A MEMORIAL BENCH FOR JAKE BURTON
In memory of Jake Burton Carpenter, who passed away at the end of last year at the age of 65, a very special bench was erected on the Hafelekar last week. An inauguration ceremony was held in a small circle of Burton employees. The bench will watch over Innsbruck's snowboard community right at the entrance to the Karrinne.
ABOUT JAKE BURTON CARPENTER
The co-inventor of the snowboard founded Burton Snowboards together with his wife Donna in 1977, where he was also known as the "soul of snowboarding". After initially mastering the art of "snurfing" on a board without bindings and with "reins", he began developing the snowboard at the end of the 1970s.
Although snowboarders were not very welcome in the ski resorts at first and the sport was viewed extremely critically at the beginning, Jake Burton managed to develop a culture of his own. The pioneer of snowboarding created his very own attitude to life and a huge community.
BURTON'S BEGINNINGS IN EUROPE
Austria and Innsbruck play an important role in Burton's history. When Jake and Donna were on vacation in Austria for the first time, Jake started looking for ski companies to help him make steel-edged snowboards. He found what he was looking for - and Burton's first modern snowboard came onto the market in collaboration with an Austrian ski manufacturer.
Innsbruck, the heart of the Alps, was chosen for the company's European headquarters. On the one hand, the location and infrastructure played an important role. On the other hand, the city's unique affinity for winter sports was also important.
MORNING RIDES ON THE NORDKETTE
The Nordkette and the Karrinne in particular quickly became one of Jake's favorite freeride spots. The proximity of the Nordkette to the city made it possible for one or two morning rides to become a fixed date in his calendar. He also had a wonderful view of the city, his European headquarters and his team from here. His snowboard bench now stands symbolically on the Karrinne - there is probably no better place for it.
May he watch over Innsbruck and the snowboard community forever.
