Burton Backhill snowboard created by Jake Burton

This wooden Burton Backhill snowboard was designed by Jake Burton. Jake Burton Carpenter began designing snowboards in 1977 and today Burton is one of the largest manufacturers of snowboards, equipment and apparel in the world. Burton, as he is known, had competed with the Snurfer, the predecessor to the modern snowboard but knew improvements could be made for a smoother ride. A few modifications and the addition of foot bindings led Burton to enter the biggest Snurfer contest in the country with his own board. Technically he won the event but was disqualified because he had not used a Snurfer which, up until then, was the only snowboard allowed in the competition. The Backhill board was introduced in 1979 and was the first board to offer graphics, regular and goofy foot stances and binding adjustments you could make without any tools. It was during this time that snowboarding was not allowed in resorts and snowboarders had to walk up the mountain and ride on the “back of the hill” to make a run with their snowboards. Later snowboarders were allowed on the slopes if they were registered with the resort and carried an identification card. In 1985 only 5 percent of the U.S ski resorts allowed snowboarding and just two years later that jumped to 95 percent with Burton making it possible with their board, binding and boot innovations.