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1979/80 Burton Backhill II (BBII) a.k.a. Londonderry: This board is HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER by many a collector. It was probably shaped by Jake himself in Londonderry, VT, likely in 1979. Although the back foot strap/binder contains the word “BURTON”, it was originally a solid blue before oxidation did its job leaving only the outline intact. The original leash remains intact as well, another rarity. The yellow rope and wood handle are replacements.
*This board courtesy of a childhood friend of Mark Heingartner, an early Burton Team Rider. It saw limited use on golf course slopes and a day at Bromley Mt, vt, as explained by the previous owner.
*This board courtesy of a childhood friend of Mark Heingartner, an early Burton Team Rider. It saw limited use on golf course slopes and a day at Bromley Mt, vt, as explained by the previous owner.
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1981 Backyard: The hand signature “JAKE” indicated his approval of craftsmanship. This board featured a reduced thickness, wider shape and round tail, as well as a urethane base for speed. Production for this board moved from the original Burton “factory” in Londonderry, VT to Jakes home barn in Manchester, VT where this board was probably made.
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1982 Backhill: Hand signed “Jake Burton Carpenter” (the Carpenter name taken on from his wife Donna’s maiden name to buck the trend of only females taking on dual last names of their husbands). The year 1982 is significant as Vermont’s Suicide Six resort becomes one of the first to allow snowboarding and hosts the National Snowboarding Championships – that later become the US OPEN.
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1983 Backhill: hand signed “AJ” (Andy “The DOG” Coughlin and Jake Burton-Carpenter), this split tail “checkerboard” is near mint. It has some of the most classic lines of all time. The last of the full length deck pads, last of the “signed off by hand" signatures of workmanship, one color silk screened over wood and under urethane. This was from the time when snowboarders were required to pass a certification test before being allowed on the hill… while beginner skiers could pillage the slopes at will. Gear wise Burton also released its first boot THIS YEAR.
*Purchased new in 1983 by N. Jones from Omaha, NE. Ridden on a local golf course hill before residing in his folks basement the next 30+ years.
*Purchased new in 1983 by N. Jones from Omaha, NE. Ridden on a local golf course hill before residing in his folks basement the next 30+ years.
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1984; Performer: Another classic Burton that's in unmolested condition. The wood shines like a freshly polished bowling alley. The traction mat is clean. There is zero rubber boot rot. The translucent red nuts locking the fins in place glow when the light is right. 1984 marks the first year the term “shred” appears in Burton company literature to describe what you do on a snowboard. The term has endured to this day. Gear wise Burton also introduces the industry’s first line of outerwear in '84.
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1985; Backhill: The “BACKHILL” era of wooden snowboards of the early 80’s ends with this model year. Burton opens its first European office in Innsbruck, Austria. Still, only 5% of US resorts allow snowboarding at this time. The blue on blue color scheme is eye poppinG IN PERSON.
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1986; Cruiser: With An all-time favorite retro graphic mimicked on later model boards, the Cruiser’s real value lied in Burton's first massed produced sintered P-Tex base. This deck quickly became the standard for hauling ass! Over 1,000 shops now carry Burton boards and 200 riders compete at the US OPEN at this YEAR in history. Gear wise Burton boots now look and begin to ride like a modern snowboard boot.
*This board was unearthed in Pellston, MI (one of several cities claiming to be the "Icebox of the Nation"). the sketchy shack in the woods pick up goes to T. North.
*This board was unearthed in Pellston, MI (one of several cities claiming to be the "Icebox of the Nation"). the sketchy shack in the woods pick up goes to T. North.
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1987; Woody: One of the classic board names of all time, the “WOODY” came out with two bolt patterns, one for soft rubber bindings and another for a hard plastic “cast” type binding. This one is the later binding version with the binding also displayed on this site. Gear wise Burton now has all bases covered. They also introduce their first snowboarding video “One Track Mind” available on VHS and Beta. 95% of US resorts allow snowboarding at this point in history.
*board found in Wixom, MI.
*board found in Wixom, MI.
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1988; Safari Elite Split Tail: This board’s graphics spoke for itself. The neon age of snowboarding had fully arrived! Besides the rad graphics, exaggerated side cut and split tail, the relatively small 135mm size made it more maneuverable for slush slashing and snow surfing than other decks of the same era. This year also marked the introduction of the half pipe event at the US OPEN.
*This boards history is traced to Town & Country Bikes in Livonia, MI. The original owner and BMX'r “Otto” acquired it new when the shop began to carry snowboards. the grab goes to J. Garris.
*This boards history is traced to Town & Country Bikes in Livonia, MI. The original owner and BMX'r “Otto” acquired it new when the shop began to carry snowboards. the grab goes to J. Garris.
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1989; “MYSTERY”: One of Burton’s most sought after boards because of the history involving the most talented and respected snowboarder of the time, the two most famous snowboard companies of the time, a legal dispute, a judge’s ruling, and the limited volume produced. Introduced in the Burton Catalog in a coffin like box labeled “top secret”, the board itself did not appear in photograph, and this "mystery" created unbelievable hype. As the story goes, Craig Kelley who was riding for Tom Sims, was convinced to switch alliances and chose to join the Burton Team. Sims claimed Kelley was under contract. Kelley and Burton claimed otherwise. A law suite and cease and desist order ensued. While the drama played out Burton was not allowed to use Kelley’s name on the board per court order, thus the “mystery” name and graphics designed by Kelley - excluding his signature on what would have been his first burton pro model. This board represents a unique place in snowboarding history as well as what some consider the most iconic graphic of all time for this reason.
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1990; Craig Kelley AIR: (a.k.a. The "CK" or "Mustard & Ketchup"): Finally, Craig got a Burton Pro Model that he could actually sign. ANOTHER OF THE MOST ICONIC GRAPHICS OF ALL TIME, The CK AIR featured quadratic side cuts and balanced stances. Gear wise Burton introduces a binding with forward lean adjustment. Although this remains a directional board, Freestyle riding is just beginning to take shape.
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1991; M6-Series: Not so fast freestylers… euro carving and slalom racing is a legitimate product category too. Burton's first asymmetrical race board line up is cut specifically for either goofy or regular stance riders - this being regular, giving the carver more effective heel side edge.
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Regular-Left / Goofy-Right Regular-Left / Goofy-Right
1992; Asym Air; This first year Asym (Asymetrical) Air is not a symetrically cut board (stare closely at the edge shape near the ends). It starts with a unique tail cut that's angled. In other words if leaned against a wall as shown, it will fall over. In addition, the toe side edge shape differs from the heel side edge - with the heel cut more pronounced than the toe side allowing for easier heel side turns. This was thought to be innovative at the time but not so much anymore with the greater binding position allowances of modern day snowboards. It was sold in regular and goofy shapes, basically reverse mirror images of each other.
*Goofy version found in Royal Oak, MI and saw time at all the local metro detroit hills back in the day - Mt Brighton, Alpine Valley, Pine Knob and Mt Holly.
*Goofy version found in Royal Oak, MI and saw time at all the local metro detroit hills back in the day - Mt Brighton, Alpine Valley, Pine Knob and Mt Holly.
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1993; Jeff Brushie Pro Model (A.K.a. the trout) : Yet another highly sought after board. The reason is the ground breaking “trout” graphic unrelated to snowboarding or the typical artistic lines of the times. It is said that Jeff took inspiration from his Vermont surroundings of rednecks, hunting & fishing to come up with this design. It also helped open the door to limitless graphic designs which remain a industry standard today. Jeff was a dreadlocked Burton Pro who’s look was so iconic that the Burton Corporate Museum in Burlington, VT displays a single strand of Jeff's twisted hair under glass. The factory and museum tour is highly recommended.
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1994; Ouija Board: The creative GOOD/EVIL YES/NO SUN/MOON ?/? graphics on this board are a classic play on the sinister game we all know. As if that’s not enough Burton’s archivist "TK" considers it their first mass produced park board based on its symmetrical twin design, despite its bulky size and length.
*This is a Craig's List special out of Traverse City, MI. The pick assist goes to B. Herrman.
*This is a Craig's List special out of Traverse City, MI. The pick assist goes to B. Herrman.
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