The 2023/24 collection for Niche Snowboards was inspired by things lost and frozen in time. Designs feature extinct plants and animals, threatened species of varying types, living fossils and more. This season's Wraith features the extinct Moa bird.
Moa are an extinct group of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, the largest of which, reached about 12 feet in height! The nine species of moa are the only known birds that did not have wings. They were the largest terrestrial animals and dominant herbivores in New Zealand's forest, shrubland, and subalpine ecosystems until the arrival of the Māori, and were hunted only by the Haast's eagle. Moa extinction occurred within 100 years of human settlement of New Zealand, primarily due to overhunting.
The individual Moa illustration was made by illustrator Nikki Goodwin, with background foliage elements drawn by Zosia Olenska. Complete composition was created by Ana Van Pelt.
