…not like Burton is ever really out of the news in this industry. But there have been a couple especially interesting stories involving the snowboard giant lately.

Jake Burton Carpenter and the Snowboard: This kids’ book has stirred up a storm of controversy online lately - critics claim that it’s implying that Jake Burton actually invented the snowboard. Is Burton actually starting a sleazy children’s marketing campaign a la McDonald’s, or does the author, Michael O’Hearn, actually think Burton was the inventor of the snowboard? Your call…

The book is a part of a series called Inventions and Discovery. Other titles in the series include: George Eastman and the Kodak Camera; Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin; Thomas Edison and the Lightbulb, et cetera.
My favourite online comment on this issue:
“This is funny. This reminds me of this girl squirrel I knew who became a stripper because it pays well. No acorns for Burton.”
Touche.

Burton NoFish: What do you get when you combine the Burton Fish, a uniquely-shaped board designed years ago by Burton and rider Terje Haakonsen, and the NoBoard, a board ridden without bindings? You get the Burton NoFish.

The Fish was designed eight years ago purely for powder riding. The shorter, wider shape allows you to size 3 to 6 cm down from your normal board so you can ride longer and stronger in the deepest powder without rear leg burn.
The NoBoard, on the other hand, was created in 1998 when Greg Todds decided that snowboard bindings were just unneccessary - he attached traction pads and a rope to his board, and found that it worked, and well. NoBoard devotees claim that “the combination of speed, weightlessness and the freedom of moving your feet around like a skate or surfboard provides a truly exhilarating experience.” It will be interesting to see what the combination turns out like.

Burton “Stash” in New Zealand: I’m just waiting for the day this comes to Whistler - I will be the happiest girl in town. I’ll let the Burton press release explain it for me:
Created by Jake Burton and the Burton global team riders, The Stash is an evolution of freestyle terrain in the ultimate natural environment. The kilometer-long run provides riders with an organic, big mountain terrain park by following the natural lines of the mountain. Riders will discover rock-wall rides, log jibs, cliff drops, a stone hut and other one-of-a-kind obstacles hidden away in The Stash run. An all-natural environment, The Stash uses no metal or plastics to create obstacles, only stone, wood, trees, dirt and rocks. Even the signs that direct riders to The Stash are hand-carved out of stone and wood and are designed to be jibbed.
There are two other “Stash” runs in the world - one is in Avoriaz, France and the other is at Northstar-at-Tahoe, USA. Like I said, I’m holding out for Whistler-Blackcomb next!
-GrrlRippr@Rip.TV

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If you can’t make it out to Northstar at Tahoe this weekend, Vans is giving you the chance to catch some of the action at the 4th Annual Vans Cup with live webcasts. The rail jam on Friday and pipe finals on Sunday will be presented on Vans.com by Vans and Sportnet. Some of the top riders will be competing for part of the $200,000 prize money, including Andreas Wiig, Danny Kass, Mason Aguirre, Chad Otterstrom, Andy Finch, Todd Richards, J.J. Thomas, Leanne Pelosi, Alexis Waite and Jana Meyen.
Should be off the hook, so make sure you check out THIS LINK for the live webcast, starting on Friday!

Vans Cup Schedule

Friday, February 29
5:00 PM – 6:45 PM Rail Jam *webcast

Saturday, March 1
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Qualifying
11:30 PM – 3:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle FINALS

Sunday, March 2
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Superpipe Qualifying
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Superpipe FINALS *webcast

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