boards that feature integrated wood in their design.
The passion of our team is fueled by rivers, lakes, and oceans, even though our name references the boreal forest. Our products, designed in Canada, are developed and tested in partnership with SUP enthusiasts to ensure that they meet the highest standards of performance.
The founders
TAIGA was founded in 2014 by cousins Nicolas and Pascal Jolicoeur, after discovering stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and recognizing a need for better-designed, better-performing products. Inspired by their roots in Quebec, they began crafting high-quality, durable boards that feature wood elements — blending performance with timeless design.
While Pascal has since moved on to new ventures, Nicolas continues to lead TAIGA with the same passion and vision that launched the brand. Those founding values remain at the heart of everything we do today.
Our values
At TAIGA, we’re not just board builders — we’re riders, explorers, and makers who care about doing things right.
- Innovative – We push boundaries with design, materials, and technology to offer high-performance boards that stand out on the water and beyond.
- Passionate – Everything we do starts with a spark — the same passion that drives you to chase the sunrise on a lake or drop into a wave.
- Human – We believe in staying real, staying close to our community, and working with heart. Behind every board is a team that cares.
- Expert – With over a decade of hands-on experience, we know boards. From engineering to craftsmanship, we don’t cut corners — we set the bar.
Our mission
From day one, our mission has been simple: make paddleboarding more accessible by building boards that ride well, look good, and respect the environment. We design high-performance, thoughtful, and unique products that stand out — to inspire people to explore waterways and connect with nature. Whether you're catching your first wave or planning your next expedition, we’re here to make sure your gear keeps up with the ride.
technical knowledge
Interview with Nicolas Jolicoeur
Founder of TAIGA & Engineer Specialized in 3D Shape Design
Nicolas Jolicoeur is more than just the founder of TAIGA — he’s the creative mind and technical expert behind the brand’s distinctive board shapes. With a background in engineering and a specialization in 3D shape design, Nicolas combines performance, aesthetics, and functionality to craft boards that stand out on the water.
The TAIGA Club
Because we simply couldn't do it without their help and expertise, meet our team of employees, athletes and ambassadors.
Brace yourself, they're rad!
Highlights
2025
- Launch of the Anniversary Collection to celebrate 10 years of Taiga Board Inc.
- Introduction of Welded Rail and Hydro Flow Edge technologies on our Air Series inflatable boards.
2024
- Nicolas takes over the company solo, joined by a new team.
- Launch of the Sequoia 13'6'' Family, a board built for group adventures.
2023
- Launch of the Root Collection, a tribute to our Quebec roots, featuring hard paddle boards made with natural Paulownia wood.
- The initial shareholders went their separate ways.
2022
- Introduction of Zip Air Tech on the Nano Zip Air 9’8’’ — a fold-in-half inflatable board that’s 50% more compact.
- Launch of the Hooké Air 11'6'' model — a SUP fishing board developed in collaboration with fellow Quebec brand Hooké.
- Arrival of X-Woven Fusion technology and the HP6 triple-action pump, allowing inflation up to 20 PSI for superior rigidity and performance.
- Team grows to nearly 12 employees during peak season.
2021
- Hiring of our first marketing interns, expanding the team and creative output.
- Launch of X-Woven technology for increased performance and durability.
- First edition of an All Wood 10'0'' SUP, along with the limited Corona Edition.
- Full pre-sale season: Every board was sold in pre-sale from fall through spring, with deliveries scheduled up to six months later — a direct result of the surge in demand caused by COVID-19.
2020
- Our first Marketing Director joins as TAIGA’s second employee to lead brand and communications.
- Launch of the longboard style SUP Surf Logg.
- First edition of the ALL WOOD 10’0'', which would later evolve into the Root Collection.
- Unprecedented demand during the Covid-19 pandemic — we sold out by June. We were out of stock for the rest of the summer.
2019
- Expansion of the SUP Race 14'0'' lineup
- Launch of Surf Longboard 9’0'', Malibu 7’2'', and wakesurf Fish 5’0''
- 900 boards sold
2018
- First full-time employee, focused on customer experience
- Friends and ambassadors lend a hand during events and peak season
- Arrival of wood print design and Stringer Fusion Tech
- Launch of longboard and cruiser skateboards
- SUP Collection: 4 SUP surf, 7 all-around hard SUPs, 2 touring hard SUPs, 2 race boards, 5 inflatables
- 700 boards sold
2017
- Nicolas leaves his engineering job to go full-time with TAIGA
- Larger collection: inflatable SUPs, race boards, giant boards, and a second collab with Ouisurf
- 450 boards sold
Board Lineup
- SUP Surf: El Limon 7’8'', El Nino 8’3'', OuiSurf 9’5'', El Pepito 8’0'', El Cabron 7’7''
- Race: Race 12’6'' (x2 models)
- Hard SUPs: Eska 9'0'', Akoya 9'5'', Awen 10'0'', Borea 10’6'', Thuya 11’0'', Kazuzu 12’6'', Cohena Softop LS 8'0''
- Inflatable SUPs: Awen 10’0'', Borea 10’6'', Kazuzu 12’6'', River 9’6'', Nibi (Kid) 8’0'', Squash (Séquoia) 16'5''
2016
- First trip to China and discovery of our manufacturing partners — relationships that still continue today
- Second trip to China to prepare the 2017 lineup
- Nicolas takes a parental leave to run the growing business full-time
- Launch of a more complete collection, including new hard models, one rental-specific model, and our first inflatable board
- Launch of wakesurf Skim 4'8'' and a first collab with Ouisurf
- Logistics managed by a partner
- Start of collaboration and sales with our friends at KSF
- First events on the road
- First brand ambassadors: Sophie Corriveau & Antoine Caron Cabana
- 250 boards sold
Board Lineup
- SUP Surf: El Limon 7’8'', El Nino 8’3'', OuiSurf 9’5''
- Hard SUPs: Eska 9'0'', Akoya 9'5'', Awen 10'0'', Borea 10’6'', Thuya 11’0'', Kazuzu 12’6'', Cohena Softop LS 8'0''
- Inflatable SUP: Taiga Air 10'6''
2015
- Official website launch, along with first presence on Facebook and Instagram
- Launch of 6 hard paddle boards and 2 paddle models
- First summer of sales: boards sold out of a basement, while working full-time jobs
- 50 boards sold
Board Lineup
- SUP Surf: SUP Surf 8’3'', SUP Surf 9’0''
- Hard SUPs: Hybrid 9’5'', All Around 10’6'', Yoga 11’0'', Race-Touring 12’6''
2014
- Early brainstorming begins — on everything from the name and logo to board shapes, product lines, and long-term vision
- First prototypes are sketched and tested
- Brand values take shape: performance, design, quality, connection to nature, and Quebec pride
- TAIGA begins as a side hustle — evenings, weekends, and long nights filled with research, design, and planning
