Protesters Of Love And Primo Graphics Converge On Burton Headquarters, CEO Releases Statement
mike lewis
- October 23 2008
- 6,112 views
- 133 comments
Burton team riders Nicolas Müller and Yale Cousino observing the protest.
Photo: Jeff Boliba
In the ongoing saga of public outcry over Burton’s Love and Primo graphics, which feature PG-13 Playboy collaborations and depictions of self mutilation respectively, local Vermont activists staged a protest today, October 23rd, of Burton’s Burlington headquarters. Sources estimate there to be approximately 150 protesters on site.
Photo: Jeff Boliba
Burton CEO Laurent Potdevin released a statement about the graphics last night summing up the company’s stance:
As a result of the opinions of an isolated group of individuals, we want to clarify where Burton stands on our board graphic artwork. We respect everyone’s right to his or her own opinion, and we also respect the right to protest. That said, here is our position: Burton supports freedom of artistic expression. Board graphics are artwork, and art can be offensive to some and inspiring to others. Snowboarding is a sport and a lifestyle where boundaries are pushed in terms of artwork, similar to the world of music, video games and movies. From Lange ski boot ads since the 1970’s featuring barely clothed women, to the Burton Love series, winter sports have a long history of tongue-in-cheek graphics and advertising. Our product development process is driven by riders, and when some of our pro riders asked for these graphics, we backed them. Burton is a global company, and these boards have been embraced and are a success around the world. We are not breaking any laws by creating these boards, and it is our sincere belief that these graphics do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way. Burton’s support of women, from entry level employees here in Burlington to our team riders on Olympic podiums, is unparalleled. We, as a company, are immensely proud of our record here. We will keep these boards in the market and have no intention of recalling them.
The statement did not dissuade the ring leaders of the protest. According to the Burlington Free Press, Lezlee Sprenger, who has spearheaded the movement against Burton, took issue with the idea that those who were offended by the boards were an isolated group. “We are the Vermont community as a whole. This is a substantial community response,” Sprenger said.
On a Web site set up for the protest, Sprenger counted 1,300 hits since it went up Tuesday. The Web site, http://www.neurell.com/protest.html, includes a list of suggestions to impact Burton and is signed by Sprenger and Susie Debrosse, a local media literacy educator.
Sprenger also told the Vermont Free Press she is disappointed by Potdevin’s assertion that the Playboy graphics “do not condone or encourage violence towards women in any way.”
“As a woman, I know I’m being oppressed by pornography,” Sprenger said.
Burton’s Love Coalition Line.
This story has received massive amounts of coverage in recent weeks and Burton has received a flood of emails, phone calls, and letters. Additionally, Spectrum Youth Services, a Burlington-based mental health and substance abuse awareness service for teens, which Burton has been supporting for years through its Chill program, will no longer accept Burton’s support.
Mark Redmond, the executive director of Spectrum Youth and Family Services, told the Rutland Herald he’s taking a stand against a company that up until two weeks ago, he bragged about.”They used to pick up four of our kids and drop them off at Burton headquarters with other kids from the Boys and Girls Club,” Redmond said. “Eight Fridays in a row they gave them snowboards, free hats, gloves, lessons and lift tickets and they went out and boarded at Bolton Valley.” But Rutland is up in arms about depictions of self mutilation. There is nothing funny or amusing about it,” the director wrote in a letter to the Herald. “It is a very sad and tragic condition when young people feel the compulsion to cut or harm themselves, and it is extremely difficult to treat. It is beyond comprehension that any company would use self-harm as a marketing ploy,” according to Redmond.
Burton’s Primo Coalition Line
Here is a partial list of folks and organizations that have spoken out
about this:
- Spectrum Family Youth Services
- White Ribbon Campaign (men who speak out against Domestic Violence)
- Center for Media and Democracy
- Girl Scouts Council President
- Federation of Business and Professional Women
- Vermont Network
- Women’s Business Owner’s Network (individual members)
- UVM Presidents Commission on the Status of Women
- Private therapists
- Moms, dads and youth
- Facebook pages
- Feminist Peace Network
All of the boards that have these folks up in arms are part of Burton’s Coalition line, which is only available in select, specialty retailers. Additionally, the Love boards, which do not show any body parts which could not be seen in PG-13 rated movie, will be fully wrapped and only sold to those over 18 years of age.
Stay tuned to Transworld Business for coverage of the protest.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 am
titties!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Burton is digging it’s own grave. To even entertain the idea that these graphics have anything to do with art or artistic expression is completely off the mark, and Burton knows that. It’s a VERY weak attempt to try and justify a very wrong decision, and it’s not working. Plus, contrary to what this article states, shops are not wrapping these boards so that the public can’t see the graphics, and instead are showcasing them ALL up on the walls, for ALL to see. Do you really think walking into a shop with naked women all over the walls is going to “inspire” moms and/or females to shop? It’s a complete turn-off and an insult to all the progress women have made not only in the industry, but in society. And the sel-mutilation graphics is just totally off the mark, inappropriate and offensive to the entire sport of snowboarding and what it represents. Burton has lost it’s core.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Hope Burton doesnt give in. Finally there balls dropped… but anyway I want to subscribe to transworld business but im only a student thats trying to get into action sports marketing does anyone know how I can get a subscribtion without having to work within the industry? anyhelp is appreciated.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Burton should build out in-store displays desinged like run down liquor stores and have the boards lined up behind the counter wrapped like Hustlers.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Are parents so naive to think that their kids are not exposed to more harmful stuff in so many other forms of media? Kids today have grown up on the internet Christ sake; just do an image search on Google for the letter ?t? without any filter and look what comes up. People really need to learn how to communicate with their kids instead of sheltering them and reassuring them that the world is this great place where everybody get treat equally, because it not true. The world is a brutal place and if you don?t communicate with your kids about actual reality and feed them this false utopian ideal you are sending them out into the world like lambs to a pack of wolves.
Forewarned is forearmed!
That’s too funny the warehouse guys in the back still have a bunch of those 80’s Lange posters up, I always get a chuckle as I walk past them.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 am
such a non-issue. check the history of snowboarding, lots of naked chicks on boards. this is nothing new. remember the sims/vivid/jena jameson colab boards a couple years back? bigger fish to fry. let’s start with global warming and meth abuse shall we.
shred on.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
Seriously parents. Either you didn’t get a enough love and hugs as a child or you are just plain narrow minded. If you don’t like the boards then don’t buy them, but to go and waste so much energy on something like this, please!
I’m a parent of 4 and if my son or daughters want to ride these boards then that’s there choice.
I feel like the mad parents against burton are the same parents who were trying to ban KISS!
ROCK N ROLL NEVER DIES!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
$100 says the woman leading that protest isn’t someone you’d want to see naked on a board.
Props to Burton for not bowing to the pressures of a bully minority.
It’s bad enough that America’s economic policies are turning us into a socialist state. Now people want to take away my right to buy a snowboard that shows a little glimpse of some nice vintage tittie. You can have my Love board when you pry it from my cold, dead (or in this case self-mutilated) fingers.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 am
To defend these graphics by saying that there are worse things out there on the internet is an interesting standard (and argument, for that matter). I guess if that’s your standard for a company like Burton to live up to, then really nobody can do wrong. The point is that people expect more from Burton, who has in the past done a lot to push women in the industry. To put graphics like this out there, really is just a slap in the face to females. (And maybe they need some more skilled designers to come up with some original graphics.) If Burton wants to be compared to companies like Lange, as Laurent stated, then I really don’t have much to say….except that maybe Burton should make some skis to fit those Lange boots.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
I agree with hmmm. To blame snowboard graphics for those issues is really letting the real causes go unnoticed. Sorry a board graphic does not tell men to hit women, a board graphic does not tell kids to cut themselves.
Educate your kids and educate others about the issues…don’t place the blame on Burton’s graphics. These issues were around long before those graphics came out.
I’m a woman…and I could care less about seeing Playboy models on a snowboard. I don’t feel objectified…because one it’s not my body on there and two because the women on there are models…from a magazine. What about Victoria’s Secret or the Playboy tv show that anyone can see including kids on tv…there is a lot more skin being shown but that’s being ignored.
There are more important things to worry about and adults should talk to their children about these issues. Blaming board graphics will not help your daughter when she is dating a guy who hits her.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
and by the way, I’m WiCKED hot and guys who need to rock this board to get inspired to ride, are probably VERY shitty riders.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
You guys are prude!
I am a girl and I think the playboy series is awesome. And by the way, the graphics were not made by Burton but are taken of original vintage playboy magazines.
And I think that the primo boards are funny.
Whatever happened to freedom of speach?
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 am
These people protesting need to get a life and concentrate on the important things going on in our country now!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
?As a woman, I know I?m being oppressed by pornography,? Sprenger said.
—
Oh please. Like Lezlee Sprenger would be the freaking CEO of Microsoft if it weren’t for all those teenage guys beating off to Internet porn.
Isn’t there anything more important to protest today? Like, say, unjust wars or the wholesale looting of our nation’s treasury.
Good work people. You’re making a difference out there.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
props to burton for standing up to these fucking stupid kooks. in this day and age, with britney spears naked in her videos and victoria secret catalog being mailed to everyone these fucking losers choose to protest this??????
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
they are not comparing temselves to lange, they are just pointing out this is hardly something new. get a brain.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
First, it’s not about freedom of speech or the idea that bad things exist in the world, or even the thought that these graphics will “cause” women to be suppressed. Obviously we have a right to the freedom of speech, which is why these boards are out there. Bad things exist in the world, we know that. And women ARE STILL suppressed, in many ways, for those of you who didn’t know.
The point is that Burton is held to a higher standard than any other brand in snowboarding. The sport of snowboarding, and BURTON for that matter, can no longer be considered as grass-roots. There was a time when Burton could have gotten away with these graphics, and other brands can and still do, however, once you become as big as Burton, willingly or unwillingly, you are inevitably put to a higher standard and it’s up to the brand to recognize this.
Further, it’s assumed that the youth of today need images of sex and drugs to get psyched on snowboarding, and sadly, brands lack a lot of creative intelligence when it comes to connecting with kids. If this is the way Burton wants to communicate with snowboarders, then that’s their decision, but it’s pretty shallow and does nothing to promote the sport of snowboarding. Playboy pictures, vintage or not, should be left for magazines and on the walls of car repair shops, not on the walls of snowboard shops.
And for those of you who think it’s a minority who are offended by these graphics, obviously, you are VERY wrong. It’s actually a minority who LIKE these graphics.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Simple issues for the simple minded…
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
They are comparing themselves to Lange with respect to the fact that Lange also put graphics like this out there back in the day. That equals a comparison. Perhaps your definition of a brain is different from mine.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
burton probably paid these “protesters” to show up. hey remember us ? we’re edgy, we’re BURTON. gay.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
I thought these boards are geared to the 30+ who remember these images from the playboys they found in their friend’s dad’s closet…opps.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
Mcain / Palin 08!
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
This protest is just part of the Burton marketing scheme to sell more product. Just like Globe’s attempt at staging protests for its own movie a few years ago.
Don’t believe the hype.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
yikes. the thought of 30+ guys riding these boards is gross. don’t you know it’s WAY hotter to rock an Airblaster leg bag??!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
OBAMA ALL THE WAY!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
So I gotta ask, what’s with the lower case “i”? Is that your way of branding yourself?
If so and I were to tell you that by making the “i” in your screen name lowercase you were sending out a message that women were subordinate to men, vis a vie having to resort to cute gimmickry to assert your femininity, would you stop signing your name that way?
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
HAHA. seriously…wouldn’t doubt it. these graphics tell more about the state of burton than anything else. “Looks like somebody is needing a MAKE-OVER!”
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
sign up for a free copy on transworldbusiness.com. look for the red ’subscribe’ area in the menu bar. you should also subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
just to clarify, genderism is wrong but ageism is ok?
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Michael Marckx is a dink, but I gotta admit - that was pretty crafty.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
Neither is OK, however there is some truth to the statement “Young and Dumb”….once you’re over 30, you’re no longer considered young (SHOCK!), just dumb.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Burton is in a great state…,besides some of the best snowboards ever made (fish, malolo, pirahna, custom, X, supermodel, love need I go on?) they have a HUGE outerwear collection, inovative designs, killer bindings, the best boots the best snowboard gloves/mitts, how much more sucessful can a company be?
This porno/degradation relation is bogus, this is artwork, these girls were in Playboy and those are fine photographs. I would be proud to own on of these boards.
I have to really thank the protesters for their marketing help this year in this slower market. Now we don’t have to run that next ad in Transworld next month…thanks!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
I have no problem with these graphics at all. I wouldn’t personally ride these cause it looks like they are geared toward the Maxim reader/Axe body sprayers anyway, but whateves.. to each his own…
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Wait, wait. why all the fuss? What about horror movies? What about glorifing drunks, drugs,rape in movies why are these people choosing such a small market, all those MAssive budget movies that glorify violence, rape. Oh wait, that is “art” and is untouchable, but somthing you can touch like a snowboard is worth your time?
comical.
We do thank you for your marketing help, I know many people who did not see our early season line-up will be happy now and go out and buy our very cool boards…thanks!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Honestly, what movie out there “glorifies” rape? And honestly, burton is just trying to get back some punk rock street cred, for these boards. They fully new that they would get heat for these graphics, which equals press, for an aging giant, that doesn’t really strike a chord with the punk rock youth that rule the core of this industry. It’s been done before and in about 5 or 10 more years someone else will do it again. The boards aren’t even that great, from an artistic perspective. Hook-ups, World industries and who was it Sims or one of those other lame companys that did the Vivid girls about 8 years ago. it’s the same old story time and again.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’m saying that parents that think these boards will influence their kids in anyway shows how naive they are about what it means to be a kid in the information age and how unrealistic they are being if they think they have the power to shelter them from anything offensive. Kids today are smarted then anybody gives them credit for and have see more shit by the age of 12 then I did in my whole teenage years. They my come across as apathetic, but they have access to information at their finger tips that would take our generation days to find in a library or months looking thru our dads closets. So get a clue and give the youth some credit they are probably more informed they you are.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
LOL! I’m happy with my supermodel X, oh wait a minute that name can be consider offensive to women, shit I can’t win.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
What you can’t believe that some people really lose sleep over this crap. I know it hard to believe but it’s true. Also on the protesters side, it is a easy target for a narcissist to get some play up in a the media and make a name for themseleves on an issue that they know the media will jump all over, because it has that “Won’t somebody please think of the children!” appeal.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
AXE body sprayers LOL!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
… and if a girl decides to ride this board, is she a very shitty rider.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
when snowboard graphics risk being censored thats when u know the sport has gotten too big for its own good. this shits wack.
“ill fuck a pussy suck a pussy leave it there, long hair dont even care” - lil wayne
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Actually she’s pretty hot. Like her, as a Mom of two teenagers and young child, I just don’t think it serves Society well to have trash like that on the ski slopes. Go ahead and buy the products but don’t flash them around my kids, please
That is my choice and my right. Just like it is my right not to smell Cigarette Smoke 
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
The difference is that you pay to see a movie, you leave the theatre. You pay for art you like, you hang it on the wall in your house. These boards are on display for everyone to see, whether they want to look at them or not. Little kids, young kids who look up to the sport, families and adults on ski slopes who find the images offensive. If someone wants to buy one of these boards and just hang it on the wall in their room, I have no problem with it.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Who the hell cares! Like your child is never going to see a naked body. In art school we draw them. In medical school we cut them open. And when we’re in love we F**k them. Its the human body, enjoy it!
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I AGREE WITH YOU IN THAT IT IS ART BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO GET A BETTER AGUEMENT. YOU CAN STOP YOUR CHILD FROM SEEING A BAD MOVIE BUT WHEN HE IS IN A LIFT LINE IT IS OUT OF YOUR CONTROL WHAT IMAGES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ON THIER BOARDS.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Exactly. NIMBY (Not in My Backyard). Burton should go elsewhere with this trash. Vermont deserves better. Our pristine ski slopes don’t need to be trashed.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
YOU SEEM LIKE A DORK. PLEASE DONT JUMP ON THE BAN WAGON AND START A CAREER IN ACTION SPORTS.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Congrats to Burton. You’ve just won a complete sell through of Love boards this season!! Props to you!! I would be one proud and happy american to own such a board. Nicely done and very tasteful. Now it’ll be impossible to purchase one… I hope you carry this series over to next season.
cheers! I’ll toss one back for ya at your movie premier here in PDX. Lastly, my wiener and I both thank you!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
JUST BECAUSE ITS ALREADY OUT THERE DOESN’T MEAN ITS OK TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT.
ie: YES CRIME IS A REALITY AND WILL PROBABLY NEVER GO AWAY; DOESN’T MEAN WE SHOULDN’T AT LEAST TRY TO STOP IT AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO COMMIT IT.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
there’s been pollution for a long time so just because i pollute doesn’t mean you should come down on me.
oh wait we have to start somewhere…
think about your arguement. it doesn’t support anything.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
you sound more like a friend than a parent. are you going to use that same train of thought when your kids decide to use drugs?.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
wow you really didn’t say much there. so kids are informed. whats your point?.
so since these kids are soo informed we should just give up on them and let them do whatever.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
lets look past the censorship arguement. its a lame image to have on a snowboard. only a douchebag would think this is something cool. you might as well wear puka shells and crocs.
you’re only getting it now because its become an issue. and you think its rebelling you’re lame.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Actually I’m just in tune with today’s culture and kids not just in NA, but globally thank you.
As a parent and friend… I’m not in denial of things and experiences my kids are going to be confronted with as well telling them all things are bad. I’m not going to tell my kids a semi nude lady is bad and then go and say drugs are bad. there is no balance… If you are going to be a consistent parent, don’t try to even compare a nude image to drugs.
Now if you are speaking about principal… that is a personal perspective and a personal choice that thank GOD we live in the US because the last time I remember it’s a free country!
Be a parent not a dictator!
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
What about the Forum Dick Nose Pony?? How do you think all the Dick Nosed Ponies out there feel? Nobody ever cares about how that oppression may hurt and objectify the Dick Nose Ponies! And lets us not forget about the young Dick Nose Ponies…they are going to grow up in a world that tells them just because they have a dick nose, that they are not created equal?
If you think this is ridiculous, your right! Just as ridiculous as your point about the Love series oppressing women! Go get laid!
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM MY HOUSE!
LETS ALL DO SOMETHING A MAVERICK WOULD DO!
LETS GET REAL MAVERICK’Y HERE!!!
A VP IS IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE…
I think all the people complaining here are all the same people voting for this person to possibly be a President.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Whoever said they should wrap the boards like Hustlers at a liquor store is pretty funny.
The graphics are tame… Maxim and other men’s books that are available to kids under 18 have way more adult content and are on display in more places.
In terms of the Primo decks, forget the obvious references to nightly news and look at the horror magazines and broadcast media that show this stuff regularly.
I bet these protests have exposed more kids and people to the boards than would have seen them otherwise. Personally, I had no idea about the Primo graphic until this protest came about.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
OMG you have to check out http://www.sabre.fm they have released snow boards almost the same!!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Ever checked out a comic book? Kids have access to these at any age, and they are mutilating each other all the time. Violence is everywhere we look these days. And most people look the other way if it somehow affects them. Be it a sibling is messing around and play fighting, to a Motorola commercial, slashing each other with their “Razor” mobile phone in the subway. It’s all violence. People have to relax. It’s a youth driven lifestyle. And these are what the Burton Team riders are saying yes to. Same with the LOVE graphics. Keegan & Mikkel, age 17 or 18 wanted them. Burton listens to their team riders and produces gear. Maybe Burton needs to have graphics that fade once they get cold, like those pens that when you flip the bra’s and panties slide down!!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Let me reiterate….TITTIES!
It’s just semi-naked chicks.
I don’t even see any nipple.
Love makes the world go round.
You prudes need more love in your life and less guilt.
Guys and lez’s seek naked chicks.
Chicks and homos seek naked dudes.
No biggie.
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
just a GIRL can go away now.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
NO they have the sense that this doesn’t mean shit and have more important concerns in life and have probably seen way worst things. To them this is about as tame as the kittens on last years uninc. boards.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
WHAHAHAHAHAH too funny….take another bong hit there buddy.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
LOL!
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Same here actually and I follow things pretty close.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
LOL…now I’m offeneded.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Damn it I was hoping you would get the first and last word…
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I won’t lie I didn’t read one fucking response. All I can say while all these fucktards are arguing back and forth over this bull shit, people that had a real cause ahead of them achieved it. At the end of the day the people against the graphics just want to be patted on the back for fighting against some form of moral outrage. The people defending it want a pat on the back because they saw someone attacking (insert whatever here) and stood up for their beliefs.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
and you seem like one to talk! What’s with all the hate on these forums? It’s tards like you that make working in the industry get old from all the tude and cool guyisms
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
the two are absolutely not related. when was the last time you heard a playboy magazine lead to spousal abuse? where in the world is the connection?
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Isn’t there a war and some sort of election going on in this country at the moment? Not sure, might just be a horrible moral decay due to snowboarding that should be taking up our time, energy, focus, and need to live.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
strangely enough, the Thursday scrapbooking party was not well attended………..FK ME…..thin out the #’s
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Im going to paint a massive cock on my snowboard because of all those losers who think this is offensive… ill show you offensive
October 24th, 2008 at 12:02 am
So these people will be voting for Palin right?
Imbeciles. Clearly too much time on their hands. It frightens me that these are some of the people who will be deciding the country’s fate in the coming weeks.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:41 am
T & A make the world go around. Help end global dis confusion, buy Burton!
October 24th, 2008 at 4:25 am
If I were burton, I’d love the media around this. This is just boosting awareness….
October 24th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Lets see hmm, you don’t have to buy these damn boards so quit the shit. And how about Rome, they are doing a similar thing this year as well.. Obviously the people who are protesting are insecure…. Everyone has some type of gnar to their boards with blood, whats next as well people going to try and protest Grenade? They need to get a life, theres worst things going on in the world right now
October 24th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Exactly…somehow these protesters are relating the board graphics to violence.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Seriously, this has people fired up?
Note to the TW Biz team 150 hippies in VT probalby don’t know how to purchase a new hacky sack much less “swarm a building”
Pretty intense headline for a random protest.
As for everybody covering it in media, protesting and talking about it. You justmade up the shortfall in Burtons 2008 media budget. They thank you for not having to run any ads around these products now.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Wow. This is pretty funny. Nudity should not lead to violence. If it does, maybe that’s because we’ve made such a huge deal about nudity in this country for so long. IT’S A NAKED BODY. Get over it. There’s not even that much nudity on those boards. I thought the “cutting” images would be the bigger issue until I just saw them in this article. I thought it would be an image of a young girl with self-inflicted cut marks on her arms. I think it’s a stretch to imply that those images are related to, or are going to promote, teen “cutting.” Are kids really going to cut their fingers off after seeing these boards? I’ve seen similar violent imagery in Tom and Jerry cartoons from the 1950s! I know that people are VERY offended by this, but those people are going to have to learn how to deal with being offended by many things for the rest of their lives. This will never change. There are other people, like me, who feel that this ART is completely acceptable. Just because you think things should be a particular way, doesn’t mean that’s correct and doesn’t mean that’s how the majority of the world feels. People often get things backwards. Rap music causes violence. No it doesn’t. Violence and the conditions that many are forced to live in cause rap music. But what do our “leaders” try to change? The rap music. Wake up. Please. Do you own thing and quit worrying about other people’s business. I don’t for a second think that being a young person today is easy. However, Cosmo probably does a lot more to mentally damage young girls than these boards ever will. Where’s the OUTRAGE. STORM THE COSMO HQs! I honestly don’t think Burton hoped for public outrage. They’re trying to do what their riders want. The uptight public just helps them with all the free press. The snow is almost here. Relax. Go riding. Have fun. Try to shield your eyes and the eyes of your children when you’re on the slopes. Better yet, go to Mad River where you can be sure that you won’t see imagery like this, at least until one of the ski companies rips it off in a couple years. Have a nice day. Love, The Original VT Robot.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Burton Just jumped the Shark!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqCYLuV28Nk
October 24th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Dude! They should check out the new SABRE decks on their website sabre.fm they have some pretty rad boards for the ladies.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Dang Sabre crew, I thought my posts were self serving!
October 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
The real problem here is a freaky parents bringing their kids, who don’t have a choice in the matter, to protest something they know nothing about. Beggars can’t be choosers and you can always make a name for yourself by PROSTITUTING your own family so you can get an interview with the local newswoman. What about her? Why isn’t anyone asking her questions?! Women are being OBJECTIFIED and kids are being ENSLAVED all right outside Burton’s gates….. Relax and get a job.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:10 am
If you have a right and choice, wear a blindfold, lady. People aren’t FLASHING anything. I bet your kid grows up to resent you anyway and take it out by posing nude and further objectifying women because mom said it was bad. The rights and the choices are presented and there is nothing you can do but teach your kid (what you think) is right and wrong. Why not support the fact that some people are actually more attractive than others and that geez some people can actually stand looking at them without, say, killing someone or masturbating right then and there. You have nothing but your own self to blame.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:33 am
The Difference is.. Who is this really hurting? A kid should be able to look at the image and not feel afraid and confused because he had an overbearing influence on his or her life. When you talk about the biggest issues here it comes back to parents and conditioning. If your little freak is going to objectify women, that sucks for him.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:26 am
All of the protesters are middle aged or older women who are pissed because they never looked as good as the playboy models do. Apparently these old hags have yet to see the Capita Stairmaster Extreme. They’re going to drop a brick when they see those! wooowee!
By the way, I am a straight chick and would much rather see these graphics than a playgirl series with naked dudes. The human body is a beautiful thing but I guess some people just can’t appreciate it.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am
http://burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=BT&Date=20081023&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=810230803&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1
slide show from Burlington VT. news. There are some hilarious signs.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Burton will definitelly sell more boards thanks to Sprenger’s movement. I admire any company that is whilling to push the envelope. That has been the heritage of this industry since the skate era in the late 70’s, and perhaps before, where skate companies were looking for ways to offend as many people as possible through their campaigns and graphics. Today, once companies become public, the first thing they tend to loose is their whillingness to put it all on the line. This resistance is also a testament to the naivety of the american cutlure: to think that by removing some snowboards off the market our babyboomers’ kids will keep their kids from being exposed to sex, drugs and violence is as absurd as trying to block the sun with your thumb. Mature, America! The world is leaving you behind!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Was there protests when tech9 put out a board with a machine gun on the base? No. How about a protest for any one of the plethora of boards out there with booze graphics? No?
THIS is where you draw the line? Less skin than a Brittney Spears video. Less nudity than a 15 year old Hanna Montana on the cover of some mag.
You people need to take a good look at the stuff your making a stand for and ask yourself if your time could maybe be better spent teaching your children how to make educated decisions for themselves.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
What a Joke
October 25th, 2008 at 7:35 am
This debate is the only element of these boards that makes it Art aside from that, it just appropriated images slapped on a board.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Get over it! We are too uptight in this country. Keep fighting the good fight Burton! I support you even if I work for another snowboard company!
October 25th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
For the protesters, that’s seems like they live inside a submarine 500 miles deep.
Let me tell you about news papers covers, NY subways, billboards with semi naked people, tv comercials, rap gang cd covers and even legit rock bands have some gnarly pictures and lirics, dicovery channel, ultimate fight, you tube, my space, your president, kooks, tv news, this list can go on and on and on.
Since you have so much time in your hands… go protest about all that!!!
Let it go, there is some hungry kids out there that might need your time.
October 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Funny, only in America people freak out like that. I don’t get it. You have the biggest porn industry of the world, your tv stations show tits and asses all day long with hollywood celebs and spread the word about it into the world and some peeps are still bitching around these stupid boards?
“Less skin than a Brittney Spears video. Less nudity than a 15 year old Hanna Montana on the cover of some mag.” - great argument.
October 26th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
for all those protestors who get rad by criticizing burton, check yourself, for he who lives withou sin cast the first stone.i understand your probably an atheist, but you catch my drift. Are you perfect, do you pay a cable bill, do you buy a popular magazine, do you listen to music on a record label. Guess what, all those major things you buy are probably owned by a Bigger company which has ties to other magazines, television programs, and musicisan(wait they’re an artist so they are untouchable) that are probably violent and explicit. WA BAM. dude we’re in America, yo uare from Vermont. The most god dam liberal state, you should know better than that. IT is in good fun and if you were part of the ACTUALY SHRED COMMUNITY YOU WOULDN’T GIVE A SHIT. ARE YOU GOING to start to BOYCOTT LOCAL BUSINESS. YEA SCREW JOBS WHO WORKs. WHO SPEAK WHEN YOU CAN OFFEND.
To all you haters. WE give you Love.
and as one great shred film was named
Keep talking
October 27th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Actually Head already did it with Jon Olsson pro mod, before Burton.
http://www.head.com/ski/ski.php?region=ce&tag=park_powder&id=1439
October 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
its snowboarding, just tell the protesters to f– off. Or is that not a corporate enough response.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Everyone needs to chill on this whole thing. I find it hilarious that Neurell has no way of contacting them but they are rallying the troops and giving name to bitch at Burton.
Seriously don’t buy the boards, tell your other uptight, religious, dork friends no to buy Burton boards. Burton doesn’t owe you shit. Burton has been about snowboarding since day one and this is a side of it. Sure it’s not the side that you like. But I bet your 14 year old kid does and its up to you to tell him right or wrong and what to do with a lady. Not fuckin Burton snowboards.
Thank you Burton for doing something that gets rid of the fuckin pussy straight edge weiners form this sport. Snowboarding has something to offer everyone but I’d rather dorks that get stressed about this stuff stop snowboarding and go back to skiing.
I’ll be riding a Love this year. I’m not a retard, I have a degree, I love and respect women, have a solid relationship, I give back probably more to the community than anyone holding one of those signs there.
Live your own life. Stop preaching on other people’s choices. Pussies…
October 27th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Beautiful Women, Rad snowboarders= “Life’s Rad tm”
October 27th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
You see the problem with femi-nazis are that they have a misconstrued perception of reality. It’s very easy to pick out what is wrong with everyone else. I feel sorry for the women who feel offended over a partially nude non revealing board. Could string from some of their own insecurities. But honestly if that is all it takes to offend you then you are in a world of hurt for much worse things out there as opposed to a snowboard that is hardly considered pornographic. The beauty of living in this wonderful country is that we have what is called freedom of expression. That is our right. As it is anyone’s right to protest, but also anyone’s right to turn away and maybe worry about something with some sort of importance like protesting a war that is killing our troops over seas. Or maybe instead of protesting for fear of corrupting your child, spend time with them so they aren’t stealing from the next door neighbor while away from your radical sense of supervision.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:22 am
it’s a men driven company! and men like these things…
October 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
i started a topic on the protesters facebook page. feel free to check it out and comment if you like.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=30191337354&topic=6092
October 28th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I guess they have started to email resorts with this nice note to not come to mountains that allow staff and visitors on those boards.
“We will just have to rethink going up to the mountains to ski if this is what is waiting for us on the slopes.
Ski resort personnel, this family of four (and all our friends with families) will be staying away from the mountain this winter if you allow these boards to be used at your resorts by staff OR visiting guests.
Sincerely,
Concerned Parent”
Yes resorts turn away paying customers because of what board they ride.
To those parents sending out the emails and pissed off, If you don’t wanna see them, ride the 3 ski only resorts left and then get pissed when your riding up the chairlift with some skier who has Head skis with the half naked chick on them.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:52 am
“Vermont deserves better. Our pristine ski slopes don?t need to be trashed.”
bring that “ish” to mountain high. we don’t hate!
November 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
fuck it, who cares. im going to get the board and flash it to everyone in the lift line. who gives a fuck? its a picture without any nipple… where’s the harm? A lil kid could type in hot dog on google and look for pictures and who knows what he will see.. maybe some lady getting penetrated between her titties… what im saying is you cant block what kids will see and people who are “offended” need to grow up and accept the fact that its not the 50’s anymore. say fuck it and live
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:35 am
This doesn’t surprise me. There are a lot of assholes here in burlington, VT who think that their way of life is the only way. What really gets me is the bit about the Spectrum Youth Center. The guy lists a bunch of awesome stuff burton has done for those kids, but they turn their back on them and refuse their support (cut of their nose to spite their face) over some graphics? How does that make sense? You would think they would have a better perspective on what kind of company burton really is after having benefitted in so many ways from them. Whoops, I guess some images of scantily clad women and jokes about cutting off your fingers to make hand signals will damn you no matter how many good things you do.
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Honnestly all I heard for the past couple of months is how amazing these new boards are. It has been proven in multiple studies that 80% of people turn their heads the second they see flesh. It’s a marketing ploy that has been extremely successful. For a few decades now snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing etc have been shunned by regular people. I just think that people are just trying to take another stab at the new generations. I saw my first pair of breasts on my own when I was twelve and it was extremely accessible and way more explicit than the Love boards. You think you’re protecting your child by not allowing them to see pretty girls on boards? Why don’t you try worrying about what is going on in your own household before taking it out on Burton!
November 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Being a woman working in the action sports industry I feel like I can see this from both sides….here are my thoughts……
Skateboarding, snowboarding and all the other “action sports” were born out of kids rebelling and pushing limits as far as they could. Its kind of expected that that spirit will always be there. Its what makes the people who do these sports tick. However, I do think that the companies that design the gear, sponsor the athletes and drive the sports have the responsibility to keep it in check to some degree. Keep the rebellious spirit alive, but do remember that there are a lot of young kids who look up to these athletes…..try and keep it tasteful. The pictures of the girls are fine….they’re gorgeous girls and that is no crime. The self mutilation…..really…..there wasn’t anyone who thought this might be a bit over the line……really…..none of your talented artists had any other amazing designs that could have used instead…..really….!
I know that a lot of things fly in action sports that would never fly in other markets, but the leaders in the sports need to think just how young their consumer base, or witnesses to their consumer base goes. The leaders in the market are leaders not only because they sell great gear, but because they set the trends and the spirit of the sport……. act like a leader.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Listen up. First of all, it is 2008, we just elected a black president, I think if Burton wants to put a playmate on a board, that is their own choice. These boards are only sold in Coalition shops, which are likely not the places that families are buying there snow stuff from anyways. The girls are not on display in a nasty form, not worse than anything you see at the beach.
The Primo graphics are stupid. But do you really think that some kid is going to see that and cut off his pointer finger and replace it with a foam finger? Come on.
I don’t know if any of you angry moms commenting on this actually go to the slopes, but guess what, you are not going to see those graphics on the base anyways.
Botton line is that it is 2008, if Burton wants to produce graphics that make a some people upset, it is their own choice.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I hope this will cause all these people complaining to quit snowboarding, i’m sick of waiting in such long lift lines.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
just a girl -”it?s assumed that the youth of today need images of sex and drugs to get psyched on snowboarding, and sadly, brands lack a lot of creative intelligence when it comes to connecting with kids.”….assumed by whom? I am an AASI certified instructor and all the snowboarders I know and taught, young and old and everyone in between, snowboard for the LOVE of it, not because of some sexual image on a board. Lack of creative intelligence? I didn’t know there was a requirement that snowboard graphics had have a creative standard. “If this is the way Burton wants to communicate with snowboarders, then that?s their decision, but it?s pretty shallow and does nothing to promote the sport of snowboarding” - So what?(Again, freedom of speech.)
“And for those of you who think it?s a minority who are offended by these graphics, obviously, you are VERY wrong. It?s actually a minority who LIKE these graphics.” But,you are the minority. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt that you forget Burton is an international company that sells their products worldwide. You and your protestors alike are not even a fraction of the amount of people that are not offended by these images. You can categorize them as the people who still buy and ride their gear. A minority that likes these graphics? Maybe that’s why these boards have increased in sales since your “I don’t have anything better to do” protest.
Regardless, it’s the parents’ responsibility to teach and educate their children on all things in life. If your child grows up to be a criminal, blame yourself and not the system. You must have not worked hard enough.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
History of some similar board graphics that never received the same amount of attention?
Check it out.
http://frontlipped.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/burtons-love-and-primo-a-history-of-controversial-snowboard-graphics/
November 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
hey mommies… if you don’t like it, then don’t buy one for your kids. Snowboarding was never about being pleasing people and being excepted. It’s about being a punk, pissing people off, not giving a damn, and I applaud Burton for this. It’s about time some company went back to the real reason snowboarding was born.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
JustOpinion your argument sucks, the Love boards don’t depict anything you can’t see on a public beach and the primo line isn’t even as disturbing as the garbage pail kids cards that caused a stir in the 80’s. What’s next, you going to tell people they can’t get tattoo’s because you can see them and they offend you. Well frankly your fascist opinions offend me so maybe we can just protest and make you go away. Do you even see the slippery slope your standing on? I’m always amazed people can find the time to protest ridiculousness, time that would be better spent educating and instilling good morals in their children.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Truly a shame that the kids are the ones who will lose out because of some oversensitive adults. A private snowboard company, especially one that has done so much for the community as a whole and the core snowboarding scene, has every right to produce the products that are demanded by it’s professional riders and by consumers across the globe. The revenues from these boards are beneficial to the state of vermont, and are made even more beneficial by all the investment that burton does for the riding community. These protesters need to think more deeply about the results of their actions. In my opinion, the images on these boards artfully portray beautiful women. Why can’t Burton (and those who chose to ride these boards) pay homage to the beauty of a woman without pissing a bunch of crybabies off!? So many common depictions of women are much more vulgar and objectifying than are the images chosen by Burton.. Lastly, none of these boards were destined to be ridden by children in the Chill program. This should be about the kids not about the feelings of some super-PC burlington hipsters with nothing better to do (protest the occupation of iraq, or ban on gay marriage, other civil rights issues or illegal government actions before you get all crazy about some snowboards people!!!). As far as corporate responsibility goes, Burton will reap what it sows, and we can all offer our opinions but the bottom line is their sales figures will dictate their actions and as long as they don’t get too obscene with their graphics (which you can’t honestly say they have here), the market will not penalize them..
November 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I’m glad to hear they will not be pulling the boards due to the uptight opinions of a few bunged up Vermont citizens. Let them protest away, consumers will ultimately decide what is appropriate for them and what is not.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:44 am
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December 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 am
Wow, I just have to say that this is probably the best marketing ploy out there. Pay some people to raise an issue over nothing, sit back and count the sellout profit. I hadn´t even heard of this development, despite the “massive news coverage” that I must have missed somehow. I don´t exactly live under a rock, so I am kinda confused as to how this could possibly have happened. Oh, that´s right, I was scuba diving in Mexico. I sure was offended by all the skin that was being shown at the beaches; I really think they should do something about those bikinis. Make women wear robes, like in the olden times. While they are at it, they might as well ban electricity and start charging for oxygen.
I don´t have to point out what I mean by what I just said. I like reading these “controversial” debates sometimes just to “amusify” myself with people´s shallow minds. I would say that there are maybe three people in this whole tirade that made any sense whatsoever. I will refrain from commenting on the issue at hand because I feel that doing so would degrade my own intelligence and feeling of self-worth (haha). The real reason I am writing here is because I want to get this WiCKED hot GiRL´s email address because I think that way she writes is sexy as hell. Smart girls are my biggest turn-on.
just a GiRL, your dreams have come true.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 am
Oh and btw, I´m not some overweight (note me refraining from using the word “fat”) 45-yr-old sexual predator trying to be cool. I define “cool”. I am also God´s gift to women.
Extremely modest as well.
Hehehe
February 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am
how come people can feel offensed by the most natural thing in the world, nudity?
Is skin scary to some of you guys?
It all sounds like a joke, every single person on this planet is made the same way, why would it shock a kid to see nudity?
just don’t get it…to me it’s way more scary to know that people can carry guns than seeing a nice bum on a board!!!
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Different strokes for different folks. Jason is pretty on point though, we do have a freedom of expression which protects your right to ride a deck with a puppy dog eating a cupcake just as much as it does to ride a LOVE. Burton hasn’t lost its core; If Burton actually folded from a little flak from the girl scouts then they might have lost their core. Guess who’s not getting cookies this year? Controversial graphics have been part of snowboarding for a long time.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Seriously parents. Either you didn't get a enough love and hugs as a child or you are just plain narrow minded. If you don't like the boards then don't buy them, but to go and waste so much energy on something like this, please!
I'm a parent of 4 and if my son or daughters want to ride these boards then that's there choice.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Are parents so naive to think that their kids are not exposed to more harmful stuff in so many other forms of media? Kids today have grown up on the internet Christ sake; just do an image search on Google for the letter “t” without any filter and look what comes up. People really need to learn how to communicate with their kids instead of sheltering them and reassuring them that the world is this great place where everybody get treat equally, because it not true.