Jake Burton Carpenter - 1954 - 2019 - The father of modern snowboarding has died of testicular cancer.

Photo posted on Burton Snowboards website Thursday morning.



Jake Burton, the founder of Burton Snowboards, is the man responsible for the popularity of snowboarding today. He founded the Vermont-based company out of his barn in 1977 and grew it to become one of the biggest names in the sports world. Burton died of testicular cancer Wednesday night at the age of 65.


John Lacy, the company's co-CEO, said this of Jake in an email to staff members Thursday morning, "He was our founder, the soul of snowboarding, the one who gave us the sport we all love so much... This all happened very suddenly, and it’s a tremendous loss for his family, his friends and all of you.” 


If you've ever strapped on a snowboard, you have this man to thank. R.I.P. to an absolute legend.