Hardware Podcasts

Remembering Jake Burton Carpenter

How I Built This · 21 Nov 2019 · 36m

What this episode covers

Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards, recounts how he transformed the Snurfer novelty toy into a global sport and a billion-dollar company. Starting in a Vermont barn with inherited funds, he manually crafted wooden snowboards, faced initial rejection from ski resorts and dealers, and built a cult following through grassroots marketing and sponsorships like Craig Kelly. Carpenter details the company's evolution from a garage operation to an enterprise, highlighting his decision to stay private, the cultural shift during the 2008 financial crisis, and his personal health battles.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up and established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Burton Snowboards, Brunswick, Sims, K2, Rossignol, Ride, FIS
Products
Snurfer
Also
Craig Kelly, Donna Carpenter

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