Look what we have here on page 2 of this months Powder Magazine. Hans Ludwig responded to Burton’s challenge to poach the last four remaining ski only resorts in the US. I myself agree with a lot of what he has said but was spell check really broken? Read up and take from it what you will.
Dear Jake Burton Carpenter,
On Behalf of all your upper class, white cutomers, i would like to thank you and your gian corporation for fighting the “fascist” depredations of four ski areas. Thanks for takin a break from making American Express ads to take on this massive source of human suffering and in justice.
A 5,000$ prize to any snowboarder who provides video documentation of poaching the four ski resorts that of last winter didnt allow snowboarding? That is impressive. I bet you make that much in 15 minutes of filming for your Hewlett-Packard commercials.
Trying to create division where there is none in order to keep your brand “anti establishment” reminds me of Chevron talking about all the great things they do for the enviroment: it’s self serving trash from the rich and powerful. Now that your monopolistic corporation has crushed all the small, rider-owned companies, its time to Fight the Man!
When you catagorize these cki resorts as “facist” your likening them to dictorial regimes that systematically exploit and murder people. Considering that snowboarders as a demographic are among the wealthiest, freest, most privelaged on the planet, and that your sport and your fortune wouldn’t exist without skiing, i think you can find a better cause. If you want to fight for human rights, start by moving all production out of china.
The arguement for your cause is the same time and agian: “It’s discriminatory! what if they didnt let black people ski there?”
This arguement, besides insulting anyone who has benn opressed due to race, gender, religion, etc.. is pathetically shallow. You’re as free to ski at Alta as anyone else. NO, you don’t get to take your board on the lift, but you cant play Frisbee golf at a golf course, either.
For the sake of brevity, let’s say you can have Deer Valley as far as i’m concerned. Taos needed the buisness and I support their decision. Mad river Glen is owned by a cooperative of shareholders that govers as a collective body. You want to ride at MRG, either by snowboard or toboggan? Buy a share and bring it up before the board.
Alta, on the other hand, is hallowed ground. It is the home and spiritual heart of powder skiing in America. Alta’s pioneers of avalanche science, men like Monty Atwater, Ed LaChappelke, and Svere Engen had their lives on the line daily while creating the avalanche protocol that allows all of us, including you, to ride safely. In fact, Atwater was wounded while fighting actual fascism in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War II.
The ski vs. snowboard fued was always propogated by gapers on both sides. You’re ressurecting it now because you know that your company has become a mainstrem, corporate, static, conformist fashion show.
When the kids who’ve been lining your pocket cease feeling rebellious because they all look the same wearing your expensive products, Burton is smoked. And for the same reason that China would be better off without a brutal monolithic regime running the show, snowboarding might be better of without Burton.
- Hans Ludwig
Amen!
I’m not a religious person, but I am spiritual, and making laps off The High T on a powder day at Alta with other two plankers is my church. Thanks for saying some things that needed to be said Hans, and even though we many not all agree with how Jake Burton runs (or ran) his company, at least we can recognize that he’s a smart guy, that will hopefully be able to heed your words of wisdom.
I don’t agree with this article. Actually I think this guy sounds like kind of an idiot. I ski and snowboard, and personally the thought that another person shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the snow just because of whats underneath their feet is ridiculous. Just because skiing came first doesn’t make it superior. If snowboarding had come first the sides here would be exactly swapped. Snowboarding was given a not so good rap when started, a lot of that was because of the people that you would see doing it. Its crowd was basically the skateboarder of winter, and the attitudes followed hand in hand. I’m sure those who banned snowboarding form their resorts in the first place, did so because of who they saw snowboarding and they didn’t want that type of crowd overrunning their mountain. But times have changed and you’ll find just as many arrogant young skiers with no regards for rules and regs as you will snowboarders. Really when it comes down to it, would you even notice a difference in the snow quality if there was a snowboarder sharing it with you? i highly doubt it. Yes it would mean more people to share with. I’ll give you that argument. If surfers could keep waves to locals only you’d see it happen all around the world. But you can’t. Eventually everywhere will be ski and snowboard. So I would say the sooner you learn to accept somebody with one board under their feet riding the same snow as you the better. Besides, being angry about going up to the mountain never did anybody a lick of good.
Have you ever skied at Alta?
[...] Dear Jake Burton Carpenter – Jason [...]