Snowboarding's roots include Jake Burton, a lawn-mowing job and an Olympian's grandmother

The article links modern snowboarding to entrepreneur Jake Burton, noting an early lawn-mowing business that connected him with Zoi Sadowski-Synnott's family and helped lead to the Burton snowboard company's lasting influence at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

At the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the legacy of entrepreneur Jake Burton is being highlighted for its role in building modern snowboarding. The article recounts how Burton's early small business efforts, including a lawn-mowing service he ran as a teenager, connected him to the family of Olympian Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. Burton later studied at New York University, worked on Wall Street, then returned to Vermont to develop snowboards based on earlier toys like the Snurfer. His wife and business partner, Donna Carpenter, is attending the Games and reflected on his determination and early struggles. What the article reports: - As a teenager Burton ran an "outdoor improvement" business and was hired in the 1970s by the grandmother of Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on Long Island. - Burton attended NYU, worked on Wall Street, then moved back to Vermont in the late 1970s to develop snowboards inspired by the Snurfer. - He spent years overcoming resistance from ski resorts and helped popularize the sport until it became an Olympic event by 1998. - Burton, later known as Jake Burton Carpenter, died in 2019; Donna Carpenter remains active with the Burton company and attended the 2026 Games. - The article notes the Burton brand is visibly prominent on many boards at the Milan Cortina Games and that industry surveys estimate snowboarders now account for about 30–40% of mountain activity. - Riders including Anna Gasser and Mark McMorris referenced Burton's influence and used stickers or other tributes at the Games. Summary: Jake Burton's early entrepreneurship and persistence are presented as central to the growth of modern snowboarding and the prominence of the Burton snowboard company at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Undetermined at this time.