Burton Snowboards Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustrySporting goods
Founded1977 (1977)
HeadquartersBurlington, Vermont
Key people
Jake Burton Carpenter, Founder and Chairman
ProductsSnowboard equipment, apparel, accessories
Number of employees
Over 600 U.S., 950 Global[1]
Websitewww.burton.com

Burton Snowboards is a privately-owned snowboard manufacturing company that was founded by Jake Burton Carpenter in 1977.[2][3] The company specializes in products aimed at snowboarders, such as snowboards, bindings, boots, outerwear, and accessories. The company, whose flagship store is in Burlington, Vermont,[4] was privately owned by Jake Burton Carpenter (also known as Jake Burton), until his death in 2019, and by his wife, Donna Carpenter, who has been active in the business since 1983.[5][4]

History

Top view of a c. 1981 Burton snowboard in museum condition

Burton Snowboards[6] was founded by Jake Burton in 1977.[4] His co-founder, Dimitrije Milovich, was an East Coast surfer and the founder of snowboard company Winterstick.[7] Their snowboards were inspired by the Snurfer,[4] which was created in 1965 by Sherman Poppen. In 1977, Burton moved to Londonderry, Vermont, where he made the first Burton snowboard in his garage, by hand.[8] Since Burton could not afford proper equipment, he applied polyurethane to the prototype.[9] In 1978, the company moved to Manchester, Vermont.

Jake Burton campaigned for local ski resorts to open their lifts to snowboard riders. In 1982, the Suicide Six Ski Area, now called Saskadena Six Ski Area,[10] in Pomfret, Vermont, was reportedly the first mountain to permit snowboarders,[11] followed by Stratton Mountain, and later Jay Peak and Stowe. When resorts started to accept snowboarders on lifts, the public did too; and Burton became one of the main suppliers for snowboarders.

In 1982, Burton marketed its product at the National Snowboarding Championships, held at Suicide Six. Snow Valley also allowed snowboarders and in 1984 hosted the US Open. In 1985, the National Snowboarding Championships moved to Stratton Mountain and became the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, which was owned and operated by Burton. This competition helped legitimize the sport.

In 1985, Burton established the European Division of Burton Snowboards in Innsbruck, Austria. In 1986, distribution began in New Zealand. In 1992, the Burton factory relocated to Burlington, Vermont. In 1994, Burton opened its Japan division in Urawa-shi. In 2014, there were 400 employees in Burlington and 1,000 worldwide.[5]

In 2008, several complaints arose when Burton produced snowboards that had illustrations of self-mutilation and Playboy bunnies. As a result, the Burton Love model was discontinued for the 2012 line and replaced by the Mr. Nice Guy.[12]

As of 2009, Burton owned ten companies that sold snowboards, outerwear, and shoes.[13][14] In 2008, Burton began to make surfboards in Vermont.

For many years, Burton and his wife—Donna Gaston Carpenter, whom he had married in 1983[5]—hosted the Fall Bash, to promote goodwill among company employees and friends.[15] In 2009, the Fall Bash became the subject of controversy after the company attempted to censor the press about it.[16]

In 2010, Burton announced that Burton Snowboards would cease manufacturing in Vermont and move production to Austria.[17] More recently, the company has shifted some of its snowboard production to China.

In December 2011, Burton named his wife, Donna Carpenter, as president of the company.[5] In 2013, Donna Carpenter estimated that the company had 40 to 45% of the snowboarding market, which totaled $236 million. She said that the U.S. market constituted 35% of the company's business, with Europe making up 30%, and Japan and Canada the rest.[5]

In May 2014, Burton named Mike Rees as CEO, while remaining as founder and chairman.[5] In December 2015, Burton named Donna Carpenter as CEO (Mike Rees having left to be closer to family) and John Lacy as president.[18]

In 2016, in light of the company's 40th anniversary, Burton's Chief Creative Officer, Greg Dacyshyn, stated he wished to keep both the sport and lifestyle aspect of the brand going for many years.[19]

Jake Burton Carpenter died at his home on November 20, 2019, due to a recurrence of testicular cancer.[20]

Technology

The first Burton snowboard was the BB1, a narrow board consisting of single-strap bindings with a rope and handle attached to the nose.[21]

The company started using a single-channel binding-mounting system on its 2008 models. In 2009, this system was installed on other snowboard lines. A binding system was created with this system that was designed to give the rider more control and a greater board feels. This binding system, named EST® (Extra Sensory Technology), eliminates weight by mounting the binding to the board from the sides of the binding instead of the middle, getting rid of the middle baseplate.

Company overview

Burton factory in 2009, including double chairlift, originally used at a resort,[22] between streetlights

Burton is now the second-largest snowboard manufacturer in the US;[23] and its products are marketed worldwide in over 4,348 stores, 1,536 of which are in the United States. In 2003, Burton allowed several online companies to sell Burton products over the internet. For years, Burton products had been available only through local stores; but the company felt that an online presence would allow buyers to have an alternate way to buy Burton products, instead of having to turn to another brand.[24]

As well as selling Burton products, Burton stores sell several sub-brands which focus on specific market niches. These sub-brands include Anon Optics (snowboard goggles and eyewear), RED (helmets and body armor), Analog (outerwear),[25] and Gravis (footwear, now defunct).[26] In 2005, Four Star Distribution sold four of its snowboard brands to Burton: Forum Snowboarding, Jeenyus, Foursquare, and Special Blend.[27] Burton also owned surfboard manufacturer Channel Islands, but sold the brand in 2020.[28]

The Burton line is split into four categories: freeride, for a big mountain ride; freestyle, for a versatile ride; park, for freestyle disciplines such as half-pipe and slopestyle; and carving, for carving down the sides of mountains. Each of these categories has different levels of performance and price. In 2009, Burton's line included 61 snowboards in men's, women's, and youth models. Board prices range from $300 to $1,500.[4]

In February 2008, Burton acquired DNA Distribution, which includes the skateboard brands Alien Workshop, Habitat Skateboards, and Reflex.[29]

In 2008, the snowboard equipment industry had grown to be worth $487 million.[4] Burton had 40% to 70% of these sales, depending on the category.[4] The average age of employees was 30.

Marketing and promotion

To attract rider interest, Burton Snowboards sponsors professional riders and events. Burton's sponsored professional snowboard team includes: Zeb Powell, Mark McMorris, Taylor Gold,[30] Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Kazuhiro Kokubo, Terje Haakonsen, Ellery Hollingsworth, Kelly Clark, Hannah Teter, and Kevin Pearce. Burton has avoided having complete sponsorship with Burton/Burton affiliated brands. Burton has come under criticism over its choices regarding team members, such as the removal of David Carrier Porcheron[31] and other riders in 2008.

Burton sponsored the creation of organic terrain parks made of rocks, stumps, and logs. These parks, known as "The Stash" can be found at Northstar, California; Truckee, California; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Killington Ski Resort, Vermont; Avoriaz, France; and The Remarkables, New Zealand.

Burton created the Chill program in 1995, to provide children with the opportunity to learn how to snowboard. Since its founding, Chill has provided over 12,000 underprivileged children the opportunity to learn how to snowboard. Because of the 2008 graphics controversy and concern over its effect on youth, a local beneficiary severed its ties with Burton.[32]

Burton created the Learn to Ride program in 1998. It was the only snowboard company to focus on instruction methods and beginner-specific equipment. Its goal was to give beginner snowboarders the best initial snowboarding experience possible, so they would continue to snowboard. Burton has teamed up with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors, the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors, and major resorts around the world.[33]

In December 2016, Burton launched a pop-up shop on Newbury Street in Boston.[34]

Controversy

In January 2022, BBC News reported on Burton's expansion into China and highlighted the company's role in promoting Xinjiang as a winter sports destination (ahead of China's hosting the Winter Olympics). Craig Smith, the boss of the company's China subsidiary, told the BBC Burton didn't want to "divorce" itself from the region by refusing to do business there, despite allegations of human rights abuse, including genocide of the Uyghurs.[35]

Allegations that the local Uyghur population of Xinjiang have been used as forced labor to pick cotton has also been observed to be at odds with Burton's membership of the Better Cotton Initiative - an industry body that aims to ensure the global cotton supply chain is free of forced labor.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "Burton Cuts Small Percentage of Staff". Burton Snowboards Inc. February 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  2. ↑ Reingold, Jennifer (June 2006). "Burton Snowboards". Fast Company. No. 108. New York. p. 58.
  3. ↑ Shay, James D. (January 6, 2008). "Burton's crusade could pay off". Connecticut Post. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marquardt, Katy (September 29, 2008). King of the Hill in Snowboards. U.S. News & World Report.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 D'Ambrosio, Dan (June 19, 2014). "Burton rides trends from Vermont to China". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. pp. 4D. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Burton US Site". Burton.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Back in the Day". Burton Press Kit (Press release). Burton Snowboards. 2007. pp. 3–39.
  8. ↑ Helmich, Portland (August 2000). "Chairman of the Board". Business People-Vermont. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Burton Snowboards Inc. History". Funding Universe. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Vermont ski resort changes 'insensitive' name". CNN.
  11. ↑ MacArthur, Paul J. (February 5, 2010). "The Top Ten Important Moments in Snowboarding History". Smithsonian Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ Ober, Lauren (November 19, 2008). Council asks Burton to discuss snowboard images. Burlington Free Press.
  13. ↑ "9 Men's RED Helmets". Burton.com. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Channel Islands Surfboards". Cisurfboards.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  15. ↑ Geery, Brooke (October 4, 2009). "Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah". YoBeat. Archived from the original on December 5, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Burton Snowboards: Control Denied". JaredSouney.com. September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Burton Snowboards moving production facilities out of Vermont". The Ski Channel. March 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Burton makes CEO change". Shop-Eat-Surf. December 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  19. ↑ Willmott, James (July 26, 2016). "Behind The Brand: Greg Dacyshyn of Burton". The Lens. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  20. ↑ Pells, Eddie (November 21, 2019). "Jake Burton Carpenter who founded Burton snowboards dies". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Vintage 1981 Burton Backhill Snowboard". Vintage Winter. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  22. ↑ burton.kontain.com Archived January 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "Top Snowboard Manufacturers and Suppliers in the USA". ThomasNet.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Jake Burton Carpenter: The King of Snowboards". Inc.com. March 2014. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Analog Clothing". skateboarding.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Gravis Footwear Launched by Burton – Sort Of". Transworld Snowboarding. December 1, 1998. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Burton Finalizes Acquisition of Forum, Jeenyus, Foursquare and Special Blend". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Ownership of Channel Islands Surfboards Returns to the Merrick Family". www.theinertia.com.
  29. ↑ "Burton Acquires Alien Workshop and Habitat". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Taylor Gold". United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA). Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  31. ↑ Geery, Brooke (September 9, 2009). "DCP Says YES to Hump Day". YoBeat. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Burton Love Graphics Prompt Essex CHIPS To Withdraw From CHILL Program". Transworld Business. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Burton Snowboards". K5.com. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Burton Pop Up on Newbury Street - Boston". newburystboston.com. December 20, 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Winter Olympics 2022: China sells Xinjiang as a winter sports hub". BBC News. January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

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