The state Tuesday honored the southern Vermont birthplace of Burton Snowboards.
That's through the dedication of a new historical marker in Londonderry, where the late Jake Burton Carpenter opened his first workshop.
Donna Carpenter is Jake's widow and the current owner of Burton Snowboards. She said the marker signifies how Londonderry, and the mountains of southern Vermont, made the company what it is today.
“It’s incredibly moving. Again, it was such a community effort that it’s really just representative of how the community has supported us all along, and how lucky we feel to be in Vermont. Vermont was always part of our DNA, and to this day, stays a part of our DNA," Carpenter said.
Jake's original shop burned down. The historic marker is just up the road, on Main Street.
Jaime Rivas collects vintage snowboards, and he flew out from Illinois for the dedication.
He said Burton’s story has been an inspiration.
“You know if you set your mind to something, and you work hard for it, no matter how big, or small, the town is, if you really, really want it, you can make it happen. And I think Jake taught a lot of us that, and that’s why I’m fascinated by his story," Rivas said.
Burton tested his early boards in the hills of southern Vermont, before snowboarders were welcome at ski resorts.
Kelly Clark grew up in Vermont, and has since become one of the most dominant snowboarders in history.
She attended the dedication of the marker. Clark says seeing the birthplace of Burton Snowboards is a reminder for every Vermonter to dream big.
“I think it’s incredibly important for the inspiration for Vermonters, in all different fields, to see our tiny state shape and create something that’s worldwide," Clark said.
Carpenter is credited as one of the godfathers of modern snowboarding. He helped build it into an Olympic sport, after bombing through the backwoods of southern Vermont on his prototypes.
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