SWITCH STEPS IT UP WITH STEP-IN-BINDINGS

     The process of developing and marketing snowboard bindings
that eliminate the cumbersome "bear-trap-like" straps has been a
lucrative one for S.F.-based Switch Manufacturing, according to
INC magazine's Christopher Caggiano.  The company, founded by
President Erik Anderson and Dir of Design/Manufacturing Jeff
Sand, took $200,000 in loans from family and friends in the
spring of '92 to research and develop a snow ski-like step-in-
binding, the results of which generated over $1.5M in '95.  Step-
in bindings  represent 5% of the snowboard-binding market but
Anderson expects them to account for 95% by 2000.  Switch also
licensed its bindings to seven boot makers including Vans, "a
fast-riser" in the boot market (INC, 9/96).