The Burton US Open - The Macdaddy of Them All

The US Open in Stratton, Vermont, 2002. Chris Cohen photo. 

The 34th Annual Burton US Open wrapped up at Vail last weekend, and like the 33 previous installments, it did not disappoint. The event, athletes, atmosphere, and the absolute presence of electricity from beginning to end is, in my estimation, unrivaled in any other sport.

In thinking about the event, and what makes it so special, it’s important to remember where it came from, and how it’s evolved to where it is today. The US Open was the brainchild of Jake (Carpenter) and a few of the Stratton Mountain boys from Bondville, VT, and the surrounding area. What started as a few guys on snurfers and snowboards, is today, a dream becoming a reality on an epic level. I’m sure they never imagined what it would become. 

While I haven’t been to every US Open, I’ve had the opportunity to go to many of the early editions at Stratton, and have seen first-hand how the event has grown, yet managed to maintain so much of the original feel.

Hannah Teter crushes it. Chris Cohen photo. 

While everything about the Open today is bigger, from the crowds to the sponsors, to the SuperPipe, many aspects have remained the same. One aspect is the shear accessibility to the competition and athletes. In sports today, especially events of this magnitude, unless you’re a corporate sponsor or Spike Lee, more often than not, you’re relegated to the cheap seats, where your best viewing opportunity is on the Jumbotron. At the US Open, you have a front row seat, the athletes just feet from your outstretched hands as they huck themselves high above you and your iPhone.

Chris Cohen photo. 

Imagine, if you will, sitting courtside during the NBA finals, and some little dude runs onto the hardwood, and drains a 3 pointer.  Watching Augusta and some local pro jumps in front of Tiger on the tee box and cranks a 350 yard drive down the middle, all the while, the announcers calling the action, and urge the crowd into a frenzy. Well, that’s exactly what happens at the Burton US Open - the very noticeable presence of “poachers” (below) – not only is their presence acknowledged, but their participation is both encouraged and expected!

Chris Cohen photo. 

Speaking of the crowd getting into it, this crowd is SO into it, on every level – they have a clear appreciation for everything that’s going on, whether it’s the athletes, or simply the environment – they are stoked to be there, as evidenced by their amazing wave below, and it shows!

The crowd gets amped. Chris Cohen photo. 

If the crowd’s having fun, then so are the athletes; these guys are at the top of their game, yet the idea of doing something like, I don’t know, wearing a Mutant Ninja Turtle outfit, falls completely within the bounds of what is normal, especially when there’s $25 dollars riding on it, as was the case with the U.S’s Eric Beauchemin, who nabbed 2nd place in the Slopestyle, while bringing some amplitude to Michelangelo’s repertoire.

Chris Cohen photo. 

On the subject of amplitude, the conversation can’t be had without including Chloe Kim, shown here on her way to Gold. Just as she did at Winter X, she showed that big air is no longer the exclusive domain of the boys, by consistently launching herself from the Pipe, with such style and energy, that the game is forever changed - with Chloe as the posterchild for a new generation, the future of snowboarder looks pretty bright.

Chloe Kim sends it to the moon. Chris Cohen photo. 

My final thought on the Burton US Open is this; without Jake and Donna Carpenter, there is no Open, past present or future – hell, there’s probably no snowboarding as we know it today, and there’s certainly, no Burton. 

Burton is the absolute essence of the sport – the very foundation from which a movement was created, revitalizing an industry when it need to be dusted off and shook up, and introducing a new generation to what’s possible when there’s snow on the ground. 

To see Jake and Donna at the Open is beyond refreshing, especially considering what Jake’s been through over the last few years. To see them down at the bottom of the SuperPipe, sitting among the throngs of fans, greeting, hugging and high fiving riders after great performances, is again, unlike anything you’ll see in any other sport. That, along with so many other reasons, is what makes the US Open one of the best there is. So, do yourself a favor, if you haven’t made the trip, go – you’ll be glad you did.

Jake (in red) and Donna (standing in black) front and center at the US Open. Chris Cohen photo.

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stash member Chris Cohen

Grew up ski racing in NH & VT - Had the privilege of skiing with some of the absolute best. Was around the ski industry very early on. Knew I wanted a career in snow sports. Owned a Snurfer, then a Burton Board. 1st job was as a rep for Blizzard...