Thanks Jake!

A big name in snowboarding passed away last night. Jake Burton Carpenter lost the fight against cancer at the age of 65.

If Sherman Poppen was the grandfather of snowboarding, Jake was one of the fathers. If you'd like to know more about the circumstances of his death, here a recent news item from a newspaper in Vermont or look online at your favorite newspaper.

There is another interesting interview with Jake in the Süddeutsche Zeitung here to read.

The social media are full of expressions of pity and among the hashtags #rideforjake and #rideonjake you can also read along there.

Burton also wrote a blog entry: Remembering Jake Burton Carpenter

Many tell stories, which they were allowed to experience with Jake or simply how he had improved their world. I, too, can remember some good conversations with him. On one hand at the ISF-WM in Davos in 1995 and afterwards again at the personal interview in Burlington Vermont.

I agree with many voices from social media that snowboarding without Burton today would not be what it is. And I want to thank Jake for that.

Initial this year Jake moved to Zurich with his wife. I hoped I was able to meet him again for a follow-up interview. But the days of Jake are unfortunately counted and are a very big figure in the snowboard history had his dernier yesterday.

I wish his family much strength in this difficult time.

Thanks Jake!