Sideways Revolution
(1977-1987)
Snowboarding is banned, called a fad. Winter’s “Worst new sport.” Jake Burton Carpenter builds boards in a barn and sells them out of his car, hiking for turns while fighting for the right to slide sideways. The obsession spreads one rider at a time.
50 years later, discover some of the moments, products, and people that helped shape the era.
1977
Burton Begins
Jake Burton Carpenter leaves New York for Londonderry, Vermont, starts Burton Boards, and builds prototypes in a barn to test in the back hills.
After more than 100 prototypes, laminated maple becomes the foundation for the Backhill.
1979
The First Production Boards
The BB1 Backhill and BB2 Backyard become Burton’s first production boards, bringing new shapes and ideas to a sport still in its infancy.
The Backhill comes in regular and goofy models with tool-free binding adjustments, plus top and bottom graphics.
Rider: Jake Burton Carpenter / Location: Mt. Hood, Oregon / Photo: Unknown
1981
Burton Moves to Manchester
Burton moves from Londonderry to Jake’s home in Manchester, Vermont. The barn is the factory, the living room the store, and the basement the warehouse.
The bedroom is the office, and toll-free catalog inquiries keep the phone ringing around the clock.
Photo: Original Londonderry Storefront
1982–1983
Getting on the Mountain
Suicide Six becomes the first resort to allow snowboarding and hosts the 1982 National Snow Surfing Championships.
In 1983, Jake rides with Stratton’s ski patrol and helps convince the first major resort to allow snowboarders on its lifts.
1983–1984
Built for the Mountain
As riders gain resort access, Burton develops snowboard-specific gear and looks to ski technology for better control on hardpack and variable terrain.
In 1984, Jake finds an Austrian ski factory willing to build snowboards with steel edges and P-Tex bases, while Burton’s first snowboard outerwear takes shape with the Powder Shell.
Product photography: 1985 Burton Catalog
1985–1987
The Resorts Open Up
In 1985, fewer than 5% of U.S. resorts allow snowboarding. It takes 11 more years and tireless lobbying by Jake and others before 95% of all US mountain resorts allow snowboarding in 1996.
As access expands, so does Burton, establishing a European base while continuing to evolve its boards, boots, bindings, outerwear, and backcountry gear.
Rider: Andy Coghlan / Location: Soda Springs, California / Photo: James Cassimus
1977
Burton Begins
Jake Burton Carpenter leaves New York for Londonderry, Vermont, starts Burton Boards, and builds prototypes in a barn to test in the back hills.
After more than 100 prototypes, laminated maple becomes the foundation for the Backhill.
1981
Burton Moves to Manchester
Burton moves from Londonderry to Jake’s home in Manchester, Vermont. The barn is the factory, the living room the store, and the basement the warehouse.
The bedroom is the office, and toll-free catalog inquiries keep the phone ringing around the clock.
Photo: Original Londonderry Storefront
1983–1984
Built for the Mountain
As riders gain resort access, Burton develops snowboard-specific gear and looks to ski technology for better control on hardpack and variable terrain.
In 1984, Jake finds an Austrian ski factory willing to build snowboards with steel edges and P-Tex bases, while Burton’s first snowboard outerwear takes shape with the Powder Shell.
Product photography: 1985 Burton Catalog
Snowboarding is banned, called a fad. Winter’s “Worst new sport.” Jake Burton Carpenter builds boards in a barn and sells them out of his car, hiking for turns while fighting for the right to slide sideways. The obsession spreads one rider at a time.
50 years later, discover some of the moments, products, and people that helped shape the era.
1979
The First Production Boards
The BB1 Backhill and BB2 Backyard become Burton’s first production boards, bringing new shapes and ideas to a sport still in its infancy.
The Backhill comes in regular and goofy models with tool-free binding adjustments, plus top and bottom graphics.
Rider: Jake Burton Carpenter / Location: Mt. Hood, Oregon / Photo: Unknown
1982–1983
Getting on the Mountain
Suicide Six becomes the first resort to allow snowboarding and hosts the 1982 National Snow Surfing Championships.
In 1983, Jake rides with Stratton’s ski patrol and helps convince the first major resort to allow snowboarders on its lifts.
1985–1987
The Resorts Open Up
In 1985, fewer than 5% of U.S. resorts allow snowboarding. It takes 11 more years and tireless lobbying by Jake and others before 95% of all US mountain resorts allow snowboarding in 1996.
As access expands, so does Burton, establishing a European base while continuing to evolve its boards, boots, bindings, outerwear, and backcountry gear.
Rider: Andy Coghlan / Location: Soda Springs, California / Photo: James Cassimus
THE ’85 POWDER SHELL KIT IS BACK
Born from an era when snowboard outerwear didn’t exist yet, our earliest kit returns with modern 3L weather protection.
Drop 1 of Burton’s 50 Years of Snowboarding is available now, with limited reissues inspired by the early days.
THE ’85 POWDER SHELL KIT IS BACK
Born from an era when snowboard outerwear didn’t exist yet, our earliest kit returns with modern 3L weather protection.
Drop 1 of Burton’s 50 Years of Snowboarding is available now, with limited reissues inspired by the early days.
LISTEN TO THE RIDERS
(1987-1997)
Snowboarding’s teenage rebellion and an explosion of culture and expression. Corporations try to buy in, but Burton stays independent and navigates the chaos with a single ethos: listen to the riders.