Ever wonder what happened to Burton Snowboards employee Doug Powell? Back in the 90s Doug put in 8 years at the Big B before deciding that he’d rather be a physician and work on people, according to a story on Defense Video & Information Distribution System.
Though he thoroughly enjoyed his work at Burton Snowboards and the environment that kind of work provided, Powell said he continued to feel like something important was missing from his life. . . “After eight years at Burton, I started feeling a strong desire to get away from business and start doing something that would have an impact on people’s lives,” said Powell. “At that point, I began volunteering at a hospital in Burlington, Vt.”
Powell got his pre-med classes done by going to night school while still working at Burton. He was admitted to medical school when he was 40 years old. Now “Doc” Powell is “brigade surgeon assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division” as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Not bad for a former shred.
Each storm seems to bring more bad news. The body of missing snowboarder Phillip Walker, 22, of San Jose, California was found in a tree well and “covered in several inches of snow” just before noon Sunday, March 27, 2011 at Sierra-at-Tahoe, according to a story in the El Dorado Hills Telegraph.
According to El Dorado County Sheriff officials, Walker may have struck a tree, but it has not been determined if severe winter weather was a contributing factor in the young man’s death.
Walker was reportedly snowboarding with his brother on Saturday, March 26, 2011, on the “Upper Powderhorn Trail” when he was reported missing. Walker is at least the 17th snowboard death in North America since December 20, 2010. Our thoughts are with Walker’s family and friends.
James Drummond, of Redding, California was riding Mt. Shasta with his helmet camera rolling when he tripped up and went headfirst into a tree well on Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Drummond was stuck upside down in the well for over a half hour before a cellphone call from his wife saved his life, according to a story on KRCRTV.com.
At first, I thought it was just a stumble,” said Drummond. “I went and put my hands out in front of me and when my hands touched the snow, it was like there was a false bottom.” . . .As Drummond struggled to make an airway, he says he was able to reach his cell phone. Just then, he says his wife miraculously called him as he was trying to call her. . . Leanne Drummond – James’ wife – then called the Ski Patrol, who then called the trapped snowboarder to help keep him calm.
Rescue crews were able to locate Drummond in about a half an hour. Drummond said he thought several times of Alexander Gautreaux, 23, a snowboarder who died on February 17, 2011 after falling into a similar well. Click the link to watch the video of a white powder run that goes all black.
Burton Snowboards has announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with Korea’s “leading fashion company” LG Fashion to not only distribute Burton products but to license the brand to design streetwear in Korea.
To celebrate the new partnership, LG Fashion invited Burton Snowboards’ Co-Owner Donna Carpenter to a ceremony in Seoul this week where executives from the two companies officially signed the agreement. . . “It is a true honor for me to be in Korea to personally sign our new partnership agreement with LG Fashion,” said Donna. “With dozens of winter resorts and a snowy climate, Korea is a very important market for us, and we’ve always wanted to enhance Burton’s presence here. Now that we have such a reputable and established partner as LG Fashion, we can take Burton to a whole new level in the Korean marketplace.”
Not a bad way to go big in Korea quickly, but is this licensing deal the beginning of the end of Burton as we know it? [click to continue…]
While on tour in the UK, “Canadian heart-throb” Justin Bieber apparently made a trip to Manchester’s indoor shred-dome Chill Factore, according to a story on Men Media.
First he headed to the indoor ski slope at Chill Factore next to the Trafford Centre, before heading down the road for a pitstop at the Daytona go-karting track.
From the photos it would appear that Shaun White doesn’t have much to worry about currently.
Chris Engelsman, the former Publisher of Snowboarder magazine has been promoted to Director of Sales Strategy for the ASG/Grind Network and former Snowboard Magazine Publisher Jeff Baker is rolling in to replace Engelsman at Snowboarder. ASG’s SVP Group Publisher Norb Garret is making strong moves, apparently.
“Both of these moves serve to strengthen our team and help advance the growth of the ASG/Grind Networks and the individual brands such as Snowboarder,” said Garrett. “In his new role Chris will work alongside Elisabeth Murray to help drive our businesses forward across all media as he has done at Snowboarder over the past several years. With Jeff we are thrilled to bring his insights and creative talents back to Snowboarder and anticipate continued growth with our print, events, digital and video platforms.”
Congrats to Engelsman and Baker. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
The event kicks off with halfpipe and slopestyle qualifiers on Thursday, semis’ on Friday, and the finals on Saturday followed by a free concert from La Roux. For more information on all the all-girl action at Mammoth Mountain next weekend click here or there.
Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, today it is Friday, Friday, we so exciting. . . Tomorrow is Saturday and Sunday comes after that, apparently.
Ever wonder what happened to Burton Snowboards employee Doug Powell? Back in the 90s Doug put in 8 years at the Big B before deciding that he’d rather be a physician and work on people, according to a story on Defense Video & Information Distribution System. 
