Burton

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  Burton The Cardi Sweater in True Black
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  Burton The White Collection Division Jacket
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  Burton The [ak] BK Insulator Jacket in True Black
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  Burton The 3peat Premium Full-Zip Hoodie in Heather Castlerock
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  Burton The Do It Daily Slouch Beanie in Rio Pink
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  Burton The Mimi Beanie in Bright White
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  Burton The Novelty Ultrawool Sock in Unicorn
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  Burton The Burton Veil One Piece in True Black
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  Burton The Black Sheep Mukluks in True Black
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  Burton The Wheelie Flight Deck in Watercolor

Burton Snowboards is the ultimate pioneer in snowboarding lifestyle equipment and apparel for men and women. The company, based in Burlington, Vermont, owes its success to the extreme sport that is snowboarding. In 1977, Jake Burton, a guy who saw the potential of the relatively-new sport that is snowboarding, left his comfy life as Manhattan-based businessman for the snowy mountains of Londonderry, Vermont. That year, he decided to create and shape the snowboards he happily rode in – making him the brains behind the first snowboarding company in the world.

In 1978, he transferred to a farm house in nearby Manchester – which became the birthplace of the famous boards Backhill and Performer. Burton Snowboard’s early days saw production at the living, dining room, basement and barn of the Manchester farm house where four to five people worked feverishly to create, sell and repair Burton Snowboard prototypes. Jake’s bedroom even served as a 24-hour toll-free line for buyers all around the nation. When sales were low, Jake himself drove to different stores to peddle his creations.

Since the sport was underground, Jake lobbied for ski resorts to open lifts for snowboarders. In 1982, Suicide Six Resort in Pomfret, Vermont became the first resort to cater to snowboarders. Other resorts followed suit, including Vermont’s Stratton Mountain, Jay Peak, Stowe, Sugarbush, and Killington. With the opportunities given by the aformentioned resorts and other eastern resorts, Burton created the Performer Elite, a board with P-tex base, metal edges, and binding with hi-backs, in order to handle the hardpacked snow in Vermont resorts.

That same year, die-hard snowboarders participated in the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, which has cemented the sport into its present successful platform. Fast forward to 1984, Jake created a Burton outerwear line specially designed for snowboarders like him.

In 1985, Burton Snowboards were shipped to Australia, New Zealand, and in Europe, under the supervision of Hermann Kapferer, Managing Director of the Burton Snowboards European Headquarters based in Innsbruck, Austria, a place famous for its snowy mountains, good infrastructure, and proximity to the airport. Burton Snowboards found its way to the docks of Austria, Germany, France, Norway, and Switzerland. The following year, Jake, together with Hermann and his wife Donna created Burton Sportartikel. The label supplied equipment for European pro snowboarders such as Peter Bauer, Jean Nerva, and Pietro Colturi.

Meanwhile, Burton Snowboards also opened an Asia-based flagship store in Urawa, Japan in 1995. Seven years later the store was relocated to the urban Tokyo district. Japan boasts of a Tokyo-based flagship store and another store in Osaka.

Ten years after the opening of the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, Burton Snowboards moved its headquarters to its current location in Burlington, Vermont. The inspiration behind this move was just like that of Jake’s move from NY to Vermont – his drive to create the best snowboarding merchandise and to further promote the sport.

Apart from creating snowboards and extreme athletic apparel, Burton has also created a helmet line under R.E.D. Impact Protection in 1996; Gravis Footwear, which specializes in footwear, accessories, and bags specially designed for people involved in the surfing and skating lifestyles in 1998; Anon Optics, a line of fashionable yet functional eyewear, in 2001; and Analog Streetwear, a new apparel collection in 2003.

From a mere five-man staff in Burton’s American Headquarters, Burton Snowboards have expanded to 104 employees in its Burlington-based office, and an additional 90 employees in the Burton Sportartikel, and sponsors over 45 riders from the Burton Europe Snowboarding team.

Burton merchandise are available at its flagship stores in Vermont, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Santa Barbara, Massachussetts, Orlando, and Japan.